LPNs in Oncology?

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Hello, Everyone!

My name is Leslie, and I am new here.

I have just been accepted into a 15 month LPN program, and classes begin on August 26th. I am excited to finally be pursuing my dream of being a nurse! :D

I am very interested in working in Oncology when I graduate. I am curious to know if working in Oncology is a possibility as an LPN. One of the directors at my nursing school said that LPNs are utilized on Oncology floors in my region, but she did not say in what capacity. I was also wondering what, if any, additional training would be required to make my goal of working with cancer patients a reality.

Thank you for the advice and input. I look forward to learning from the experienced nurses here!! :)

Leslie

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I know that where I work we have a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU) and LPN's can't work there because of the chemo and stuff but I did work at a hospital that had an oncology floor and LPN's did work there. It was a unit that say you came in for COPD but you have cancer you would be put on that floor. But they also did chemo there. Good Luck

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Amy,

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post about LPNs in oncology. I didn't think that anyone was ever going to answer! I really do appreciate your input.

I knew that LPNs could not administer chemotherapy. I was just basically wondering what it would take to "get my foot in the door" on an oncology floor as an LPN since working with cancer patients AND becoming an RN are my long term goals.

Good luck to you in your nursing career!

Leslie

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The floor I work on has "team nursing" and is a Med Surg floor with a lot of Oncolgy patients. The LPNs on the "team" do a lot of work with our Chemo patients. I think it really depends on what part of the country you live in and the hospital you work for.

While the LPNs can't hang Chemo, they still provide nursing care for these patients. They can give certian pre-meds and help monitor during the chemo treatment. If it wasn't for some of the great LPNs on the floor I don't know what I would do.

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LPN's work on our oncology unit as pare of the team. They don't hang chemo, but then neither do I, you need a chemo certification to hang it.

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Dont worry about it just GO and DO IT.

You have a dream and thats what you have to hold on to.:nurse:

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I work in Texas and am a LVN who works oncology. I have done it for three years, two where I currently work and one at Parkland.

Where I work now I have no restrictions. I am chemo certified and hang my own chemo and blood. I access ports and frequently utilize central lines and admin TPN. However when I worked at Parkland I had to get special permission to give my own pushes as it is against their policy for LVNs. I was never allowed to hang chemo there but did attend their chemo seminar and pain managment classes and learned alot. Unfortunately it is unfair to work in a specialty area if the policies do not allow you to do your job properly and you must hunt down an RN all of the time. Delaying care to your pt and taking her away from her's.

I suggest you look around for a hospital with more liberal policies and do not shy away from a year or two on a medical floor to strengthen your basics. I have been a nurse for 14yr.s, many of them in ER and ICU. Learn whatever you can anywhere you can. Nothing is wasted.

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.
norinradd

Unfortunately it is unfair to work in a specialty area if the policies do not allow you to do your job properly and you must hunt down an RN all of the time. Delaying care to your pt and taking her away from her's.

I totally agree!

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Hey there norinrad....Im in Denton too. I am attending NCTC. Any suggestions?

Hidi74 Future RNangel:D

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