About Pediatric Oncology

Specialties Oncology

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Hello. I am a high school student and it is that time where the topic of college is coming up. It is quite stressful not knowing what I want to do. So I have been doing some research and Pediatric Oncology Nursing is something that has intrigued me. I would like to be a nurse because for one I love helping people and I'd like to work in the medical field, for I know it is a growing and well paying field. I love kids and working with them. Everyone I meet that sees me with kids always comments on how I am such a natural with kids. So getting to help and work with kids, two things I love, would be awesome. It would be very helpful and appreciated if someone of this occupation could tell me what you do on a day to day basis, any pros and cons. Or anything about the job, I just kind of need some information to see if this is something I would really like to do. Also what was your major in college or what kind of classes you took. Also what classes are helpful to take in high school or any advice. And I can assume you work with blood, what do you do exactly that involves blood, because I can deal with blood such as like drawing blood but not tons, so I was just curious about that. Wow I did not realize that is a lot of questions but what ever information you can give me is much appreciated.

*if any nurses went to college in massachusetts could you let me know where? I really love Boston so I would love to go to college their*

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Specializes in peds palliative care and hospice.

good for you!

Pediatric oncology can be a hard area to break into - most nurses get there and stay there (from my experiance). There are many great nursing schools in Mass! Since you are starting early, now is a great time to network! See if you can volunteer at the children(s) hospital(s) in your area. There are also camps for kids with cancer/blood disorders/special needs that would reflect in a positive way.

Pediatric nursing is great, but it is not all peaches and cream. It is very rewarding, but also complex and so very challenging at times.

Best of luck!

feel free to PM me if you want to talk or ask more questions :)

smurfynursey

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Specializes in CNA.

I too want to break into Pediatric Oncology too! I have such a huge heart for children, especially those who are battling illnesses that will seemingly win! I wish you best of luck hun!

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Specializes in Pedi.
Hello. I am a high school student and it is that time where the topic of college is coming up. It is quite stressful not knowing what I want to do. So I have been doing some research and Pediatric Oncology Nursing is something that has intrigued me. I would like to be a nurse because for one I love helping people and I'd like to work in the medical field, for I know it is a growing and well paying field. I love kids and working with them. Everyone I meet that sees me with kids always comments on how I am such a natural with kids. So getting to help and work with kids, two things I love, would be awesome. It would be very helpful and appreciated if someone of this occupation could tell me what you do on a day to day basis, any pros and cons. Or anything about the job, I just kind of need some information to see if this is something I would really like to do. Also what was your major in college or what kind of classes you took. Also what classes are helpful to take in high school or any advice. And I can assume you work with blood, what do you do exactly that involves blood, because I can deal with blood such as like drawing blood but not tons, so I was just curious about that. Wow I did not realize that is a lot of questions but what ever information you can give me is much appreciated.

*if any nurses went to college in massachusetts could you let me know where? I really love Boston so I would love to go to college their*

To be a pediatric oncology nurse, in college you must major in nursing. You will then be eligible to take NCLEX when you graduate to become licensed as a nurse.

You will work with blood in many ways. Children with cancer have long-term venous access devices such as port-a-caths, PICCs or CVLs. When they need labs, nurses are the ones to draw from these devices. Working in pediatric oncology, you will draw blood several times a day. EVERY oncology patient in the hospital gets labs at least once/day. I cannot think of an instance when they wouldn't have labs. Children with cancer also need a lot of blood transfusions. You will administer all blood products in oncology.

On a day to day basis, what you do depends on the environment you are working in. In the hospital, you are there for the worst day of someone's life- they day when they are told their child has cancer or maybe the day that they are told that there is nothing else to be done (though this could happen in a clinic too) or the day that the child lets go and moves on from this world (also possible in hospice). You might be giving chemotherapy or caring for kids who are admitted with complications from their chemotherapy- their counts dropped so low that they became septic. In an oncology clinic, you might be giving chemotherapy, giving antibiotics, doing line care, accessing ports, teaching parents how to give shots, giving shots, drawing labs, giving blood transfusions. In home care, I give chemotherapy, do central line care, draw labs, make sure non-compliant parents are giving their children critical meds or discover that they are not and report them and see some pretty infuriating things like parents who are trying to steal their child's Make-A-Wish to get a free vacation for themselves.

As far as a "growing and well paying field", it's probably not what you think. The number of nurses is growing but the jobs for them are not. Especially in Massachusetts. There are an abundance of nursing schools in MA and getting a job is very competitive. And I went to Boston College.

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OP: Your photo is linked to your Twitter account. That means your Twitter account is also linked in here. That means everything you say there, or here, will be forever recorded in the public realm, to include a possible nursing school or employer. Unless you are sure your thoughts and what you type are as pure as the driven snow, might want to think about your online prvacy.

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I too want to break into Pediatric Oncology too! I have such a huge heart for children, especially those who are battling illnesses that will seemingly win! I wish you best of luck hun!

OP: Your image is also linked to 'several' online data bases. I'm just sayin'...

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Thank you so much! This helped tons

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