Test Blueprint

  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention – 5% of test content
    • Epidemiology (e.g., at-risk populations including cultures; socioeconomic status; age; occupations)
    • Prevention (e.g., high risk behaviors; preventive health practices)
  • Screening, Early Detection and Diagnosis – 7% of test content
    • Risk factors for cancer
    • Screening
    • Early detection
    • Risk Reduction Guidelines
    • Diagnostic testing
  • Scientific Basis for Practice including Research – 10% of test content
    • Carcinogenesis
    • Immunology
    • Genetics
    • Specific cancers (pathophysiology, diagnostic measures, prognosis)
    • Classification (tumors, staging, grading)
    • Common metastatic sites
    • Research Protocols and Clinical Trials
  • Cancer Treatment Modalities – 15% of test content
    • Vascular access devices
    • Surgery
    • Radiation
    • Targeted therapies
    • Biotherapy
    • Chemotherapy
    • Hematopoietic stem cell transplant
    • Complementary, alternative and integrative modalities
  • Symptom Management – 22% of test content
    (risk factors, prevention, education, management, and palliative care using the nursing process)
    • Etiology and patterns of symptoms (acute, chronic, late)
    • Toxicity and rating scales
    • Alterations in comfort
    • Alterations in protective mechanisms
    • Alterations in gastrointestinal function
    • Alterations in genitourinary function
    • Alterations in respiratory function
    • Alterations in circulatory function
    • Alterations in nutrition
    • Alterations in neurological function
    • Anatomical and surgical alterations
    • Pharmacologic interventions (e.g., antimicrobials; antiemetics; analgesic regimens; psychotropic drugs; growth factors)
    • Nonpharmacologic interventions (e.g., heat; massage; imagery)
    • Complementary, alternative and integrative modalities
  • Psychosocial Dimensions of Care – 7% of test content
    • Cultural, spiritual, and religious diversity
    • Financial concerns
    • Psychosocial disturbances-alterations
    • Anxiety, loss and grief, depression
    • Altered body image
    • Loss of personal control
    • Patient and family support groups
    • Learning styles and barriers to learning
    • Social relationships
    • Coping mechanisms and skills
  • Oncologic Emergencies – 10% of test content
    (risk factors, prevention, education and management using the nursing process, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions)
    • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
    • Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
    • Septic shock
    • Tumor lysis syndrome
    • Hypersensitivity and/or anaphylaxis
    • Hypercalcemia
    • Cardiac tamponade
    • Spinal cord compression
    • Superior vena cava syndrome
    • Increased intracranial pressure
  • Sexuality – 5% of test content
    (risk factors, prevention, education, and management using the nursing process, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions)
    • Reproductive issues (contraception and fertility)
    • STD and HIV risk
    • Sexual dysfunction (physical and psychological effects)
  • Survivorship – 8% of test content
    (concept, education and management using the nursing process)
    • Psychosocial, physical and cognitive alterations
    • Issues (e.g., financial; employment; insurance; discrimination; family and social support)
    • Acute effects
    • Late effects
    • Recurrence and/or secondary malignancies
    • Rehabilitation and long term follow up
  • End of Life Care – 6% of test content
    (principles, complex symptom management including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, family support and education)
    • Grief and bereavement process
    • Reimbursement issues and community resources
    • Hospice (e.g., principles, settings for care)
  • Professional Performance – 5% of test content
    • Local, state, and national resources
    • Application of statement on the scope and standards of oncology nursing practice
    • Sources of data for evidence-based practice
    • Education process (teaching and learning principles)
    • Legal issues
    • Ethical issues
    • Patient advocacy
    • Quality assurance
    • Professional development
    • Multidisciplinary collaboration