Bone Marrow Transplant unit

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2008

Hello all,
I am graduating in May with my BSN:yeah:. I am considering applying for two positions in our local hospital. One is on the oncology floor with 19 beds and the other is a bone marrow transplant floor with 12 beds. My interest has always been in cancer related areas, but I'm not sure what all the BMT unit would consist of. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Shan:nuke:

I strongly suggest you talk to some of the nurses on the BMTU - the ones that have been there for awhile will be sure to tell you to good, bad and the ugly.

Blee

coquette · Mar 28, 2008

My advice to you is that since you are graduating you need to stick to the more general unit, oncology. Oncology is a great place to start because you learn so much. Bone marrow unit will be specialized and will keep you "pigeon holed" for awhile. You need to have a broader perspective first then go to a more specialized area of need as you get more experience. I did oncology for 8 years and will never regret the years I spent in it. I'm a nurse practitioner now in neurology but I also worked emergency room and other places for some time before I specialized.

Djuna · Mar 28, 2008

I worked in Haematology and orientated to the BMTU. I personally don't think it is a good place to start off as a new graduate RN and I agree with the above poster who suggested a more general Oncology unit would be better.

It can be extremely busy in haematology and it isn't a place you can forget aseptic techniques when you are feeling rushed. People 'crash' really quickly and you have to have the skills and knowledge to know exactly what to do. Even though you have experienced RNs working with you it is an area where you don't really consolidate your general nursing practice or knowledge because it is so specialised.

Oncology is to some extent slightly slower paced, it's a great area to learn a lot and you can really start out as a new grad rather than feel pressured into getting up to speed.

There is nothing worse than being a new RN and feeling discouraged because you are overwhelmed and in my opinion the BMTU has the capacity to make you feel like that.

All the best in your new career.

NoWaNrN, ASN, RN · Mar 28, 2008

When you get your interview as for a job shadow, alot of places like to hear you ask for this instead of getting to a unit and not liking it. You would really benifit from that and the nurses would probably be really willing to answer questions.

Transplant-BSNTx · Mar 29, 2008

If you really want to do BMT, then I say go for it. It's like any other specialty area that new graduates are being hired into these days. With a thorough orientation/preceptorship....the graduate nurse will thrive in such environment.

I went directly into BMT after graduation and have been there ever since. It is a higher acuity area. Some BMT units, like my unit, have telemetry, cardiac trips, TPN, NGTs, and various other skills/procedures that would be performed on a general medical/surgical oncology nursing unit. Plus you'll get plenty of experience administering high-dose chemotherapy, and multiple blood product transfusions.

You'll definetly learn a lot.

BrokenRNheart · Mar 29, 2008

I worked BMT. We had newer nurses. As long as you are dedicated, respect that these people will have their marrow wiped out with no immune system, will be receiving HIGH doses of chemo and WILL see the side effects and that you need sharp skills and commitment - you will be fine.

New nurses take on ICU positions. No different - just different medicine/practice.

Hem/onc is not what it used to be. More outpatient treatments and all. Less inpatient ONC.

BMT is very interesting and can be very sad and heartbreaking too. These patients get VERY SICK. And Graft vs Host can be aweful. You have to be ready to deal with multiple IV's, ready to treat sepsis fast, manage nausea, stomatitis, think ahead, watch mg, k+, hgb, plt etc. Give RBC's, PLT's, K+ and mg regularly.

With BMT, you wipe out their immune system and then rescue them with the BMTxp and then manage the side effects of high dose chemo and then the BMTxp itself - particularly Graft vs. Host.

Be extra extra extra conscienscious of their immune systems. Know your drugs and doses.

I miss it. I loved it. You will have patients for a LONG time also. Not such a high turnover.

I vote yes - do it.