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Amber
Student
Rochester, Minnesota
1
Question
Asked
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What does each day look like for an oncology nurse? is it the same every day or is each day different? What is the most challenging aspect(s) of your job? How do you stay updated on the advancements? What is your favorite part of your job? How do you deal with the loss of a patient? What advice would you give to someone who is looking to be an oncology nurse?
I am a 10th-grader at P-TECH in the nursing pathway, and I am doing a research project.
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2 answers
Iryna Tam
Writer, copywriter
188
Answers
Hagerstown, Maryland
Updated
Iryna’s Answer
Hello!
A day in the life of an oncology nurse can be dynamic and fulfilling, with a mix of routine and unpredictable elements. Here’s an overview:
Daily Routine
Patient Care: Oncological patients often require chemotherapy administration, symptom management, and general nursing care. This includes assessing vital signs, managing side effects, and providing treatment education.
Collaboration: Oncology nurses work closely with oncologists, pharmacists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement care plans.
Patient Support: Emotional support is crucial; oncology nurses often spend time listening to patients’ concerns, providing counseling, and guiding them through treatment options.
Documentation: Accurate record-keeping of patient information, treatment responses, and any changes in condition is essential.
Daily Variability
Varied Patient Needs: Each day can bring different challenges based on patient conditions, treatment responses, and new admissions, making every day unique.
Emergent Situations: Oncology nurses may respond to acute situations, such as management of side effects or complications from treatment, which adds to the unpredictability.
Challenges
Emotional Toll: Caring for patients with cancer can be emotionally challenging, particularly when dealing with advanced disease or end-of-life care.
Complex Care: Oncology patients often have multiple comorbidities and may experience various side effects from treatment, requiring in-depth knowledge and skills.
Tracking Accomplishments
Reflection: Many nurses keep journals to reflect on daily successes, patient interactions, or specific moments of care.
Peer Support: Engaging with colleagues to share challenges and successes can foster a sense of accomplishment and community.
Best Aspects of the Job
Patient Relationships: Building long-term relationships with patients and their families and seeing the positive impact of treatment.
Advocacy: Being an advocate for patient needs and navigating complex healthcare systems can be rewarding.
Continuous Learning: The field of oncology is ever-evolving, offering opportunities to learn about new treatments, research, and technologies.
Coping with Loss
Support Systems: Developing a support network with colleagues can help process grief and share feelings about losses.
Self-Care: Engaging in self-care practices, whether through hobbies, exercise, or counseling, is important to manage emotional stress.
Professional Development: Some nurses find solace in focusing on how to improve care and outcomes for future patients, using their experiences as motivation for their practice.
Advice for Aspiring Oncology Nurses
Gain Experience: Seek volunteer opportunities in healthcare settings, particularly in oncology units.
Pursue Education: Consider obtaining a solid foundation in nursing through an Associate or Bachelor’s degree, along with specialized oncology certifications.
Develop Emotional Resilience: Prepare for the emotional aspects of the job through mentoring, shadowing, or counseling.
Stay Informed: Familiarize yourself with current oncology research, treatments, and resources to provide the best care.
Becoming an oncology nurse requires compassion, resilience, and dedication. Your interest in this field is commendable, and you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families.
A day in the life of an oncology nurse can be dynamic and fulfilling, with a mix of routine and unpredictable elements. Here’s an overview:
Daily Routine
Patient Care: Oncological patients often require chemotherapy administration, symptom management, and general nursing care. This includes assessing vital signs, managing side effects, and providing treatment education.
Collaboration: Oncology nurses work closely with oncologists, pharmacists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement care plans.
Patient Support: Emotional support is crucial; oncology nurses often spend time listening to patients’ concerns, providing counseling, and guiding them through treatment options.
Documentation: Accurate record-keeping of patient information, treatment responses, and any changes in condition is essential.
Daily Variability
Varied Patient Needs: Each day can bring different challenges based on patient conditions, treatment responses, and new admissions, making every day unique.
Emergent Situations: Oncology nurses may respond to acute situations, such as management of side effects or complications from treatment, which adds to the unpredictability.
Challenges
Emotional Toll: Caring for patients with cancer can be emotionally challenging, particularly when dealing with advanced disease or end-of-life care.
Complex Care: Oncology patients often have multiple comorbidities and may experience various side effects from treatment, requiring in-depth knowledge and skills.
Tracking Accomplishments
Reflection: Many nurses keep journals to reflect on daily successes, patient interactions, or specific moments of care.
