Introduction
The specialization of nurses directly depends on the chosen clinical settings for work. The oncology nurse is involved in the diagnosis of cancers that require remission after treatment. Specialist certification for this position requires a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree in nursing. Then the oncology nurse undergoes an internship in an interdisciplinary team while taking additional specialized courses. Finally, the medical professional takes the certification exam, which costs $286.
Details about Certification
The candidate takes a three-hour exam, which includes 165 test and pre-test questions. The nurse is not aware of which of the items are considered for certification and which are preliminary. In addition, the certificate must be renewed every four years. The revision includes an RN license and at least two years of operating during the accounting period. Other options cover a minimum of 10 educational hours in the last three years of practice and at least 2,000 hours of oncology practice at the time of application.
Problem Statement
The oncology nurse engages with vulnerable communities that need quality care to enhance their quality of life. Therefore, the problem statement is the lack of knowledge of professionals to meet the needs of clients. It remains vital as the certificate reveals the interests of elderly patients, whose medical insecurity is underrepresented in medicine. In addition, oncology certification is often overlooked by nurses and is considered as an unusual springboard for a career.
Scholarly Article Key Points
The presented literature assesses the challenges that oncology nurses face in educational and career paths. In particular, Mackey et al. (2018) reveal the institutional obstacles in which specialized nurses suffer from a lack of adapted programs. This informational and practical gap creates difficulties in obtaining certification and, accordingly, oncology specialists are required to acquire knowledge in general education programs. Kunos et al. (2015) conducted an empirical study in which a nurse navigator coordinated a medical department’s activities. The result showed that the overall treatment time was reduced, and enhanced patient performance was obtained. Thus, this resource proves the advisability of expanding the staff with specialized specialists for an improved health model.
Scholarly Article Connection
Mackey et al. (2018) show that nurses’ certification in imperative areas of care delivers improved patient experiences and health outcomes. In particular, population changes were rendered in which cancer had an alarming progression. Obtaining the required educational program correlates with the results of other research, as leadership and coordination in various medical settings lead to improved therapeutic outcomes. Thus, changes in the healthcare model depend directly on the quality and variety of specialized training programs.
Conclusion
The oncology nurse works with patients who require treatment and remission in a variety of cancer diagnoses. The main problem identified is the insufficient number of generalist nurses who receive an oncology professional education course. Mackey et al. (2018) point out that current training methodologies do not allow for the recruitment of more certified nurses in hospital cancer departments.
Growing statistics on chronic diseases show that the need for certified professionals is increasing every year. The connection of this article with scientific publications is that oncology nurses are underrepresented both in the educational and practical settings. In particular, cancer patients do not receive adequate care and professional assistance, and, accordingly, the quality of therapy will not improve with a shortage of oncology nurses.
References
Kunos, C. A., Olszewski, S., & Espinal, E. (2015). Impact of nurse navigation on timeliness of diagnostic medical services in patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer. The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology, 13(6), 219-224.
Mackey, H., Noonan, K., Kennedy Sheldon, L., Singer, M., & Turner, T. (2018). Oncology nurse practitioner role: Recommendations from the Oncology Nursing Society’s Nurse Practitioner Summit. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22(5), 516-522.