A Day in the Life of an Oncology Nurse

Have you ever thought about working as an oncology nurse but weren’t exactly sure what the job could entail? Perhaps you wanted to get more knowledge about it to decide if this sector of the field was a good fit for you.

To give you some information about being an oncology nurse, we talked with Sapri Kaur, RN, BSN, OCN, who works in the Oncology Unit at Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center.

She answered our questions—not only about her career but also about how she got into it and how she feels about being an oncology nurse.

How did you get interested in being an oncology nurse? What drew you to it? How long have you been doing it?

In my honest opinion, oncology chose me. I applied as a new graduate to the Oncology Unit and fell in love with it.

I’ve come to realize that you end up developing relationships with patients and their families because you see them frequently, being able to connect with them more over time.

I have been working in the oncology department for 22 years.

Explain briefly what an oncology nurse does. What types of patients do you serve? What do you provide for them?

Oncology patients are a unique population. Nurses connect them with all the appropriate resources and disciplines. As oncology nurses, we are responsible for making patients feel comfortable during their stay. We are trained to provide the best care while developing trusting relationships with our patients.

Did you need to get additional education for this position?

Chemotherapy Biotherapy certification is the requirement for oncology nurses. The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) credential is recognized as a national level of specialty in oncology nursing.

What do you like most about working as an oncology nurse?

It is so rewarding that it puts me over the moon. This is especially true when patients come back months after their treatment and share how appreciative they are about the difference we have made in their lives and show how much better they are doing.

What are your biggest challenges as an oncology nurse?

The biggest challenge as an oncology nurse is keeping patients’ families and loved ones on the same page while focusing on the patient’s illness and treatment. The worst part is when a patient’s loved ones want something other than what the patient wants. You must be there for the patient and supportive of their decision.

What are your greatest rewards as one?

One of my greatest rewards as an oncology nurse in a hospital setting is when patients are in remission, which we usually don’t see often, and they are being seen in output settings.

Is there anything I haven’t asked you that is important for our readers to know?

End-of-life support is significant in oncology nursing since it includes emotional, social, and spiritual support. The nurse’s role is to support the patient and family by educating them about what to expect and answering their questions.

Interested in becoming an oncology nurse? Then check out Daily Nurses Career Center to get jobs, scholarships, and nursing news delivered weekly to your inbox.