How to hire an oncology registered nurse

How to hire an oncology registered nurse, step by step

Here's a step-by-step oncology registered nurse hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an oncology registered nurse job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new oncology registered nurse
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an oncology registered nurse do?

Post an oncology registered nurse job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an oncology registered nurse, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An oncology registered nurse's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, oncology registered nurses from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents oncology registered nurse salaries for various positions.

   Type of Oncology Registered Nurse	Description	Hourly rate
   Oncology Registered Nurse	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.	$18-69
   Staff Nurse	Staff nurses are registered nurses who are usually assigned to work in a care home, a company, or in a clinical setting. They advise the physical assessments of patients, employees, and residents... Show more	$20-52
   Registered Nurse Charge Nurse	A registered charge nurse is responsible for supervising nurses' workflow in a particular department or area, ensuring every patient gets the proper care that they need. A registered charge nurse has the discretion to direct tasks, arrange schedules, and monitor patients, such as in the aspects of admission and discharge... Show more	$22-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Acute Care
   • Chemotherapy
   • Acls
   • Medical Oncology
   • Compassion
   • Hematology
   • ONS
   • Hematology Oncology
   • Discharge Planning
   • Direct Patient Care
   • Patient Outcomes
   • IV
   • OCN

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Monitor stable and chronically ill patients using telemetry and mechanical ventilation methods.
   • Maintain an environment of compassion by providing psychological and emotional support to patients and families.

   More oncology registered nurse duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the oncology registered nurse job description is a good way to get more applicants. An oncology registered nurse salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an oncology registered nurse in Georgia may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level oncology registered nurse. Additionally, an oncology registered nurse with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average oncology registered nurse salary

   $74,716yearly

   $35.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level oncology registered nurse salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average oncology registered nurse salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$114,885	$55
   2	Massachusetts	$108,496	$52
   3	District of Columbia	$106,842	$51
   4	Maryland	$104,600	$50
   5	Connecticut	$103,785	$50
   6	New York	$102,770	$49
   7	Oregon	$97,131	$47
   8	Washington	$90,776	$44
   9	Wisconsin	$86,335	$42
   10	Nevada	$85,834	$41
   11	Illinois	$84,387	$41
   12	Minnesota	$81,610	$39
   13	Ohio	$80,273	$39
   14	Arizona	$78,344	$38
   15	Maine	$75,170	$36
   16	Pennsylvania	$74,883	$36
   17	Utah	$73,464	$35
   18	Kentucky	$72,922	$35
   19	Colorado	$70,785	$34
   20	Louisiana	$70,193	$34

   Average oncology registered nurse salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dignity Health	$140,333	$67.47	728
   2	Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District	$134,302	$64.57	24
   3	Cottage Health	$133,231	$64.05	47
   4	Novartis	$115,508	$55.53	7
   5	Soliant	$114,285	$54.94	43
   6	Stability Healthcare	$111,514	$53.61	2,922
   7	Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp.	$108,515	$52.17	69
   8	Medical City Arlington	$106,496	$51.20	129
   9	Sutter Health	$106,495	$51.20	283
   10	Scripps Health	$105,921	$50.92	93
   11	Tenet Healthcare	$105,691	$50.81	1,325
   12	MAS Medical Staffing	$105,676	$50.81	655
   13	Mission Health Services	$104,175	$50.08	96
   14	trustaff	$103,467	$49.74	2,059
   15	The Arora Group	$103,050	$49.54	89
   16	Express Healthcare Professionals	$100,948	$48.53
   17	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$100,865	$48.49	144
   18	Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute	$97,883	$47.06	177
   19	GENERAL PHYSICIAN	$97,761	$47.00	7
   20	Sharp HealthCare	$97,165	$46.71	27

4. Writing an oncology registered nurse job description

   A job description for an oncology registered nurse role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an oncology registered nurse job description:

   Oncology registered nurse job description example

   This job functions as the liaison and communicator with the patient, caregivers, healthcare providers, and multi-disciplinary team members as well as post-acute care and third party payers. The RN Navigator I discusses alternative care options with patient/caregivers as well as the multi-disciplinary team and assist with discharge planning needs. Facilitates in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team, movement along the healthcare continuum to endure quality, cost effective outcomes are achieved.
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
   
   This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Ochsner's discretion.
   Education Required - Registered Nurse Diploma Preferred - Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Nursing
   Work Experience Required - 2 years Nursing experience.
   Certifications Required - Current RN License in the state of practice Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association Preferred - Certification in clinical specialty area Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Must have computer skills and dexterity required for data entry and retrieval of patient information. Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present information clearly and professionally to varying levels of individuals throughout the patient care process. Must be proficient with Windows-style applications, various software packages specific to role and keyboard Excellent conflict resolution skills Job Duties Provides continuity of care by ensuring smooth transitions between care settings. Develops a relationship with patient and their multidisciplinary team to facilitate and/or navigate through subsequent treatment and follow-up to reflect continuity of care. Manage high risk, complex patient care with the goal of minimizing readmission. Works closely with physicians to coordinate patient's care plan communication; works with multidisciplinary team to maintain and implement up-to-date coordinated patient centered care plan; communicates with all members of the healthcare team as patient advocate. Prepares, executes, and reinforces post-discharge care plan. Identifies barriers to care in an effort to elicit changes in processes for patients navigating the continuum of care. Collaborates with leadership to review processes with the goal of improving the clinical experience for referred patients and the referring physician. Adapts behavior to the specific patient population, including but not limited to: respect for privacy, method of introduction to the patient, adapting explanation of services or procedures to be performed, requesting permissions and communication style.
   Other related duties as required. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.
   
   Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.
   Complies with the Ochsner Health System Compliance & Privacy Program and Standards of Conduct, including the immediate reporting of any known or suspected unethical or questionable behaviors or conduct; patient/employee safety, patient privacy, and/or other compliance-related concerns.
   
   Ochsner is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
   Physical and Environmental Demands
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible. Mechanical lifting devices (carts, dollies, etc.) or team lifts should be utilized.
   Must be able to stoop, bend, reach and grab with arms and hands, manual dexterity.
   Must be able to stand for prolonged periods of time.
   Must be able to work a flexible work schedule (e.g. 24/7, weekend, holiday, on call availability).
   Must be able to travel throughout and between facilities.
   
   Duties performed routinely require exposure to blood, body fluid and tissue.
   
   The incumbent works in a patient care area; works in an area where patients enter; works directly with patients; and/or works with specimens that could contain diseases. There may be an occupational risk for exposure to all communicable diseases.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find oncology registered nurses for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your oncology registered nurse job on Zippia to find and attract quality oncology registered nurse candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting oncology registered nurses requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new oncology registered nurse

   Once you've decided on a perfect oncology registered nurse candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new oncology registered nurse. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an oncology registered nurse?