Oncology Nurse Resume Examples & Templates
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An oncology nurse specializes in caring for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. Their primary role is to provide physical and emotional support to patients throughout their cancer treatment.
To land a job as an oncology nurse, you’ll need a compelling resume that showcases your compassionate nature and medical expertise. Take a look at our professionally made oncology nurse resume samples and expert writing tips to craft a standout resume that reflects your experience and qualifications.
Start by editing our oncology nurse resume examples, or browse our selection of 40+ resume templates to find one that catches your eye.
Oncology nurse resume example (text version)
Ethan Morse
Phoenix, AZ 85054
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Dedicated and compassionate oncology nurse with over 10 years of experience providing exceptional patient care in oncology settings. Proficient in administering chemotherapy, managing symptomatology and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive patient support. Demonstrated commitment to delivering evidence-based patient-centered care with a track record of achieving positive outcomes.
Work History
November 2021 – Current
Sunridge Medical Center – Phoenix, AZ
Charge Oncology Nurse
- Efficiently manage resources, including a staff of 15 oncology nurses, equipment and supplies.
- Administer chemotherapy treatments with precision and adherence to safety protocols, ensuring optimal patient outcomes.
- Collaborate with oncologists, radiologists and other health care professionals, reducing 20% in hospital readmissions.
September 2017 – October 2021
Palo Verde Cancer Specialists – Phoenix, AZ
Senior Oncology Nurse
- Ensured seamless coordination of patient care by overseeing a caseload of 50 oncology patients.
- Achieved a 98% accuracy rate in medication administration, contributing to a reduction in adverse events.
- Implemented a streamlined documentation process, resulting in a 25% reduction in administrative errors.
June 2012 – August 2017
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center – Phoenix, AZ
Oncology Nurse
- Provided compassionate care to a diverse caseload of 40 oncology patients weekly, including those undergoing surgery, radiation therapy and clinical trials.
- Achieved a 98% adherence rate to chemotherapy schedules, minimizing treatment delays and improving patient outcomes.
- Educated patients and their families about treatment plans, potential side effects and self-care strategies, promoting active involvement in the care process.
Skills
- Chemotherapy administration
- Symptom management
- Patient care
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Infection control measures
- Equipment operation
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
Education
Arizona State University Phoenix, AZ
- Master of Science Nursing
- Nursing Administration
Arizona State University Tempe, AZ
- Bachelor of Science Nursing
Certifications
- Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) – (Updated 2024)
- Registered Nurse (RN) – (Updated 2023)
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – (2022)
5 essentials of a standout oncology nurse resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your oncology nurse resume. Include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. Add your LinkedIn profile and professional website, if applicable. Reference our guide on writing a resume for more advice on creating an effective contact details section.
Personal statement
Your personal statement — also known as a professional summary — is where you introduce yourself to the hiring manager and highlight your top qualifications in three to five sentences.
Your professional summary should showcase relevant skills, such as conducting health assessments and monitoring patients for side effects. Include one or two notable accomplishments and touch on how long you’ve been in the nursing industry.
Here is a sample oncology nurse resume summary:
“As a dedicated and compassionate oncology nurse with over five years of experience, I am committed to providing the highest level of care and support to cancer patients and their families. With a passion for patient advocacy and a deep understanding of the physical and emotional challenges that cancer patients face, I am dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of those I serve.”
If you are just starting your career, we recommend including a resume objective instead of a professional summary. Your resume objective should focus on the skills you gained from school and how you will apply them in a clinical setting. For additional guidance, take a look at our guide on writing a resume with no experience.
Skills
List your top skills using bullet points to let hiring managers know what you bring to the table as an oncology nurse. An impressive resume will showcase a mixture of hard skills and soft skills.
Oncology nurses work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, cancer treatment centers and outpatient clinics. They may work with a variety of cancer patients, including those with breast cancer, lung cancer, leukemia and other types of cancer.
