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An oncology nurse is a specialized nurse who cares for cancer patients.
Certification
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) offers several different options for certification in oncology nursing. Certification is a voluntary process and ensures that a nurse has proper qualifications and knowledge of a speciality area and has kept up-to-date in his or her education.
The ONCC offers five options for certification:
Basic:
- OCN: Oncology Certified Nurse
- CPON: Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse
Advanced:
- AOCN: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse
- AOCNP: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
- AOCNS: Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
Certification is given for four years, after which it must be renewed by taking a recertification test or by earning a certain number of continuing medical education credits.
To become certified, nurses must have an RN degree, meet specific eligibility criteria for nursing experience and specialty practice, and must pass a multiple-choice test.
For the advanced AOCNP and AOCNS certifications, a nurse must have a master's degree or higher in nursing and a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice of oncology nursing. The AOCNP certification also requires successful completion of an accredited nurse practitioner program.
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