A common myth that we often hear from graduate nurses and a few experienced nurses is that being an Oncology PCU nurse is depressing. Turns out, that statement is a myth. Being an oncology nurse is inspiring. You get to be part of someone’s journey, sitting front row with their loved ones cheering them on! Sure, there are days when it can get very difficult and overwhelming, but what nursing specialty isn’t? Choosing to become a nurse comes with challenges but the personal rewards you gain outweigh the tough days. To help give you a better perspective of what it’s like to be an oncology nurse, we interviewed Kelly Cronin, nurse manager at AdventHealth Winter Park and Katherine Long from AdventHealth Altamonte Springs.
Q: Kelly, in your opinion what are the top 3 responsibilities of an Oncology PCU Nurse?
A: "Oncology nurses are teachers- they become experts in the disease, educating their patients through their cancer journey. They teach them what to expect and what to look out for and become tremendous support to the patient and their families.
Oncology nurses are friends- they celebrate milestones, birthdays, and holidays together. They are there to mourn setbacks and losses and are there to ring that beautiful bell when they have conquered chemotherapy.
Oncology nurses are advocates- they work not only with the physicians but with multiple ancillary departments to ensure their patients are receiving the absolute best."
Q: Katherine, why did you choose to be an oncology nurse?
A: “What I find most rewarding about being an oncology nurse is being able to build strong lifelong friendships with my coworkers, my patients, and their families. Working on this unit, I’m constantly learning something exciting and new. I have learned more in 5 years than some nurses in a lifetime. The fast-paced oncology unit has prepared me for any situation. I also really appreciate the working relationship with physicians and ARNP/PAs. We work together and our patients see it and because of the camaraderie, our patients trust us.”
If you're interested in joining a purpose-minded team, check out our open positions on the Oncology Progressive Care Unit in Central Florida.
