luvbug9956

luvbug9956 has 6 years experience and specializes in Oncology.

Latest Activity

1. Troubles as a new manager

   luvbug9956 replied to rckymtnrn30's topic in Management

   It is lonely at the top! I have to say though, although this seems like a weak answer, sometimes it is time to move on. My first career in management was very difficult - I managed a group of unusually dysfunctional nurses and other staff. My direct...

2. Dayshifters- What time do you get up on your days off?

   luvbug9956 replied to tinderbox's topic in General Nursing

   I get up at 5:15 on work days and I tend to wake up around that time on my off days...but try to get back to sleep until at least 7:00. I am one of those who feel like crap if I sleep past 8:00 or so.

3. Flushing a Port-a-Cath--to waste or not to waste?

   luvbug9956 replied to bruinrn's topic in General Nursing

   I draw back to check for blood return anytime I access a port. When I do that, I just go ahead and waste 3-5 cc's. I want to know that I am flushing into a patent line!

4. Nursing is not what I thought...hate my job...need ur opinion

   luvbug9956 replied to dtermineddenise's topic in General Nursing

   Telemetry units are notoriously difficult. I floated to tele one day from my med/surg unit and was flabbergasted. I had a new-found respect for all you tele nurses I work in oncology, but really wasn't happy on the inpatient side. I moved to outpati...

5. Education vs Experience

   luvbug9956 replied to Airforce1's topic in General Nursing

   I am a recent (5 years ago) grad, and I struggled with the same issue. Do I go and work for awhile, or go straight to grad school? I decided to work, and I am really glad I did! I have already moved into a leadership position with my BSN and am now i...

6. Trying to get information about GBMC in Baltimore

   luvbug9956 replied to SurvivorRN's topic in Maryland

   I worked there for about 2 years as a student, and then 2 years as an RN. There are positives and negatives and I think it depends on which unit you work. I worked newborn nursery/postpartum as a student and it was great. GBMC is known for their OB p...

7. Magnet Hospital Status

   luvbug9956 replied to 1Tulip's topic in Management

   I have to say, my facility received Magnet status about a year ago. And honestly?? The staff nurses hate it. They don't feel that they are receiving any benefits from it. And they are required to do a LOT more work. They must be members of committees...

8. UMB Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Specialist Program

   luvbug9956 posted a topic in Maryland

   I will be starting my grad program in August, and I am currently enrolled in the NP/CS/Oncology program at UMB. I am going to start with one online core course this fall to ease myself in. I work 40+ hours per week (5 8-hour shifts) as a clinical lea...

9. Oncology nursing student...peds or adults?

   luvbug9956 replied to teenyjo's topic in Oncology

   Nurses in pediatric oncology tend to be quite loyal...less turnaround time. It would probably be very difficult for a new grad to obtain a position in that field. I would suggest starting in adult. This way, you could start on an inpatient oncology f...

10. High Dose Chemotherapy & Hemorrhagic Cystitis

    luvbug9956 replied to SteffersRN87's topic in Oncology

    I agree with the above posters. We did not institute CBI unless our patients showed initial signs of hemorrhagic cystitis (first sign of blood in the urine). I would think that infection rates would increase drastically with prophylactic CBI...

11. carbo/taxol/avastin order of admin

    luvbug9956 replied to mykidzmom's topic in Oncology

    Taxanes are always given before carboplatin, or severe pancytopenia can occur. We actually give the Avastin FIRST in our clinic. We do this for convenience, as we do not wait for the patient's lab results and can start the drug immediately, then giv...

12. I'm curious about isle 2 patients

    luvbug9956 replied to CityKat's topic in Oncology

    There is a big difference between chemotherapy and biotherapy in regard to both toxicities and method of action. I am 26 and have worked oncology for 3 years. There is no definitive data on whether nurses working with chemotherapy have a higher risk ...

13. Hanging Chemo

    luvbug9956 replied to arms's topic in Oncology

    We usually give chemo with ANC of 1.5 or above. Often times we will treat with a lower ANC with filgrastim or pegfilgrastim support. It also depends on the patient's regimen. If you are a member of ONS, there is a great online lecture through their w...

14. Change in IV Phenergan Policy

    luvbug9956 replied to RNKPCE's topic in Medications

    I work in an outpatient oncology clinic infusing chemotherapy. In the years that I have worked in oncology, Phenergen is rarely given. With the new alternatives out there that have FAR fewer side effects and increased efficacy, it's just kinda fallen...

15. Nursing Shortage? Yeah right...

    luvbug9956 replied to Luvelyone's topic in New Nurse

    In one of the hospitals that I had been previously employeed, an LPN program was piloted, as they had previously not employed any LPN's at all. The program was piloted on one of the medical-surgical units and I think that it has since dissolved. The ...