2026 Career Planning Guide
NURSING SPECIALITIES KEY: n Minimum Education required n Certifications required n Experience needed n Certification credential n Possible employment n Professional Organization n References / Resources
advances in treatment continure to increase the number of cancer survivors. From diagnosis, through the various treatment modalities, to survivorship or end-of-life care, oncology nurses support patients and their families in managing the physical, emotional, spiritual, social and fiscal aspects of cancer.
n RN, ASN / ADN( BSN Preferred) n Oncology Nursing Certification
n Two years( 24 months) of experience as an RN within the four years( 48 months) prior to application; minimum of 2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the four years( 48 months) prior to application.
n OCN ®, CPHON, BMTCN, CBCN
n Hospitals( acute care settings), medical / physician offices, home healthcare, military service, hospice, ambulatory care centers n Oncology Nursing Society( www. ONS. org)
Also see“ Pediatric Hematology / Oncology Nurse” section.
Pain Management Nurse
Pain management nurses care for patients experiencing acute or chronic pain. They are clinicians, educators and researchers with vastly different educational preparation, clinical roles, and interest in practice issues who work in the following roles: staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, educators, nurse practitioners, researchers, managers and administrators.
n LPN, RN( BSN, MSN or DNP encouraged) n Pain management certification exam
n 2 years full time as RN; 2,000 hours( during prior 3 years) in nursing role with aspects of pain management; 30 hours of continuing education( during prior 3 years), of which 15 hours must be related to pain management
n RN-BC
n Hospitals, ambulatory care, continuing care, community health settings, correctional facilities, home health care, out-patient surgery centers n American Society for Pain Management Nursing( www. aspmn. org)
Palliative Nurse
Palliative care nurses focus on relieving pain and other debilitating symptoms of chronic illness. This evidence- based nursing practice includes assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of human responses to actual or
56 NSNA Imprint