Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Oncology nurse practitioners are becoming more widely accepted by members of the medical community. The need for pediatric oncology nurse practitioners is growing. Many people feel that these are the ideal professionals because they combine the assessment and critical thinking skills of a cancer team member with the patience and compassion of a bedside nurse. Although all oncology nurse practitioners provide care and support to those who need it most, a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner does so to an even greater extent. These caring, dedicated professionals provide a variety of care and medical services to children suffering from cancer and their families. These services may include such things as providing education on the disease, administering radiation and chemotherapy treatments, giving blood transfusions, and much more. If you would like to become one of the vital members of a pediatric oncology team, go back to college today and start your career training for this great field.
Education and training for a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner
The first step toward your new job as a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner is to complete your bachelor’s degree in nursing and to pass the NCLEX-RN to become a registered nurse. It will take around four years of full-time study and will require substantial hands-on, clinical experience. During your studies, you will take such courses as anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, psychology, principles of nursing, and much more. Although you may be able to take some of your classes through distance education, you will not be able to completely earn this degree online.
After you complete your bachelor’s degree and become an RN, the next step toward becoming a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner is to earn your master’s degree in nursing with a specialization in pediatric oncology. These programs differ from others in that they provide a solid foundation in normal development with a specialization in oncology. The sole purpose of these programs is to train professionals to deliver comprehensive care to child cancer patients and their families. During this portion of your training, you will refine your physical assessment skills, continuity of care, family interventions, clinical decision-making, transition care, and health care policy collaboration.
Typical courses you will study include acute care, pharmacology, pathophysiology, research, and clinical examinations. You will also complete some clinical experience under the supervision of hematologist, oncologists, and their experienced nurse practitioners. Although it is preferable that you complete a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner program, you may be able to transition to this field with a nurse practitioner degree in another field of specialty.
Career outlook
There is expected to be a growing need for qualified pediatric oncology nurse practitioner professionals. With this great employment opportunity and an average salary of around $90,000 a year or more, what is not to love about this profession? If you have been thinking of entering the nursing field, why not enter the specialization of pediatric oncology? This career will provide you with unequalled personal satisfaction as well as a sense of financial security that makes it one of the best jobs of today’s medical field.
