Certification of the Oncology

Nurse: Expectations,
Challenges, and Cost

Zero Based Budget Proposal, Priscilla Ambang, RN

 OBJECTIVE

All nurses new to OPIC will complete

an experienced OCN peer driven, oncology course,
with curriculum based on the
OCN Test Content Outline – Test Blueprint (ONCC, 2017) with the
goal of successful completion of the oncology Certified Nurse exam.
 Shared Governance Council:
Presentation Objectives

• EXPLAIN NURSE CHALLENGES (AS VOICED BY

• REVIEW OUTPATIENT INFUSION CENTER POLICY STAFF/ NEW CANDIDATES)
REGARDING ONCOLOGY CERTIFICATION

• PRESENT ACTION PLAN WITH ANTICIPATED FISCAL

• PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING BENEFITS OF RESPONSIBILITY
ONCOLOGY CERTIFICATION
(Zero Based Budget)
 Outpatient infusion center (opic):
REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW HIRES

• MUST HAVE ONE YEAR MEDICAL – SURGICAL EXPERIENCE

• Oncology experience preferred, not required
• Successful completion of Oncology Certified Nurse Exam within three years
of hire
• If unsuccessful, nurse may be allowed additional opportunity/time to
complete, as deemed appropriate by management
 Outpatient infusion center (opic):
REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW HIRES (cont)

• New hires are paired with an Oncology experienced Preceptor

• Orientation for 6 – 8 weeks (more if needed)
• Preceptor available to new nurse as needed for guidance, support, and any challenges
• Provided direction on resources regarding care of the oncology patient
• Chemocare, Oncolink, Oncology Nursing Society, American Cancer Society, NCCN, etc
• New hires are encouraged to seek out continuing education opportunities
 CHALLENGES/CONCERNS

• Recent influx of new hires to address a staffing shortage

• Strong Med/Surg backgrounds, minimal oncology experience
• New hires are concerned about OCN requirement
• Do we have enough time? Will I gain enough experience? Is three years enough? Should it
be five? We risk losing our job? Will organization pay for test prep classes and allow
educational time for preparation?
 ONCOLOGY CERTIFIED NURSE (OCN)
HOW?
• Granted by the Oncology Nurse Certification Corporation (ONCC)
• Requirements: (ONS, 2017)
• Current, active license as a Registered Nurse
• Minimum of one year experience as an RN (within the 36 months prior to application)
• 100o hours adult oncology care nursing
• Minimum 10 contact hours of continuing nursing education in oncology.
• Successful completion of OCN exam consisting of 165 questions, testing one’s oncology
knowledge
 OCN EXAM
BLUEPRINT (ONCC, 2017)

• Treatment modalities
• Health Promotion, Screening and Early
Detection
• Symptom management
• Scientific Basis for Practice
• Oncologic Emergencies
• Psychosocial Dimensions of Care
• Palliative and End-of-Life care
• Professional Performance
• Survivorship
 ONCOLOGY CERTIFIED NURSE (OCN) CURRICULUM
why? Or Why Not?
DRIVING FORCES RESTRAINING FORCES
• Per the ONCC… • Commitment by staff
• 88% of nurses agreed that certification enhances
confidence in clinical abilities,
• Cost
• 97% reporting “personal satisfaction,” with
certification. (ONCC, 2017). • Potential staffing challenges
• Magnet or Pathway to Excellence designation for organization • Support from Leadership
(Ancc, 2017)
• A fully certified nursing staff would align with this
• Design
initiative
• a peer driven program
• Empower nursing staff, as well as encourage
leadership and collegiality
 ALTERNATIVES / OPTIONS
• ALTERNATIVE #2
• ALTERNATIVE #1 Delete mandatory certification requirement, making it
optional
• Require nurses take a pre-existing course provided by
other organizations. Advantages:
Advantages: Reduce a nurse anxiety based on fear of failure
or loss of employment, possibility contributing to
Nurses will still obtain some additional education needed longevity of employment relationship with OPIC
to succeed with exam
Disadvantages: Disadvantages:
OPIC leadership will be unaware of nurse’s progress or OPIC/Organization will need to identify alternative
understanding of material as it relates to the previously evidence to support its quest for Magnet status, or
mentioned blueprint, as well as, practice environment in Pathway to Excellence.
OPIC
Cost:
Cost:
No immediate monetary cost to employee or
ONS online course - $234/member ($100 to become a organization; however long term could be loss of
member) $490/nonmember (ONS, 2017 patients/revenue
 ALTERNATIVES / OPTIONS (cont.)
Alternative 3
• Lengthen period required to obtain certification from
three years to five years
Advantages:
Allows nurse’s new to oncology to gain knowledge
through experience and everyday practice, • Alternative #3 would most likely work best for OPIC
possibility alleviating fear of exam failure, reducing purposes.
risk of employee separation and possible staffing
challenge. • A combination of #3 and additional objective would be
ideal
Disadvantages:
• Using our wealth of resources, in the experienced
Unsure if additional timeframe will encourage nurse to nurses at the OPICs
commit to additional self-motivated time to study and
increase knowledge base, ensuring success on exam. • Allowing new nurses to gain hands on experience
AND receive additional education opportunities.
• Cost:
No additional monetary cost to organization ( cost of
exam $286/ONS member, $406/nonmember) or staff,
however potential loss of staff nearing 5 year mark
(ONS, 2017)
 CONCLUSION

• OUR CHOICES WILL AFFECT THE CARE OUR PATIENT’S RECEIVE, NURSE
SATISFACTION AND LONGEVITY, AND ANTICIPATED BUDGETS.
•QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS?
 REFERENCES
• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation. (2017). OCN Test Content Outline
(Blueprint). Retrieved from
https://www.oncc.org/files/OCN_TestContentOutline.pdf

• American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2017). ANCC Pathway to Excellence.

Retrieved from http://www.nursecredentialing.org/Pathway

• Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation. (2017). Certifications for Oncology

Nurses. Retrieved from https://www.oncc.org/