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School nurse vs oncology nurse

The differences between school nurses and oncology nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a school nurse and an oncology nurse. Additionally, an oncology nurse has an average salary of $72,372, which is higher than the $54,998 average annual salary of a school nurse.

The top three skills for a school nurse include CPR, school health and health education. The most important skills for an oncology nurse are patients, chemotherapy, and medical oncology.

School nurse vs oncology nurse overview

School NurseOncology Nurse
Yearly salary$54,998$72,372
Hourly rate$26.44$34.79
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs282,124584,649
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a school nurse do?

A school nurse is in charge of advocating and providing healthcare services to students, faculty, and staff daily. Their responsibilities revolve around providing necessary treatments to someone in need, developing programs that promote students' health, and administering proper medication. When a school nurse must reach out to parents to inform them of their children's visits or any emergencies, it must be documented. Furthermore, a school nurse must appropriately store all equipment and medication in adherence to the school's safety and health standards.

What does an oncology nurse do?

Oncology Nurses work with medical practitioners to take care of cancer patients in various settings (hospitals, clinics, etc.). The job requires compassion and personal fortitude to deal with their patients' suffering from such a profound illness. They are required to have an associate's degree in nursing and an RN license. Oncology Nurses provide professional care and coordinate the delivery of oncology treatments. They also take care of patients assigned to them in a medical oncology facility and ensure that hospital or department and University policies are followed.

School nurse vs oncology nurse salary

School nurses and oncology nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

School NurseOncology Nurse
Average salary$54,998$72,372
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $77,000Between $41,000 And $127,000
Highest paying CityProvidence, RICarmichael, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyPreston High SchoolWashington Hospital Healthcare System
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between school nurse and oncology nurse education

There are a few differences between a school nurse and an oncology nurse in terms of educational background:

School NurseOncology Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

School nurse vs oncology nurse demographics

Here are the differences between school nurses' and oncology nurses' demographics:

School NurseOncology Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 6.3% Female, 93.7%Male, 8.9% Female, 91.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between school nurse and oncology nurse duties and responsibilities

School nurse example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage care plans for students with chronic health conditions (such as diabetes, food allergies and depression).
  • Evaluate and manage post-exposure of blood-borne pathogens.
  • Administer medications, evaluate prescription needs and facilitate prescription management, chemotherapy teaching, assess and manage chemotherapy side effects.
  • Perform employee physical exams including hearing and spirometry as required.
  • Provide patient care for PCI patients, mechanically-ventilate patients and an overall variety of critically ill patients.
  • Perform drug testing, physicals, PFT and xrays.
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Oncology nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Gain significant experience in diverse areas of nursing process for oncology and transplant patients; administer chemotherapy and blood products.
  • Initiate CPR on nonresponsive patients.
  • Provide intravenous therapy in a home bound setting to include simple chemo therapy and PICC care along with other VADS.
  • Provide professional nursing care for patients as it relates to provider orders and chemotherapy administration and education.
  • Provide care to rehabilitation patients on rehab unit assist in activities of daily living, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
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School nurse vs oncology nurse skills

Common school nurse skills
  • CPR, 13%
  • School Health, 10%
  • Health Education, 6%
  • Health Problems, 5%
  • Health Services, 5%
  • Emergency Care, 4%
Common oncology nurse skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Chemotherapy, 7%
  • Medical Oncology, 5%
  • Patient Education, 4%
  • Hematology Oncology, 3%
  • Patient Outcomes, 3%

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