Advice to Nurses Considering a Career in Oncology

It’s okay to feel emotions. You cared for these patients and their families for a long time and it’s natural to feel sad and emotional when they pass.

That was one of the key points expressed in last week’s oncology nursing panel, hosted by the Oncology Nursing Student Group and the Career Services Department. The student group is led by MSN (Entry into Nursing) student, Kayla Madison.

Here are a few more words of wisdom from the panelists, who are also Johns Hopkins School of Nursing alumni and now work at Johns Hopkins Hospital or Sibley Memorial Hospital.

#1

After working with oncology patients, you will view death differently. It’s a much more peaceful experience when you see them finally free from pain.

#2

You will develop many transferrable skills as an oncology nurse, and you could work in a lot of different settings. The work can be very fast-paced and things change quickly. You won’t get bored.

#3

Palliative care is so important, but incredibly underutilized. Patients don’t always understand what it is, so they may view it as “end of life” care rather than “assistance with pain.”

Learn more about the career outlook for oncology nurses at nurse.org

Oncology panelists included:

Sara Robinson, Pediatric Oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital Children’s Center and a DNP Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner student at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Morgan Patullo, Oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a DNP Adult-Gerontological Acute Care Nurse Practitioner student at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Chris Mangels, Oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Georgina Fields, Oncology ICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a DNP Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner student at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Cora Frantz, Oncology at Sibley Memorial Hospital and a DNP Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner student at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

If you have a Johns Hopkins login you can view the panel here:

Oncology Nursing Panel at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

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