What Does an Oncology Registered Nurse Do?

An oncology registered nurse is in charge of taking care of patients with cancer. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with physicians to devise particular care plans for patients, monitoring their daily condition and progress, administering medicine, preparing nutritious meals, and evaluating treatment results, reporting to the physician should there be any issues. Furthermore, as an oncology registered nurse, it is vital to provide physical and emotional support to patients as the treatments tend to be stressful and emotionally tolling.

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Oncology Registered Nurse Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real oncology registered nurse resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

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.
Devise and implement individualize patient care plans, and provide comprehensive education to patients regarding treatment options and expectations.
Administer chemotherapy to ambulatory cancer patients including reconstitution and calculation of dosages according to prescribe chemotherapy guidelines and MD order.
Act as a resource for all staff in the ICU.
Perform role of primary nurse during code blue (ACLS & BCLS with rapid response team).
Advance EKG training, ACLS certification obtain
Provide nursing care for post-op patients most commonly GI, GU, and GYN surgeries.
Provide direct care to patients with respiratory, GI, renal and other medical problems.
Take care of patient that are pulmonary compromise (most patient are step down from ICU).
Deliver the highest level of nursing care to medically fragile kids, infants-toddlers, within a daycare setting.

Oncology Registered Nurse Job Description

Between the years 2018 and 2028, oncology registered nurse jobs are expected to undergo a growth rate described as "much faster than average" at 12%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So if the thought "should I become an oncology registered nurse?" Has crossed your mind, maybe you should take the growth rate into account. In addition, the number of oncology registered nurse opportunities that are projected to become available by 2028 is 371,500.

An oncology registered nurse annual salary averages $74,716, which breaks down to $35.92 an hour. However, oncology registered nurses can earn anywhere from upwards of $38,000 to $145,000 a year. This means that the top-earning oncology registered nurses make $70,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become an oncology registered nurse. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include a staff nurse, registered nurse charge nurse, registered professional nurse, and advanced registered nurse practitioner.

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5 Oncology Registered Nurse Resume Examples

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Sandra Williams Oncology Registered Nurse Contact Information Quincy, IL (680) 555-4954 swilliams@example.com Skills Emergency Treatment Plans Orthopedics Patient Care Picc Oncology Life Support Acute Care Health Care Blood Products Employment History Oncology Registered Nurse 2015 - Present Good Samaritan Quincy, IL Started IV's, assisted patients with follow up care for ADL, assisted physicians during procedures when necessary. Collaborated with the Interdisciplinary team in weekly rounds to review and revise patient care plans Advocate for patient and family members Provide nursing care to pediatric patients with various medical conditions Educate patients and family members on patient care plan Administer medications Received report from ER or Surgical RN and admitted patients to the unit. Step-Down Nurse 2014 - 2015 Kaiser Permanente Atlanta, GA Provided post-surgical care to acute thoracic & gynecologic oncology patients in an inpatient setting. Conduct assessments, implementations of protocols and physician orders. Hired on to start up a trauma registry. Contract and per diem bedside nursing at several local hospitals. followed by temporary agency RN to WHC Oncology Registered Nurse 2013 - 2014 University of Miami Hospital Miami, FL Worked collaboratively with a multidisciplinary health care team to optimize team performance. Directed activities of three to four patient care technicians. Evaluated patient care needs, prioritized treatment and maintained patient flow. Implement and monitor patient care on a medical surgical floor. Education Associate's Degree Nursing 2011 - 2013 Miami Dade College Miami, FL


