Changing from ED/Urgent care to Oncology

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Hi there,

I've been in ER/ urgent care 6 years... I am ready for a change so I decided to apply for the cancer center day hospital (chem, blood transfusion, fluids, injections, etc) within my organization well I got it! (i did do a shadow for a day so i kind of got a feel for what it was before jumping in head first) I'm excited for something new and more learning but im kind of nervous too.

Has anyone else made this transition???

And any chemo nurses have some words of wisdom for a new one????

Thanks!

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Congrats! Take the time to really learn your meds and protocols. It will save you so much time rather than having to look everything up each time. Also, know the key side effects to look for with respect to each medication you give. For example, fludarabine can potentially cause anaphylaxis, so obviously you would be on the lookout for that. That drug also often causes the patient to become febrile. Another thing to know is the emetogenic potential of different chemotherapeutics and the typical onset so that you can educate your patients.

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Thanks!

When i did my shadow i was asking the nurse i was shadowing if they memorize the protocols and she said no we just keep up our sheet its really easy to look it up and most of the protocols are with the orders so you have them right there, but that you'll end up memorizing the common ones. Yeah the side effects and onset times i have no clue! I was trying to find an app to put on my iphone that would be easy to look up before i see a patient then i can look it up and at least feel like i know something. haha

Im sure it will take time, just like ER did... just so totally different.

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I am ER nurse interviewing for a prn infusion center position. I would love to know your thoughts on your transition now that you're a few months into it!

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I am ER nurse interviewing for a prn infusion center position. I would love to know your thoughts on your transition now that you're a few months into it!

im assuming you'll still be working in the ER also. I am liking it but it is the tough specialty I've done by far. Luckily I have great coworkers. I'm still on orientation for awhile I'd say try it out of you don't like it you can always leave or just not pick up much

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Sorry this is an old thread but I did enjoy working there but I have moved on to a new role what I even trying to do for 2 years so it was a great position though

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