Peer Support: Engaging with colleagues to share challenges and successes can foster a sense of accomplishment and community.
Best Aspects of the Job
Patient Relationships: Building long-term relationships with patients and their families and seeing the positive impact of treatment.
Advocacy: Being an advocate for patient needs and navigating complex healthcare systems can be rewarding.
Continuous Learning: The field of oncology is ever-evolving, offering opportunities to learn about new treatments, research, and technologies.
Coping with Loss
Support Systems: Developing a support network with colleagues can help process grief and share feelings about losses.
Self-Care: Engaging in self-care practices, whether through hobbies, exercise, or counseling, is important to manage emotional stress.
Professional Development: Some nurses find solace in focusing on how to improve care and outcomes for future patients, using their experiences as motivation for their practice.
Advice for Aspiring Oncology Nurses
Gain Experience: Seek volunteer opportunities in healthcare settings, particularly in oncology units.
Pursue Education: Consider obtaining a solid foundation in nursing through an Associate or Bachelor’s degree, along with specialized oncology certifications.
Develop Emotional Resilience: Prepare for the emotional aspects of the job through mentoring, shadowing, or counseling.
Stay Informed: Familiarize yourself with current oncology research, treatments, and resources to provide the best care.
Becoming an oncology nurse requires compassion, resilience, and dedication. Your interest in this field is commendable, and you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of patients and their families.
Meggie O'Hara
Nurse
1
Answer
Cincinnati, Ohio
Updated
Meggie’s Answer
Hello!
I have been working in oncology as a nurse for multiple years. I became an Oncology certified nurse in 2023.
Daily expectations:
Depending on if you are working inpatient (in a hospital on a unit) or outpatient/ambulatory center (infusion center and doctors' offices), the daily expectations can be different. Inpatient units are for patients staying over night and typically require closer monitoring. I work in an outpatient infusion center. We typically have 8 patients throughout the day. Oncology treatments can be short or last all day depending on the regimen. I start my day by reviewing my assignment and reading through the nursing orders for each regimen. I work 4, 10 hour shift Monday-Friday. My days are relatively the same but have different elements due to a variety of patients and disease processes.
The most challenging aspect for me would be time management (juggling multiple infusions and patients at the same time).
We have a nurse educator who keeps us up to date on new information and treatments. Our providers and pharmacy staff also provide new information as policies or protocols change.
My favorite part if the job is connecting with the patients and getting to know them. We have the chance to build meaningful relationships with these people during a difficult time in their lives.
Dealing with the loss of a patient is never easy but having a community of nurses and providers going through similar emotions helps. We discuss our feelings to help eachother through those losses.
Advice that I would give would be to start inpatient to understand oncology but also time management and nursing skills (i.e. accessing a port etc.) . You can work as a patient care assistant in nursing school and that helps to be more comfortable in a hospital environment. There are many different areas of oncology that a nurse can work in, so the options are endless. Good luck, and I hope this information helps.
I have been working in oncology as a nurse for multiple years. I became an Oncology certified nurse in 2023.
Daily expectations:
Depending on if you are working inpatient (in a hospital on a unit) or outpatient/ambulatory center (infusion center and doctors' offices), the daily expectations can be different. Inpatient units are for patients staying over night and typically require closer monitoring. I work in an outpatient infusion center. We typically have 8 patients throughout the day. Oncology treatments can be short or last all day depending on the regimen. I start my day by reviewing my assignment and reading through the nursing orders for each regimen. I work 4, 10 hour shift Monday-Friday. My days are relatively the same but have different elements due to a variety of patients and disease processes.
The most challenging aspect for me would be time management (juggling multiple infusions and patients at the same time).
We have a nurse educator who keeps us up to date on new information and treatments. Our providers and pharmacy staff also provide new information as policies or protocols change.
My favorite part if the job is connecting with the patients and getting to know them. We have the chance to build meaningful relationships with these people during a difficult time in their lives.
Dealing with the loss of a patient is never easy but having a community of nurses and providers going through similar emotions helps. We discuss our feelings to help eachother through those losses.
Advice that I would give would be to start inpatient to understand oncology but also time management and nursing skills (i.e. accessing a port etc.) . You can work as a patient care assistant in nursing school and that helps to be more comfortable in a hospital environment. There are many different areas of oncology that a nurse can work in, so the options are endless. Good luck, and I hope this information helps.