Randy Reyes Oncology Registered Nurse Contact Info Evansville, IN (730) 555-1297 rreyes@example.com Skills Patient CareSrnaHealth CareState RegulationsCPRTreatment PlansCNAIVAcute CareFamily Education Employment History Oncology Registered Nurse 2011 - Present Good Samaritan Evansville, IN Provided education to patients and their families regarding their healthcare needs. Acted asresource for other staff members and contributed to cost effective & efficient health caredelivery. Monitored and assessed patient for each treatment.Administered blood products and phlebotomies. Staff Nurse 2010 - 2011 Mobile Infirmary Mobile, AL Direct patient care under the supervision of the E.D. Travel Charge nurse in acute care setting with nursing home patients 5 chair unit. Direct patient care, supervising health aides, referring to community resources and/or utilizing resource materials as needed. Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor 2002 - 2009 Genesis HealthCare Kennett Square, PA Developed a system of staff communication that ensured proper implementation of treatment plans and comprehensive patient care. Administer Foley catheter care and feeding tube maintenance within the scope of practice of a CNA. Take patient vital signs like blood pressure, pulse, respiration etc. Monitored vital signs Collects patient's specimens and data, including vital signs, input/output and ADL charts. Collected vital signs, height, and weight and reported to the nurse. Education Master's Degree Nursing 2009 - 2010 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL Bachelor's Degree Nursing 1999 - 2002 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL


Randy Reyes Oncology Registered Nurse Evansville, IN (730) 555-1297 rreyes@example.com Experience Oncology Registered Nurse2011 - Present Good Samaritan•Evansville, IN Provided education to patients and their families regarding their healthcare needs. Acted asresource for other staff members and contributed to cost effective & efficient health caredelivery. Monitored and assessed patient for each treatment.Administered blood products and phlebotomies. Staff Nurse2010 - 2011 Mobile Infirmary•Mobile, AL Direct patient care under the supervision of the E.D. Travel Charge nurse in acute care setting with nursing home patients 5 chair unit. Direct patient care, supervising health aides, referring to community resources and/or utilizing resource materials as needed. Certified Nursing Assistant Instructor2002 - 2009 Genesis HealthCare•Kennett Square, PA Developed a system of staff communication that ensured proper implementation of treatment plans and comprehensive patient care. Administer Foley catheter care and feeding tube maintenance within the scope of practice of a CNA. Take patient vital signs like blood pressure, pulse, respiration etc. Monitored vital signs Collects patient's specimens and data, including vital signs, input/output and ADL charts. Collected vital signs, height, and weight and reported to the nurse. Skills Patient CareSrnaHealth CareState RegulationsCPRTreatment PlansCNAIVAcute CareFamily Education Education Master's Degree Nursing2009 - 2010 University of South Alabama•Mobile, AL Bachelor's Degree Nursing1999 - 2002 Florida State College at Jacksonville•Jacksonville, FL

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Oncology Registered Nurse Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 28% of Oncology Registered Nurses are proficient in Patients, Acute Care, and Chemotherapy. They’re also known for soft skills such as Critical-thinking skills, Communication skills, and Compassion.

We break down the percentage of Oncology Registered Nurses that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Patients, 28%
Provided bedside care, treatment and assessment and documentation for patients receiving inpatient chemo and radiation treatment, requiring Chem Certification.
Acute Care, 7%
Provided acute care for up to six patients including analyzing and assessing patient conditions and implementing effective intervention.
Chemotherapy, 6%
Received national certification to administer chemotherapy.
Acls, 4%
Maintain BLS, ACLS, PALS and Chemotherapy Certifications.
Medical Oncology, 3%
Selected to represent Medical Oncology Unit on hospital committees including Wound Care Team, Gluccomander Super User and Telemetry Super User.
Compassion, 3%
Develop and implement strategies to reduce compassion fatigue for 52 nursing and support staff members of oncology specialty unit.

