High School

If you want to become an oncological nurse, you will first need to become a registered nurse. To prepare for this career, you should take high school mathematics and science courses, including biology, chemistry, and physics. Health courses will also be helpful. English and speech courses should not be neglected because you must be able to communicate well with patients.

Postsecondary Training

You must be a registered nurse before you can become an oncological nurse. There are three basic kinds of training programs that you may choose from to become a registered nurse: associates degree, diploma, and bachelors degree. Which of the three training programs to choose depends on your career goals. A bachelors degree in nursing is required for most supervisory or administrative positions, for jobs in public health agencies, and for admission to graduate nursing programs. In fact, a survey by Salary.com found that more nurses have a B.A. than an A.A., so standards in the industry seem to be rising. A masters degree is usually necessary to prepare for a nursing specialty or to teach. For some specialties, such as nursing research, a Ph.D. is essential.

Entry-level requirements to become an oncological nurse depend on individual hiring qualifications of the institution or practice and the availability of nurses in that specialty and geographical region.

Certification or Licensing

Some institutions may require certification as an oncology nurse. There are different types of certification available through the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). For example, the oncology certified nurse examination is aimed at testing basic knowledge within the specialty of oncology nursing. The certified pediatric hematology oncology nurse examination tests knowledge in pediatric oncology. The advanced oncology certified nurse practitioner and advanced oncology certified clinical nurse specialist certifications are advanced certifications and test knowledge in advanced cancer nursing practices. Each specialty requires recertification. Contact the ONCC for more information.

All states and the District of Columbia require a license to practice nursing. To obtain a license, graduates of approved nursing schools must pass a national examination. Nurses may be licensed by more than one state. In some states, continuing education is a condition for license renewal. 

According to Salary.com, about one quarter of all oncology nurses have less than one years experience; another quarter have two to six years experience; about 20 percent have 5 to 10 years; 15 percent have 10 to 15 years experience; and 20 percent have over 15 years of experience. Important skills for any nurse include critical thinking skills, including the ability to assess changes in the health state of patients; knowing when to take corrective actions; and being able to judge when to make referrals. Nursing skills also include being detail oriented so the nurse can deliver the correct treatments and medicines in a timely manner. Because nurses must deal with multiple patients, each with different needs, being organized is critical in making sure the patient is cared for properly, as is the ability to speak clearly and effectively in order to convey important information. Compassion and patience are two personality traits that are essential in nurses who must cope with the stresses and difficulties that are part of the job.

Oncological nurses should like working in a fast-paced environment that requires lifelong learning. New medical technology and treatment methods are constantly being developed and implemented. Oncological nurses should be technically inclined and be able to learn how to operate new medical equipment without feeling intimidated.