OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
About OCN Certification
The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam, administered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC), is a specialized certification for registered nurses committed to providing comprehensive care to adult cancer patients. Achieving this credential demonstrates a nurse's proficiency in oncology nursing, encompassing areas such as cancer prevention, detection, treatment modalities, symptom management, and psychosocial aspects of care. This certification signifies a dedication to excellence in oncology nursing practice and a commitment to enhancing patient outcomes through specialized knowledge and skills.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A comprehensive certification exam for oncology nursing professionals. |
Credentials Earned | Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN). |
Eligibility Requirements | Active RN license, must also have at least 2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the past four years in clinical practice, administration, education, research, or consultation, along with a minimum of two years (24 months) of RN experience in the same period. Additionally, candidates must complete at least 10 contact hours of oncology nursing education or an academic elective within the past three years. |
Completion Time | 3 hours to complete exam. |
Subjects Covered in the Exam | Includes care continuum, oncology nursing practice, treatment modalities, symptom management and palliative care, oncologic emergencies, and psychosocial dimensions of care. |
Number of Questions | 165 multiple-choice questions, with 145 scored and 20 unscored pretest questions. |
Exam Format | Multiple-choice, computer-based test. |
Exam Proctoring | Exam can be taken at PSI testing centers. |
Recertification Details | Required every 4 years, requires practice hours, professional development points or successful testing. Must have at least one year of RN experience within the past three years and a minimum of 1,000 hours in adult oncology nursing within the past 30 months. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Pass rates vary annually but generally fall between 58% and 71%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard. |
Study Material | BoardCerts Question Bank provides practice questions that follow the exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts OCN Question Bank
BoardCerts offers a robust question bank tailored to help you excel on the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam. The BoardCerts content aligns closely with the OCN exam blueprint, featuring practice questions designed to simulate the exam's format and difficulty. Each question is meticulously crafted and reviewed by oncology nursing experts to ensure accuracy and relevance, ensuring you are fully prepared for exam day.
OCN Exam Content Outline
The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam evaluates a candidate's proficiency across six key domains of oncology nursing practice, each contributing to the overall assessment of a candidate's proficiency:
- Care Continuum (19%): Encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, screening, early detection, care coordination, advance care planning, epidemiology, survivorship considerations, treatment-related effects, and end-of-life care.
- Oncology Nursing Practice (17%): Focuses on scientific foundations of oncology nursing, including carcinogenesis, immunology, clinical trials, molecular testing, genetics, and adherence to professional standards and ethical practices.
- Treatment Modalities (19%): Includes cancer treatments such as surgical interventions, blood and marrow transplantation, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biotherapy, immunotherapy, vascular access devices, and targeted therapies.
- Symptom Management and Palliative Care (21%): Encompasses managing symptoms related to cancer and its treatments, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, palliative care considerations, and addressing alterations in various body functions.
- Oncologic Emergencies (12%): Includes identification and management of acute, life-threatening oncologic emergencies such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, sepsis, tumor lysis syndrome, hypersensitivity reactions, and spinal cord compression.
- Psychosocial Dimensions of Care (12%): Focuses on psychological and social aspects of oncology nursing, including cultural diversity, financial concerns, body image, coping mechanisms, support systems, psychosocial distress, and issues related to sexuality and intimacy.
For more detailed blueprint outline, please review the OCN exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources.
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
OCN Exam Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the OCN exam, a registered nurse must meet the following requirements:
- At least two years of RN experience
- A minimum of 2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the past four years
- At least 10 contact hours of oncology nursing continuing education or an academic elective in oncology nursing within the past three years.
OCN Application Process
Online Application:
Application Submission:
Scheduling the Exam:
Preparation:
OCN Exam Dates and Costs
The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam, administered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC), is available year-round in the United States, its territories, and Canada.
For the latest information on exam dates, application deadlines, and costs, visit the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) official website.
OCN Exam Format
Number of Questions: The OCN exam consists of 165 multiple-choice questions, of which 145 are scored, and 20 are unscored pretest questions. These unscored questions are distributed throughout the exam and are used for future test development.
Exam Response Options: Multiple-choice format.
Testing Options: The exam can be taken at PSI testing centers.
Time Allotted: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam.
Passing Score for OCN
Difficulty Level: The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam is considered challenging, with annual pass rates varying between 58% and 71% over recent years.
Passing Score: To pass the OCN exam, candidates must achieve a scaled score of at least 55 on a scale ranging from 25 to 75. This scaled scoring method accounts for slight variations in difficulty across different exam forms, ensuring fairness.
Exam Statistics: Detailed statistics, including annual pass rates and the number of candidates tested, are available on the ONCC's official webpage.
Score Reporting: Candidates receive immediate on-screen notification of their pass/fail status upon completing the exam. A detailed score report report is emailed to candidates within one hour, providing insights into performance across various content areas.
OCN Exam Proctoring
The OCN exam is administered by the ONCC in partnership with PSI Services. Candidates can take the exam at PSI testing centers, which are available across various locations. This traditional method involves attending a physical location to complete the exam under supervised conditions.
OCN Preparation and Resources
BoardCerts meticulously aligns its practice questions with the OCN exam blueprint to ensure relevance and comprehensive coverage of the content candidates will encounter on the test. The question bank is developed in coordination with this blueprint, incorporating the same authoritative resources that form the foundation of the official exam. This approach provides candidates with an effective and thorough preparation experience.
- Topics on the Exam: The OCN exam encompasses a broad range of topics, including health promotion, disease prevention, and more topics related to the care of oncology patients. A detailed breakdown of these topics can be found here: Preparation and Resources.
- Review Course: Consider enrolling in a review course, such as those offered by the ONCC, to build a strong foundation in exam content.
- Question Bank: Utilize a comprehensive resource like the BoardCerts OCN Question Bank, which aligns with the exam blueprint and is reviewed by OCN-certified nurses. The question bank offers extensive practice essential for success and includes predictor exams to help assess your readiness for the test.
OCN Certification Renewal
The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam is valid for four years. To renew your certification, you must complete the following:
- Certification and License: Must have an active OCN certification and a current, unencumbered RN license in the U.S., its territories, or Canada.
- Experience: Must have at least one year of RN experience within the past three years and a minimum of 1,000 hours in adult oncology nursing within the past 30 months.
There are three renewal options for the OCN exam available:
- Renew with a combination of practice hours and professional development points.
- Renew through practice hours and successful testing.
- Renew by combining professional development points with successful testing.
For more details visit the OCN recertification website.
OCN Practice Questions
- Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of OCN exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts OCN Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the OCN exam blueprint, ensuring you are well-prepared and confident on test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
