OCN Study Plan: 14 Days to Exam Day
Published 2026-11-02 · Facts and text checked 2026-10-16 · Questions from our OCN study guide · Reviewed by Hana N., Quality Reviewer
This 14-day OCN study plan follows the weighted content outline: one topic per day with free practice questions, a mixed practice day, a readiness check on Day 13 and light review before the exam. It assumes you already work in oncology and need structure, not a full course, and you can stretch it to four weeks.
Spend extra days on symptom management and treatment modalities, the two heaviest areas, if your Day 1 quiz shows gaps there.
Day 1: Baseline
- Take the free "Am I ready?" OCN quiz and write down your two weakest topics.
- Read the exam facts table: number of questions, time and how passing works.
Day 2: The Care Continuum
- Read the The Care Continuum chapter of your guide or course notes.
- Answer the 15 free The Care Continuum questions and read every explanation, also for the ones you got right.
- Write three facts you missed on a card and review them tomorrow.
Day 3: Oncology Nursing Foundations
- Read the Oncology Nursing Foundations chapter of your guide or course notes.
- Answer the 15 free Oncology Nursing Foundations questions and read every explanation, also for the ones you got right.
- Write three facts you missed on a card and review them tomorrow.
Day 4: Surgical and Radiation Oncology
- Read the Surgical and Radiation Oncology chapter of your guide or course notes.
- Answer the 15 free Surgical and Radiation Oncology questions and read every explanation, also for the ones you got right.
- Write three facts you missed on a card and review them tomorrow.
Day 5: Systemic Therapies
- Read the Systemic Therapies chapter of your guide or course notes.
- Answer the 15 free Systemic Therapies questions and read every explanation, also for the ones you got right.
- Write three facts you missed on a card and review them tomorrow.
Day 6: Pain, Fatigue and GI Symptoms
- Read the Pain, Fatigue and GI Symptoms chapter of your guide or course notes.
- Answer the 15 free Pain, Fatigue and GI Symptoms questions and read every explanation, also for the ones you got right.
- Write three facts you missed on a card and review them tomorrow.
Day 7: Hematologic and Skin Toxicities
- Read the Hematologic and Skin Toxicities chapter of your guide or course notes.
- Answer the 15 free Hematologic and Skin Toxicities questions and read every explanation, also for the ones you got right.
- Write three facts you missed on a card and review them tomorrow.
Day 8: Oncologic Emergencies
- Read the Oncologic Emergencies chapter of your guide or course notes.
- Answer the 15 free Oncologic Emergencies questions and read every explanation, also for the ones you got right.
- Write three facts you missed on a card and review them tomorrow.
Day 9: Weakest topic, second pass
- Go back to the topic with your lowest score and redo its questions without looking at the answers.
- Review the cards you wrote so far.
Day 10: Weakest topic, second pass
- Go back to the topic with your lowest score and redo its questions without looking at the answers.
- Review the cards you wrote so far.
Day 11: Weakest topic, second pass
- Go back to the topic with your lowest score and redo its questions without looking at the answers.
- Review the cards you wrote so far.
Day 12: Mixed practice
- Answer the 25 mixed questions on the OCN practice test hub in one sitting.
- Mark every question you guessed: guesses are weak spots too.
Day 13: Check your readiness
- Retake the "Am I ready?" quiz and compare with Day 1.
- If you are below 80%, spend the evening on the topics the result lists.
Day 14: Light review and logistics
- Check your test appointment and ID, and remember that ONCC tests use generic drug names only.
- Skim the psychosocial area (10% of the test): it is not one of the topic pages, so review it from your guide.
- Review your cards once, then stop studying early and sleep.
Questions for each day: the hub. On day 13, take the "Am I ready?" quiz.
Want the full OCN preparation?
These questions come from our OCN study guide: full-length practice tests with every answer explained, flashcards, an AI study tutor and the audiobook.