They must have a strong understanding of cancer biology, treatment options and the physical and emotional challenges that patients face throughout their cancer journey. This requires technical skills in cancer treatment as well as interpersonal skills to communicate with patients, family members and hospital personnel.
We recommend exploring oncology nurse job descriptions for resume skill ideas that are relevant to your target role.
Work history
To create the work history section of your resume for your oncology nurse resume, start with your present or most recent job and list your remaining work experience in reverse chronological order.
Remember to mention the job title, employer’s name, company location and the duration of your employment. Use bullet points to showcase your accomplishments and quantifiable achievements for each role.
For example: “Implemented and managed a patient education program resulting in a 25% reduction in chemotherapy-related hospital admissions.”
Read our guide on writing the work experience section of your resume for additional tips from career experts.
Education
List your educational background starting with the most recent degree and working backward. Include the name of the schools and the year of graduation.
To become an oncology nurse, you’ll need to complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). After obtaining a nursing degree, nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN).
Continuing education is also essential for oncology nurses to stay up to date with the latest advancements in cancer treatment and nursing care. Many professional organizations offer conferences, workshops and courses in oncology nursing to help nurses stay current and improve their practice.
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Action verbs for a standout oncology nurse resume
If you take a look at our sample resumes for oncology nurses, you’ll notice that the work experience bullet points use strong action verbs.
Here are some examples of action words you can use for your oncology nurse resume:
- Administer
- Assess
- Collaborate
- Coordinate
- Develop
- Educate
- Evaluate
- Facilitate
- Manage
- Monitor
- Order
- Perform
- Prescribe
- Provide
- Recommend
- Supervise
- Treat
Select an example oncology nurse resume from this page to get started or make a new resume using our Resume Builder.
Top skills for your oncology nurse resume
Make sure the resume skills you include on your oncology nurse resume are relevant to the job description and what the employer is looking for in a candidate.
Here are some examples of oncology nurse skills:
- Critical thinking
- Emotional intelligence
- Administering chemotherapy
- Monitoring vital signs
- Performing assessments
- Patient care
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Organization
- Problem-solving
- Infection control measures
- Emotional support
- Emergency response
- Time management
- Attention to detail
Candidates who possess these skills and can demonstrate them on their resume and during the interview process are more likely to be successful in securing a job in this field. Explore our library of 800+ resume examples for more inspiration.
Certifications to include on an oncology nurse resume
Create a separate section on your resume for certifications and licenses and list them using bullet points.
To specialize in oncology nursing, RNs must obtain additional education and training. This can include obtaining a certification in oncology nursing from a professional organization such as the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). To be eligible for certification, RNs must have a certain amount of experience working in oncology and complete specialized training in oncology nursing.
Here are some certifications that an oncology nurse may want to consider including on their resume:
- Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
- Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON)
- Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP)
- Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN)
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse (BMTCN)
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)
In addition to certification, oncology nurses may pursue a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization in oncology nursing. An MSN degree can prepare nurses for advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist in oncology.
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Oncology nurse resume FAQ
What skills should you include on an oncology nurse resume?
An effective resume for an oncology nurse position will highlight both soft skills and technical skills, such as medicine administration and monitoring vital signs.
Here are some skills that you may want to consider including on your oncology nurse resume:
- Administering chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.
- Monitoring patients for side effects and complications of cancer treatment.
- Educating patients and their families about cancer treatment and self-care at home.
- Providing emotional support and counseling to patients and their families.
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement treatment plans.
- Administering pain medications and managing other symptoms related to cancer treatment.
- Providing end-of-life care and support for patients and their families.
Remember to tailor your skills to the specific job you are applying for and provide examples of how you have utilized these skills in your professional experience. This will help to demonstrate your qualifications and expertise as an oncology nurse to potential employers.
What is the best format for an oncology nurse resume?
The best format for an oncology nurse resume is a chronological resume format, which highlights work experience in reverse chronological order.
Becoming an oncology nurse requires a significant amount of education and training, and the chronological format is the best format for experienced oncology nurses to showcase their expertise.