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"patients," "acute care," and "chemotherapy" aren't the only skills we found oncology registered nurses list on their resumes. In fact, there's a whole list of oncology registered nurse responsibilities that we found, including:

Critical-thinking skills can be considered to be the most important personality trait for an oncology registered nurse to have. According to a oncology registered nurse resume, "registered nurses must assess changes in the health status of patients, such as determining when to take corrective action and when to make referrals." Oncology registered nurses are able to use critical-thinking skills in the following example we gathered from a resume: "provide safe and effective patient care using critical-thinking skills. "

Another commonly found skill for being able to perform oncology registered nurse duties is the following: communication skills. According to a oncology registered nurse resume, "registered nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand their concerns and assess their health conditions." Check out this example of how oncology registered nurses use communication skills: "leveraged interpersonal communication strengths to establish rapport and build trust with patients and families. "

Another skill that is quite popular among oncology registered nurses is compassion. This skill is very critical to fulfilling every day responsibilities as is shown in this example from a oncology registered nurse resume: "registered nurses should be caring and empathetic when looking after patients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provide competent and compassionate patient care to patients with long lengths of stay, and multiple physical and psychosocial issues. "

An oncology registered nurse responsibilities sometimes require "detail oriented." The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "registered nurses must be responsible and detail oriented because they must make sure that patients get the correct treatments and medicines at the right time." This resume example shows how this skill is used by oncology registered nurses: "oriented and acted as charge nurse for a 26 bed unit overseeing patient care and safety. "

Yet another important skill that an oncology registered nurse must demonstrate is "emotional stability." Registered nurses need emotional resilience and the ability to manage their emotions to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stresses. This is clearly demonstrated in this example from an oncology registered nurse who stated: "develop and implement patient care plans that include care to their physical, social and emotional well being. "

Another skill commonly found on oncology registered nurse resumes is "organizational skills." This description of the skill was found on several oncology registered nurse resumes: "nurses often work with multiple patients with various health needs" Here's an example from a resume of how this skill could fit into the day-to-day oncology registered nurse responsibilities: "complied with physician orders and rigorous organizational protocols to provide bedside care to neuro and oncology patients. "

See the full list of oncology registered nurse skills.

We've found that 50.4% of oncology registered nurses have earned a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, 5.0% earned their master's degrees before becoming an oncology registered nurse. While it's true that most oncology registered nurses have a college degree, it's generally possible to become one with only a high school degree. In fact, one out of every six oncology registered nurses did not spend the extra money to attend college.

The oncology registered nurses who went onto college to earn a more in-depth education generally studied nursing and nursing science, while a small population of oncology registered nurses studied business and psychology.

When you're ready to become an oncology registered nurse, you might wonder which companies hire oncology registered nurses. According to our research through oncology registered nurse resumes, oncology registered nurses are mostly hired by Aya Healthcare, Trusted Health Plans, and CarolinaEast. Now is a good time to apply as Aya Healthcare has 2,156 oncology registered nurses job openings, and there are 2,155 at Trusted Health Plans and 328 at CarolinaEast.

Since salary is important to some oncology registered nurses, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at Dignity Health, Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District, and Cottage Health. If you were to take a closer look at Dignity Health, you'd find that the average oncology registered nurse salary is $140,333. Then at Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District, oncology registered nurses receive an average salary of $134,302, while the salary at Cottage Health is $133,231.

View more details on oncology registered nurse salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire oncology registered nurses from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include St Joseph's Hospital, St. Vincent's Medical Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious oncology registered nurses are:

Aya Healthcare2,156 Oncology Registered Nurses Jobs
Trusted Health Plans2,155 Oncology Registered Nurses Jobs
CarolinaEast328 Oncology Registered Nurses Jobs

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What Staff Nurses Do

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. They also handle the checking of vital signs, providing basic medical procedures, giving first aid, and, if possible, providing over the counter medication. Staff nurses provide medical attention to the people in their place of assignment. They help pave the path to their patients' full recovery. Staff nurses are expected to be patient and have good interpersonal skills.

In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take staff nurse for example. On average, the staff nurses annual salary is $6,374 lower than what oncology registered nurses make on average every year.

Even though oncology registered nurses and staff nurses have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require patients, acute care, and chemotherapy in the day-to-day roles.

