When I started, 25 years ago, everything was in the hospital. Now, the desire to specialize can make you miss some really great opportunities. tart on a Med Surg unit if you have that available to you. All Oncology patients have a diverse list of co morbidities. It really important to learn about Diabetes and Heart Disease. If you do not have a Med Surg unit, a Medical Oncology Unit will do. I would suggest about one year there before you decide to specialize. Then you need a mentor to talk to to see where you might want to go and how. I was lucky enough to get invited to work at an inpatient Hospice Respite unit, the first of it's kind affiliated with a hospital. I loved it and knew Oncology would be for mr forever. After three years there, I went to a hospital based Chemotherapy team, a doctor's office where I mixed and administered chemo, a doctor's office where I was a practice manager, and a free standing chemotherapy suite where we gave chemo. Now I am doing Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell collections. The point of this long winded story is that even in specializing, it is never stagnant!

Good luck!
Eileen

I am an Oncology nurse that has never worked Med Surg. My manager wants me to take the Oncology Certification test...Someone recommeded I take the Med Surg one first. What is your opinion? thanks, Nancyc

I have done both, worked med/surg and medical/surgical oncology. The best base is med surg learning all the comorbidity diseases that most cancer patients endure. Tehn spend about a year on the specialized floor of oncology. Work experience leads you to good decision making and the oncology certification test is primarliy based on good decision making. The certification test does of course have straight fact questions but anyone can memorize. Being able to assess the patient and know what direction to go is priceless for patients that are scared and looking for a strong support in their nurse. Good study habits are not bad either. The ONS has a study book for oncology. I highly recommend getting the book at least 8 months before you plan to take the certification and set up a study plan to do so many chapters each month. Nursing is a great professon and can lead you in so many directions. Find what makes you feel good, nto what pays the bills. Hope to see you in the nurisng ranks soon!

I would recommend doing a google search for "onocology nurse" that will give you allot of details or search for "onocology nurse" AND education...that should give you alot of detail.

Also try searching a couple Health care places that hire oncology nurses to see what they list in their job descriptions - here is one place to check:

http://careers.advocatehealth.com/NUR_Home.aspx