Download Oncology Nursing - Coastal North Carolina Chapter

Oncology Nursing
Coastal Carolina Chapter
Oncology Nursing Society
Objectives
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Why should I consider nursing as a career?
What do nurses do?
What is an oncology nurse?
What do oncology nurses do?
How can I grow as a nurse?
Why consider a career in nursing…
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Job Opportunities
Options
Benefits
Flexibility
Job opportunities
Nursing jobs projected growth 2012-2022
Nursing jobs projected growth 2012-2022
2022
2012
3.2
2.7
Options
Benefits
Salary
72,000
70,000
68,000
66,000
64,000
62,000
60,000
58,000
56,000
54,000
Government
Hospitals
Home Health
Salary
Nsg Facilities
Physician
Offices
Flexibility
• Flexible Career
• Over 100 areas to specialize in
• Flexible Schedule
• Find a job that works for your schedule
• Flexible Locations
• The need for nurses is global
What do nurses do?
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Record patients medical histories and symptoms
Administer patients’ medications and treatments
Set up plans for patients’ care or contribute to existing plans
Observe patients and record the observations
Consult and collaborate with doctors and other healthcare
professionals
• Operate and monitor medical equipment
• Teach patients and their families how to manage illnesses or injuries
• Advocate for patients and families
A career in nursing…
• Nursing is a career filled with endless personal and
professional rewards. If you choose nursing, you
are choosing to spend your life helping others,
using skills that blend scientific knowledge with
compassion and caring. There are few professions
that offer such a rewarding combination of high
tech and high touch.
Oncology Nursing: Background
• Oncology Nurse: A nurse who specializes in the care of
cancer patients.
• Prior to 1950, surgery was the major treatment for cancer,
limiting the role of nurses in cancer care.
• Starting in 1970s, oncology nursing emerged in a response
to a shift in healthcare to a focus on the prevention and
early detection of cancer.
• Over the years, oncology nursing has continued to expand
as a result of recognition of cancer as a major chronic
health problem.
Oncology Nursing: Roles
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Direct caregiver
Educator
Consultant
Administrator
Researcher
Oncology Nursing: Specialties
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Chemotherapy
Breast cancer
Radiation
Genetics counseling
Symptom management
Prevention/early
detection
• Clinical Research
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Biotherapy
Hematology
Surgery
Bone marrow transplant
Palliative care
Head and neck cancer
Nurse Practitioner
Oncology Nursing: What does it
take?
• Knowledge
• Critical Thinking
• Technical skills
• Psychosocial skills
• Compassion
• Empathy
• Self-care
• Life-long learning
• Accepting of changes
What makes oncology nursing
special?
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Very rewarding career
Ability to make a difference every day
Helping patients when they need the most help
On the forefront of exciting new scientific
discoveries
• The patient will go through their cancer journey with
or without us…but we have the privilege of making
it a more positive experience.
How can I grow as a nurse through
professional organizations?
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Opportunities to connect with peers in your specialty
Share best practices
Learn new trends, education and technical advances
Networking opportunities
Connect with nurses with different experience levels
Encouragement to pursue education/certifications
Oncology Nursing Society
• Association of more than 35,000 members
• Committed to promoting excellence in oncology
nursing and the transformation of cancer care
• Free for students working toward their RN
• Member benefits:
• Certification and education discounts
• Networking
• Subscriptions to two oncology publications
Questions?
Sources
• www.discovernursing.com Discover Nursing
• www.ons.org Oncology Nursing Society
• www.bls.gov US Bureau of Labor Statistics