User:OncologyNurse/sandbox

Oncology nursing From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia An oncology nurse is a specialized nurse who cares for cancer patients. [edit]Certification in the United States The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) offers several different options for board certification in oncology nursing.[1] http://www.oncc.org/

Certification is a voluntary process and ensures that a nurse has proper qualifications and knowledge of a specialty area and has kept up-to-date in his or her education.Oncology certification can lead to increased professional opportunities and encourage continuing education in the field of Oncology.

The ONCC offers six options for certification:


 * 	Basic: (FOR Registered Nurses)
 * 	OCN: Oncology Certified Nurse
 * 	CPON: Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse
 * 	CBCN: Certified Breast Care Nurse
 * 	Advanced: (For Nurse Practitioners)
 * 	AOCN: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse
 * 	AOCNP: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
 * 	AOCNS: Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
 * 	Advanced: (For Nurse Practitioners)
 * 	AOCN: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse
 * 	AOCNP: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
 * 	AOCNS: Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
 * 	AOCNP: Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
 * 	AOCNS: Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist
 * 	AOCNS: Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist

To become certified, nurses must have an RN license, meet specific eligibility criteria for nursing experience and specialty practice, and must pass a multiple-choice test. Specific criteria are as follows:

OCN •	10 contact hours of nursing CE in oncology or academic elective in oncology. •	2,080 hours per year or 5,200 hours in 30 months experience in pediatric oncology or hematology nursing. •	A photocopy of your RN license or a copy of the online verification of current licensure from your state board of nursing.

CPHON •	10 contact hours of nursing CE in oncology or academic elective in oncology. •	2,080 hours per year or 5,200 hours in 30 months experience in adult oncology nursing. •	A photocopy of your RN license or a copy of the online verification of current licensure from your state board of nursing.

CBCN •	Submit a CE certificate or official Letter of Attendance documenting completion of 10 contact hours of continuing nursing education in breast care within the 36 months prior to application. •	Nursing experience in total number of hours of experience in breast care nursing you have had within the past 30 months. •	A photocopy of your RN license or a copy of the online verification of current licensure from your state board of nursing. http://www.oncc.org/(2)

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.

In July 2008 a decision about new regulations was made by the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Group. APRNs certifying in oncology will be required to have further graduate education in oncology starting in 2015. (3) Certification is granted 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. Each recertification has specific requirements.

OCN Certification Renewal • A minimum of one year (12 months) experience as an RN within the 3 years (36 months) prior to application renewal.

• A minimum of 1,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the two-and-one-half years (30 months.) prior to application renewal.

CPON Certification Renewal

• A minimum of one year (12 months) experience as an RN within the 3 years (36 months) prior to application renewal.

• A minimum of 1,000 hours of pediatric oncology nursing practice within the 2 1/2 years (30 months) prior to application renewal.

AOCN Certification Renewal

• A minimum of 1,000 hours in an advanced practice nursing role in adult oncology within the 4 years (48 months) prior to application renewal. AOCNP Certification Renewal

• A minimum of 1,000 hours as a nurse practitioner in adult oncology within the 4 years (48 months) prior to application renewal. AOCNS Certification Renewal

• A minimum of 1,000 hours of practice as a clinical nurse specialist in adult oncology within the 4 years (48 months) prior to application renewal.

CBCN Certification Renewal (begins in 2013)

• A minimum of one year (12 months) experience as an RN within the 3 years (36 months) prior to application renewal.

• A minimum of 1,000 hours of breast care nursing practice within the 2 1/2 years (30 months) prior to application renewal.

CPHON Certification Renewal (begins in 2014)

• A minimum of one year (12 months) experience as an RN within the 3 years (36 months) prior to application renewal.

• A minimum of 1,000 hours of pediatric oncology hematology nursing practice within the 2 1/2 years (30 months) prior to application renewal. http://www.oncc.org/(2)

ONC-Pro hours are also required for renewal of certification.

•	OCN - 100 (at least 65 must be adult oncology points)

•	CPON - 100(at least 80 must be pediatric points; at least 50 must be pediatric oncology points)

•	AOCN, AOCNP, AOCNS – 125 (at least 75 must be adult oncology points)

•	CBCN beginning 2013 – 100 (at least 65 must be breast care points)

•	CPHON beginning 2014 – 100 (at least 80 must be pediatric points; at least 50 must be pediatric hematology oncology points) (2)

Additional information can be found at:



Nursing portal

[edit]References 1.	^Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation website 2.	Oncology Nursing certification Corporation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2012, from ONCC: http://www.oncc.org/TakeTest/Certifications/OCN/Eligibility 3.	Final consensus regarding APRN regulation is released. (2008). ONS Connect, 23(12), 28. 4.	Leak, A., & Spruill, A. (2008). Oncology certification: what is in it for you?. Clinical Journal Of Oncology Nursing, 12(5), 703-705. doi:10.1188/08.CJON.703-705