There are some key differences in responsibilities as well. For example, an oncology registered nurse responsibilities require skills like "compassion," "hematology," "ons," and "patient outcomes." Meanwhile a typical staff nurse has skills in areas such as "bls," "cpr," "patient safety," and "surgery." This difference in skills reveals how truly different these two careers really are.

Staff nurses tend to make the most money in the health care industry by averaging a salary of $58,739. In contrast, oncology registered nurses make the biggest average salary of $63,612 in the health care industry.

The education levels that staff nurses earn is a bit different than that of oncology registered nurses. In particular, staff nurses are 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an oncology registered nurse. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a 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. Furthermore, a registered charge nurse must maintain an active line of communication and coordination among nurses, physicians, and other personnel involved as the conditions in a hospital can be unpredictable.

Now we're going to look at the registered nurse charge nurse profession. On average, registered nurses charge nurses earn a $3,374 lower salary than oncology registered nurses a year.

While the salary may be different for these job positions, there is one similarity and that's a few of the skills needed to perform certain duties. We used info from lots of resumes to find that both oncology registered nurses and registered nurses charge nurses are known to have skills such as "patients," "acute care," and "chemotherapy. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that oncology registered nurse responsibilities requires skills like "hematology," "ons," "hematology oncology," and "patient outcomes." But a registered nurse charge nurse might use skills, such as, "bls," "cpr," "resident care," and "infection control."

It's been discovered that registered nurses charge nurses earn lower salaries compared to oncology registered nurses, but we wanted to find out where registered nurses charge nurses earned the most pay. The answer? The health care industry. The average salary in the industry is $68,929. Additionally, oncology registered nurses earn the highest paychecks in the health care with an average salary of $63,612.

In general, registered nurses charge nurses study at similar levels of education than oncology registered nurses. They're 0.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Registered Professional Nurse Compares

An advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) is responsible for patient care. An ARNP may practice independently or work with other healthcare professionals such as physicians. Your duties typically include examining patients and determining diagnosis by physical examination, patient history, and other medical assessments, admitting, managing, and discharging patients to and from medical facilities, and managing health care by developing, implementing, and evaluating treatment and care plans for patients. You will also be responsible for referring patients to other health care service providers or facilities.

The registered professional nurse profession generally makes a lower amount of money when compared to the average salary of oncology registered nurses. The difference in salaries is registered professional nurses making $1,448 lower than oncology registered nurses.

Using oncology registered nurses and registered professional nurses resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "patients," "acute care," and "chemotherapy," but the other skills required are very different.

As mentioned, these two careers differ between other skills that are required for performing the work exceedingly well. For example, gathering from oncology registered nurses resumes, they are more likely to have skills like "hematology," "ons," "ocn," and "radiation therapy." But a registered professional nurse might have skills like "bls," "patient safety," "healthcare professionals," and "surgery."

Interestingly enough, registered professional nurses earn the most pay in the utilities industry, where they command an average salary of $64,620. As mentioned previously, oncology registered nurses highest annual salary comes from the health care industry with an average salary of $63,612.

Registered professional nurses are known to earn similar educational levels when compared to oncology registered nurses. Additionally, they're 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

Advanced registered nurse practitioners tend to earn a higher pay than oncology registered nurses by about $23,104 per year.

According to resumes from both oncology registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "patients," "acute care," and "chemotherapy. "

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "acls," "hematology," "ons," and "discharge planning" are skills that have shown up on oncology registered nurses resumes. Additionally, advanced registered nurse practitioner uses skills like arnp, diagnosis, health problems, and discharge summaries on their resumes.

Advanced registered nurse practitioners earn a higher salary in the health care industry with an average of $103,277. Whereas, oncology registered nurses earn the highest salary in the health care industry.

Advanced registered nurse practitioners reach higher levels of education when compared to oncology registered nurses. The difference is that they're 46.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree more, and 2.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated October 2, 2020