The oncology nurse practitioner is basically the nurse that has to provide care and supervise cancer patients who’re critically or chronically ill. The oncology nurse practitioner has to monitor the patients’ various physical conditions, identify symptoms quickly and prescribe the proper medications. These caring nurses usually witness a lot of deaths; however they still enjoy doing their jobs as they are able to give some hope to patients. Many of them certainly thrive on building deep and ongoing relationships with their patients.
The majority of oncology nurses work in big hospitals such as specialty hospitals and medical centers. The others work in medical offices, home healthcare centers and ambulatory care centers. As cancer can happen to virtually to anybody, oncology nurses have to tend to patients of ages.
Oncology nurse practitioners are basically high level practice registered nurses who’ve master’s degrees. Using their additional education & qualifications, these nurses can work in several roles, including coordinators, consultants, direct caregivers, educators, researchers as well as administrators. These nurse practitioners not only have to take care of people with cancer, they also have to give some attention to the patient’s family members and communities.
Oncology Nurse Practitioner: Job Description
Oncology nurses typically work in a small team with other medical staff and doctors. Their day to day activities range from the following tasks:
1) Taking care of patients identified as having cancer.
2) Administering chemotherapy treatments.
3) Offering support & education to patients’ family members.
4) Managing chemotherapy unwanted effects.
5) Identifying patient’s ongoing needs.
Oncology Nurse Practitioner: Requirements
If you want to become an oncology nurse practitioner, please do take note that minimum degree you will need is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Certification for oncology nurse practitioners and oncology nurses can be obtained from the renowned Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation. The average annual salary of the oncology nurse practitioner is about USD79, 000.
In order to be an oncology nurse practitioner specialist, you will have to learn some specific cancer care abilities through clinical practice, coursework & continuing education. After obtaining sufficient knowledge and relevant experience, you can take an exam to officially become an Oncology Certified Nurse.
Additionally, you will have to complete a Master of Science in Nursing program (that can be obtained via a two-year study program). After that you can seek recognition in your state board of nursing.
You’ll need at the very least five hundred hours of supervised practical work and clinical practice in the oncology department to obtain a higher certification. Certification is needed in several states & highly recommended in others.
Just like all nursing positions, the demand for oncology nurse practitioners is likely to increase dramatically within the next 10 years. This is also true because most cancer cases are diagnosed in individuals who are over 55 years old. This certainly makes oncology nurses highly important as the baby boomer generation grows ages.