[NurseToBe20100102]

Hello, I have just recently decided to go into the nursing field, and I want to have a direction. Can anyone tellme a little about oncology and if anyone here works in that department and how they like it...? please. I see it says they provide care for patients with cancer, is that pretty much the basics is that you work with cancer patients?? I am interested in this because a boy I know had it so I would like to help others as well like how he loved his nurses during his tough time. Thank You.

[bottomsup]

You will have many experiences in your nursing clinicals, so I wouldn't pin my hopes on any one area until you've been through several. I work in an ambulatory oncology infusion office and it is very, very busy. It's rewarding to see the patients who go into remission, but also very hard to lose patients from time to time. It's also constantly changing so you need to be flexible and open to new advances in the field.

[GrumpyRN63]

I love oncology. It's a specialty where there is so much continuity of care. You see the patients come back again and again, for good or bad, but the relationships you develop with them and their families are truly special, you also learn the value of life, the gift of each day, and not to sweat the small stuff.
As far as my experience, pts come in for surgery, chemo, radiation, complications from the disease, and/ or chemo, pain control issues, infections, wounds. lots of stuff. You will learn a tremendous amount in oncology whether it is surgical oncology or medical oncology. New grads are always welcome!!