Is Oncology Travel Nursing Right for You?
There are a lot of specialties to choose from. Some nurses live for the ED, some for the ICU, some feel it the first time they walk into L&D. Oncology is different. The nurses who choose it tend to stay, and the ones who don’t tend to know fast. Here’s how to tell which one you are.
What oncology nurses say about the work
Talk to an oncology nurse and they will tell you the rewards of this specialty; the fact that you never leave work thinking did I really make a difference in someone’s life today? You don’t have to ask, you did. They might tell you about the honor you feel holding a dying person’s hand, the way you live your life differently because of the people you’ve met in this profession or the joy you share in when a person finishes treatment. But it’s not for everyone. I started my career on the oncology unit with 13 newly minted nurses and more than half have moved on to other specialty areas. But if it is a right fit for you, you will know. –  Carolyn Vachani, MSN, RN, AOCN *
Every oncology nurse we work with says some version of the same thing. You never leave a shift wondering whether you made a difference. The hard days are hard in a way other units aren’t, and the good days, when someone rings the bell at the end of treatment, make up for all of it.
What the job actually looks like
Oncology covers more ground than people expect. Inpatient med-surg oncology, infusion centers, bone marrow transplant, radiation, surgical oncology, and pediatric oncology are all different jobs with different pacing. Travel contracts show up across all of them, and BMT in particular has been in steady demand for years.
You’ll give chemo, which means chemo certification (ONS/ONCC or your facility’s equivalent) is the thing most contracts ask for first. You’ll manage central lines, neutropenic precautions, and symptom control. And you’ll spend more time with the same patients than almost any other specialty, which is the part oncology nurses say they’d never trade.
Why travel oncology nurses choose Axis
Nurses have ranked Axis a top travel nursing company every year since 2014, twelve years running, and we’ve been placing oncology and BMT nurses since 2004. Your recruiter knows the difference between an infusion contract and a transplant floor, and won’t send you one when you asked for the other.
At Axis, we have the great fortune to work with some of the most renowned cancer centers in America. The types of facilities where you can put your heart and soul into an RN position and feel the joy that Carolyn mentions above. Whether you seek a short-term contract or the possibility of a permanent position, there’s room for the best of your kind.
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Reach out to me for immediate consideration or to be assisted through the process of getting licensed in any state. I am anticipating needs over the next several months, so timing is not a factor.
FAQs
Do I need chemo certification to take an oncology travel contract?
Most contracts require it, and some facilities will accept a provider card plus recent chemo administration experience. Your recruiter will tell you what each contract needs before you’re submitted.
How much oncology experience do travel contracts ask for?
Most want at least one year of recent oncology experience, and BMT contracts usually want BMT-specific time. Two years makes you competitive almost anywhere.
Is BMT the same as oncology?
BMT is a specialty inside oncology. It’s higher acuity, often in a transplant unit, and contracts are usually written for nurses with transplant experience rather than general oncology.
Can new grads travel in oncology?
Not yet. Travel contracts expect you to walk in ready, so plan on a year or more on a permanent oncology unit first.
Ready to take your skills on the road?
Fill out the quick form below and your recruiter will reach out today or tomorrow.
* Source – http://bit.ly/1LUOTRq
We're not your average corporate "big box" staffing company. We're not sleazy business people in bad suits pushing around resumes, lying or overselling positions. We're not a tiny, inexperienced company either, we have the same amount of nationwide travel nursing jobs as those giant, corporate staffing companies. We've been placing top talent in adventurous careers since 2004 and we can prove we're different from the rest.
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