Midlevel job seekers might consider using the combination format, which details top work experiences and clearly displays your relevant skills. Entry-level oncology nurses can use the functional format, which focuses on relevant skills.
Regardless of the resume format you choose to follow, ensure that you showcase relevant skills that are tailored to the job description at hand.
How do I reference my experience as a children’s oncology group nurse on my resume?
When referencing your experience as a children’s oncology group nurse on your resume, you can mention the following points:
- Include your job title: Start by listing your job title, such as “Pediatric Oncology Nurse” or “Clinical Research Nurse” depending on your role.
- Describe your responsibilities: Highlight your responsibilities such as managing chemotherapy treatments, monitoring patients for side effects, administering medication and managing clinical research protocols.
- Highlight your skills: List the skills you developed while working as a children’s oncology group nurse, such as clinical skills, communication skills, patient advocacy and emotional intelligence.
Be sure to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for and include any other relevant experience or skills.
Do’s and don’ts for your oncology nurse resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your experience. For example: “Reduced medication errors by 50% through the implementation of a new medication administration protocol.”
- Use action verbs — such as “monitored” and “treated” — to make an impact on your oncology nurse resume.
- Tailor your resume to the oncology nurse job you are applying for.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your oncology nurse resume. For example, “patient-centered care model” and “evidence-based practices.”
- Format your oncology nurse resume with clear sections and appropriate fonts so that it is easy for ATS software to parse and hiring managers to read.
- Don’t lie about your experience and skills as an oncology nurse.
- Don’t make vague claims about your skills. Instead, provide specific examples of your experience caring for cancer patients.
- Don’t include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Don’t include irrelevant skills and work experience. Focus on relevant skills instead, such as administering medication and collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
- Don’t forget to proofread. An oncology nurse is expected to have high attention to detail, and your resume should reflect that.
Top 4 tips for interviews for an oncology nurse job
Learn about the hospital.
When applying for an oncology nurse position, it’s important to learn about the hospital and its oncology department to ensure a good fit and increase your chances of getting hired. Here are a few areas to research:
- Oncology department: Learn about the oncology department, such as the types of cancers treated, the treatments offered and the patient population served.
- Accreditation and awards: Learn about the hospital’s accreditation and any awards or recognition it has received for its oncology department.
- Research and education: Learn about the hospital’s involvement in oncology research and education.
By learning about the hospital and its oncology department, you can tailor your application and interview responses to demonstrate your knowledge and interest in the organization. This will help you stand out as a qualified and committed candidate.
Practice your answers.
It is important to prepare for your job interview by practicing commonly asked questions. Here are a few behavioral questions to prepare for:
- Describe a time when you put aside your needs to help a colleague
- Give an example of how you’ve juggled multiple deadlines
- Describe a problem you’ve tackled that tested your analytical skills
During an oncology nurse interview, you may be asked a variety of questions to assess your knowledge, skills and experience as an oncology nurse. Here are some common questions that you might encounter:
- What experience do you have working with oncology patients?
- How do you communicate with patients and their families during difficult times?
- How do you manage pain and symptoms in oncology patients?
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
As a candidate for an oncology nurse position, it is important to ask thoughtful questions during the interview to gain a better understanding of the role and the hospital’s culture and expectations.
- What types of cancers do you treat at this hospital, and what are the most common treatments offered?
- What kind of support is available for oncology nurses, such as continuing education, mentorship or opportunities for professional advancement?
- How does your hospital prioritize patient-centered care in the oncology department?
- Can you tell me more about the interdisciplinary team that I would be working with the oncology department?
Gather references.
Gather your professional references to share with the hiring manager if requested. Make a list of two or three former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your abilities and performance as an oncology nurse.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your nursing career
How we reviewed this article
Since 2012, we have helped more than 11 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.
Sources
- Coursera. Article. What is an Oncology Nurse? And How to Become One
- Johnson & Johnson. Article. Oncology Nurse at a Glance
- Oncology Nursing Society. Article. The Oncology Nursing Specialty
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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