Looking for advice...

[zoomzoom]

Hi!:)

I'm a sophomore nursing student and I've been assigned to clinicals on the Oncology floor. I'm a bit nervous about starting to work on people anyways, so I'm just trying to get ahead by seeing what's all going on in this dept.

Do you guys have any advice about working in the Oncology unit? Anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Ted]

I see that you posted this a few days ago. You've probably already had your experience on the oncology unit. (I've been away for a few . . . for several. . . days.)

Hope all went well!

By know you probably realize that nausea and vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, etc are expectant side effects from chemo/radiation therapies and that need to be dealt with. Listening. . . sometimes it's the best nursing one can provide. Listening and being attentive to your patient's needs.

Let us know how you're doing! :)

Ted

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Yes let us know how they went. I guess probably the biggest thing you will see is how people can have hope and in the same breath others are facing their death. Some do it with such grace and dignity and others go down fighting. I think what I walked away with from oncology was the realization of my own death and what I would or would not want it to be, realizing we seldom have the notice or any choice in this issue.

renerian

[RN~in~CT]

One thing I recall from my Oncology rotation was that the pts are hypersensitive to smells ~ a side effect from Chemo.

Our instructor told us to avoid perfumes and fragranced lotions for their comfort.

Let us know how it's going.

:)