Oncology Nurse Practitioner Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post presents exhaustive information on the job description of an oncology nurse practitioner, to increase your knowledge of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities that they perform.

What Does an Oncology Nurse Practitioner Do?

The oncology nurse practitioner’s responsibilities covers such duties like caring for, observing, and enlightening cancer patients.

They work with individual patients in private home settings, clinics or hospitals and administer care for chronically or crucially ailing cancer patients.

The oncology nurse practitioner job description entails carrying out new techniques for treating symptoms, administering chemotherapy, and observing patient’s improvements.

The individual aspiring to be an oncology nurse must develop an encouraging environment and may devote themselves exclusively to areas such as pediatric oncology or hematology, as well as cancer of the breast.

Oncology nurse practitioners must be ready and willing to work with patients that have been diagnosed with terminal or life threatening situation.

The job requires sufficient emotional stability to assist patients and their families to endure the treatment procedures and handle death if treatment does not succeed.

It is not unusual for an oncology nurse’s role to include offering consultation services, diagnosis, therapy, as well as follow up care strategies for cancer patients as directed by an oncologist.

He/she as a nurse practitioner will be expected to offer medical care at the stage of the training he/she would have attained.

The individual for this position will work with several professional facets such as cancer centers, AIDS hospitals, medical surgical units, cancer treatment facilities and oncology.

With the possession of a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, an oncology nurse practitioner is usually employed with health education and research centers.

An oncology nurse practitioner work must constantly be in tune with current medical technology and treatment methods being improved, tested and executed regularly.

The applicant for this post must therefore be technically disposed and be a fast learner in the utilization and operation of medical gadgets and equipment.

The nurse practitioner is expected to exhibit the attributes of understanding, composure, patience and empathy when dealing with cancer patients and their families.

He/she should possess outstanding skills in communicating and describing medical terminologies and procedures to the patients and patient’s families to assist them in making informed choices and decisions.

Oncology Nurse Practitioner Job Description Sample/Example/Template

The following job description sample shows the important duties, tasks, and responsibilities which most oncology nurse practitioners carry out on the job.

• Give counsel to patients of cancer by offering diverse treatment options and informing the patient on the treatment procedures. This is to help their expectations of the days ahead.
• Identify and provide treatment for health-related cases concerning cancer.
• Offering emotional assistance to patients of cancer as well as their families by engaging in constant updates on diverse assistant units which can be readily obtainable at the patient’s disposal.
• Carry out research on cancer to improve treatment formalities apportioned to cancer patients.
• Provide helpful resources on the patient and patient’s families to enhance positive results.
• Carry patients and their families along on treatment plan, procedures, and possible outcome.
• Observe and record the patient’s progress regularly.
• Design a chart on patient’s reactions to medication and treatment.

Oncology Nurse Practitioner Job Description for Resume

The above example of oncology nurse practitioner job description can also be useful in creating a resume for the position, particularly in writing the work history section of the resume.

Oncology Nurse Practitioner Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

An oncology nurse practitioner will be required to possess the following skills and qualifications:

• A completed diploma, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing.
• A registered nurse license.
• Performed at least 500 hours of practice in a clinical environment and under the administration in an oncology institution or unit which can be acquired after a Master’s degree program.
• Ethical uprightness, sincerity, wholeness, soundness, and honesty as a basis of dependability.
• Outstanding dedication to service institution, professionalism and values.