Oncology Nurse at a Glance

Oncology Nurses hold dynamic daily responsibilities, ranging from clinical care to emotional support and companionship. Having a potentially terminal diagnosis can be extremely isolating for patients, so it’s important for Oncology Nurses to keep this in mind as they approach their daily tasks. These tasks vary depending on where you work and what you specialize in, and present unique technical and emotional challenges for you and your patients.

As a care provider who regularly interacts with patients on both a clinical and personal level, you’ll be relied on to advocate for your patients’ needs to both their families and broader healthcare team. You’ll know how they react to treatments, you’ll know what emotional barriers they might be struggling with, and you’ll be their voice if they can’t communicate for themselves.

As the main professional point of contact for your patients and their families, you’ll advise and teach them about the symptoms they might encounter during treatment, offer techniques for managing symptoms or pain, and communicate their treatment plans in a digestible manner. In these educational moments, it’s important that you’re honest with your patients without speaking in such a clinical manner that you feel removed from their experience. Be compassionate, be straightforward, and do your best to be a pillar of confidence amidst an extremely difficult and uncertain time for these individuals and their loved ones.

As an Oncology Nurse, it’s important to be in tune with the support techniques that work best for each patient. This may feel challenging to someone not facing a potentially terminal diagnosis, so when in doubt, be an active listener. When patients are likely being spoken to in a highly clinical manner, it’s crucial for you to provide a space where they can feel comfortable freely voicing their concerns, questions and emotions.

Depending on your level of certification, you’ll administer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, monitor your patients vitals and symptoms, assist in managing side effects, and work with your patients’ broader care team to create custom treatment plans for their diagnoses.

As individuals at the forefront of cancer care, Oncology Nurses are always finding new ways to support their patients. This often leads to innovations tailored to each patient, and sometimes leads to entirely new methodologies that are scaled across cancer care facilities. Recognizing the innovative nature of the Oncology Nursing field, in 2019 the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) launched a dedicated center for innovation, where cancer care providers can connect and share their experiences or findings, and hopefully develop new solutions to transform cancer care as we know it.