Any advice re: outpatient chemo center?

[julieK]

I just put in to transfer from where I work in inpatient oncology (chemo, bmt, il-2, and general onc patients) to outpatient where they just do chemo all day. I will definitely need to brush up on my iv skills and chemo knowledge. Any words of advice from anyone working in outpatient setting?

Thanks,

Julie in NYC

[Sadie04]

I've been working in an outpatient oncology clinic for 6 months now and I love my job! It's far less stressful than my previous job working in a large understaffed teaching hospital.

I took a chemo course that focused on the different types of chemo, safe handling and administration, side effects, etc. which was very helpful.

I use my IV skills daily and became expert at starting difficult IVs in no time - most of our patient's have horrible veins and I start about 5-10 peripheral IVs a day. We also do a lot of blood draws with butterflies. About 40% of our pts have Mediports.

I love being able to spend that extra time with my pts that I very rarely had in the hospital which makes me appreciate my job and realize how much I really love being a nurse.

Good luck to you!

[das]

I've worked in an outpatient/doctors office for the past 6 years(15 yrs in house with 7 on an Oncology Unit total 21 nursing years). I love my job but it has changed over the last few years. Lots more complicated chemos and complex protocols. Learn the protocols, Acronyms (ie ABVD, FOLFOX7...) and ask if you have any questions. Read package inserts if you are mixing chemo, know compatibilities and always check your patient's counts and make sure an MD is available, if not present during infusions. Good luck! Oncology outpatients are the best and you will learn so much from them!!!!!