What is an oncology registered nurse and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,

Kim Raines

An oncology registered nurse specializes in caring for cancer patients. They are highly trained and knowledgeable about treatments, side effects, and symptoms. Oncology nurses work with patients throughout the cancer journey, from diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care. They provide physical and emotional support to patients and their families, administer treatments, and monitor and educate patients about their condition and treatment options. Oncology nurses are essential members of cancer care teams.

What general advice would you give to an oncology registered nurse?

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

One of the suggestions for new graduates is the importance of self-care. We have long known of the demanding nature of the nursing practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nursing role's critical importance and the unique contributions made by nursing professionals. As the healthcare environment is extremely complex and challenging, nurses must remember to advocate for themselves and prioritize self-care.

ScoreOncology Registered NurseUS Average

Salary

5.8

Avg. Salary $74,716

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.96%

Black or African American 11.44%

Hispanic or Latino 8.81%

Unknown 4.25%

White 66.10%

Gender

female 91.13%

male 8.87%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.1

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an oncology registered nurse?

Pros

Opportunities for professional growth and development
Working closely with other healthcare professionals
Competitive salaries and benefits
Job security and demand for the profession
Ability to specialize in a specific area of oncology nursing

Cons

Heavy workloads and high patient caseloads
Lack of resources and support staff in some healthcare settings
Dealing with difficult or non-compliant patients and families
Continuously adapting to new treatments, technologies, and procedures
Facing ethical dilemmas related to end-of-life care and treatment decisions

Key steps to become an oncology registered nurse

Explore oncology registered nurse education requirements

Most common oncology registered nurse degrees

Bachelor's

50.4 %

Associate

39.5 %

Master's

5.0 %

Start to develop specific oncology registered nurse skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	27.91%
Acute Care	7.00%
Chemotherapy	5.96%
Acls	3.64%
Medical Oncology	3.43%

Complete relevant oncology registered nurse training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New oncology registered nurses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an oncology registered nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real oncology registered nurse resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming an licensed oncology registered nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed oncology registered nurse in most of states. 43 states require oncology registered nurses to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	Degree required	State exam required	Registered Nurse (RN)
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Registered
Arkansas	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Registered Nurse (RN)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Registered
Colorado	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Registered Nurse

Gain additional oncology registered nurse certifications

Oncology registered nurse certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific oncology registered nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for oncology registered nurses include Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research oncology registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Develop and manage outpatient chemotherapy infusion area in a private Gyn and Gyn-Onc practice.
Display expert clinical skills in managing the progressive care of all categories of patients including bedside surgical procedures and chemotherapy administration.
Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
Administer medications and treatment for patients monitor by telemetry.

Prepare your oncology registered nurse resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your oncology registered nurse resume.

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