While there are many nursing roles in the office, hospital, home and hospice , the majority of cancer nurses work in hospitals. Most cancer centers and many community hospitals have wards devoted to cancer treatment oncology units staffed by oncology nurses.
Hospital staff nurses provide direct care to patients over eight-, ten- or twelve-hour shifts. During your hospital stay you will probably come in contact with a great variety of nurses with different levels of training and responsibilities.
• Nurse's aides or hospital attendants complete a training program and may have many years of experience.
They can give you direct hands-on care, but do not give medications.
• Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) complete an educational program
and can give medications and direct care. They work collaboratively with Registered Nurses (RNs).
• RNs receive their education from an associate degree program, a hospital training program or a Bachelor's
degree program at a college or university. Many hospitals have different clinical levels of expertise and
authority where RNs progress over time, based on merit and continuing education. An RN with cancer nursing
experience can become an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) by passing an exam that will certify her or his
competency.
• Some nurses receive Master's degrees in cancer nursing. They practice as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse
specialists, managers or researchers. Or they choose to continue to work as staff nurses at the bedside. In
advanced clinical practice, these nurses teach and act as role models for other nurses, take part in advanced
problem-solving, participate in clinical research trials and provide leadership.
