Oncology texts/references

[BuckeyeRN07]

Though I don't often post, I visit this site (as well as these forums) quite frequently and am never left wanting for helpful information! I'm hoping that someone out there would be willing to recommend a textbook, reference book, journal... some form of printed material... that has helped them along in terms of learning how to provide the best care for oncology patients.

The reason I'm asking is simply that I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve as I change directions with my career. I've been a RN on a bustling med/surg stepdown floor for awhile now, and recently accepted a position with a different hospital on a med/surg oncology unit. This floor's census is primarily solid tumor diagnoses, and they quite frequently have patients participating in clinical trial treatments (all phases).

I'm VERY excited about this change, but am not ashamed to say that I'm quite nervous at the same time. My experience with onc patients has been limited, and I've NEVER taken care of someone actively receiving chemotherapy. I'm confident that my new employer's orientation program will give me all the tools I need to safely care for this population, but I'd certainly feel much more prepared to "graduate" from orientation if I can supplement my on-the-job learning with extra reading that can be done at home.

Any help is greatly appreciated! :)

[eternalsunshine]

Hi,

Here are a few books i can recommend:

this is my favourite and I constantly come home and refer to it:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oncology-Nursing-Assessment-Clinical-Care/dp/0815169906/ref=sr_1_63?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238841209&sr=1-63

I did two oncology courses last year one of them on chemotherapy and I really liked this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cancer-Its-Management-Robert-Souhami/dp/1405126361/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238840892&sr=8-11

This is a nice little handbook that is great to keep in your bag:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oxford-Handbook-Cancer-Nursing-Handbooks/dp/0198569246/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238840892&sr=8-9

This is a great book to keep as a constant reference book with nearly 2000 pages:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cancer-Nursing-Principles-Practice-Bartlett/dp/0763747203/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238841104&sr=1-13

If your hospital has their own library, I would see if you can any of these books in there first to have a look at first.

Hope that helps you and good luck :wink2:

[BuckeyeRN07]

Thanks for the tips!

Orientation starts next Monday (strictly classroom/skills testing for the first couple of weeks), and I'm sure I'll have access to the many libraries scattered across campus once I'm "in the system" as an employee. If I strike out there, maybe I'll get lucky with some of our local booksellers (there are numerous colleges & universities within a 30-mile radius) by browsing through their medical textbook aisles... Someone is bound to have at least one of these titles available for review!

In the meantime I'll also drop a line to my new nurse manager for any recommendations she might have. I'm sure she's had requests for learning resources from other nurses on her unit, especially with the number of clinical trial participants they see admitted!