Pediatric Oncology Nurse

Click for salary, education, & more: Pediatric Oncology Nurse (enfermero de oncología pediátrica)

Learning that their child has cancer is heartbreaking, and pediatric oncology nurses are at the forefront of helping families through these difficult times. Here’s a role play to help you learn about childhood cancers, and to practice empathy:

STEP 1: Research online to find the most common cancers that affect children.

STEP 2: Choose one that you are most interested in.

STEP 3: Imagine a patient in your care has been diagnosed with this cancer. As a pediatric oncology nurse, you will assist the doctor in breaking the news to her parents. Prepare notes to guide your conversation with the parents to help them understand:

• What is the type of cancer?
• How do you know the child has it?
• What are the treatment options?
• What is the medical prognosis?
• What will happen from here?

STEP 4: Once your notes are prepared, practice in the mirror to ensure your conversation goes smoothly. You want to be knowledgeable, but also empathetic and kind.

STEP 5: Role play! Recruit a friend or adult to pretend being the parent of a child with cancer, and ‘deliver the news’. 

STEP 6: Reflect – How did it go? What did you do well? What could be improved? Ask your partner to provide feedback to help you become the best pediatric oncology nurse ever!

Optional – Share a video of your role play in the  Student Showcase to build your resume!