ittybittynurse

I used to work in Adult Oncology outpatient. I am now inpatient and with peds and cancer. So I just finished my training about 2 weeks ago. Because of my previous experience with chemotherapy I felt I was able to sink in smoothly only on that department (medications) everything is else is completely new to me. Outpatient vs. Inpatient. Most chemotherapy is given in an outpatient settings especially for adults. People come in for treatment and leave that same day within hours. Some treatments are given once a week, or three times a week. Or even once a month depending on their cancer. Outpatient patients are for the most part healthy enough to go home. Yes they are sick, they have side effects and you have to teach a lot. Give them information, teach family members and pts on just about every topic: cancer treatments, side effects, medications, what to do when they have a fever, when to call the doctor, when to go to E.R. and so forth. Its a fast paced environment. At times I felt overwhelmed, but its always rewarding at the end bc you get to teach a lot. pts call you and trust you, especially when you give them a lot of information. Inpatient setting you get to see a full picture at the tip of your hands especially with children since the family is always involved. You get to know pts very close and personal bc you are treating their complications from the chemo. You give chemo also, but you're monitoring them closer bc of side effects that led them to stay in the hospital. Bc I started with adults, switching to peds was challenging on many levels. One of them, which I have to be honest about is how to talk to kids. How to get their attention. Its a different language. I take myself back into my past in my own seven year old shoes and I imagine how I would want a nurse to talk to me, what I would like to hear the nurse say to me and in what tone of voice. I feel like you have to be childlike and animated no matter what peds setting you're in. Bc I don't have kids, I imagine how I would treat my kids, or how I would like my child to be treated if they were sick. With children you have to zoom in closer and understand the picture. Its scary. but then again any setting in nursing is intimidating.....but once you got the hang of it and you learn more you gain confidence and you're able to bring more to the table. Nursing in general is challenging, besides all those qualities that depicts a nurse: loving, caring, patient....I honestly believe a nurse needs to be TOUGH/Strong... You have to be able to put up with a lot. From family, to patients, and even death. You have to be able and willing to face any challenge. You're allowed to cry and share how you feel but you gotta be tough, you have to be able to move on. You can take you're experience bad or good learn from it. Nursing school is challenging, and even then after you're done with school it gets more challenging. There's is a tremendous amount of scientific knowledge involved. If you're looking into programs make sure you go with a B.S.N because a lot of well known hospitals are hiring bachelor degree nurses only, that's how they keep their magnet status. Usually take 4-5 years to complete from beginning with pre-reqs to finishing the program. You can take 1-2 years to complete your pre-reqs, and full bachelor nursing program is 3 years I was 16 when I decided I wanted to go to nursing school. I graduated from H.S. went straight into my pre reqs tooks me 2 years, and was admitted to a nursing program. Finished about 3 years ago. I'm a nurse. You're never too young or too old. Set your heart&mind on it stay strong and do it! Nursing is rewarding, but some nurses are underpaid. And I could give you digits and numbers on how much we make, and you may think "wow, that's good money" or that's fair. But in reality, at least speaking from my experience nurses deserve more. we do so much in health care. we could never be over paid. And If we do we deserve it.

Many hospitals aren't hiring ADN anymore. Go with BSN. I know of nurses with experience and have an ADN, and are going back to get BSN, they have kids now, and work full time and go to school full time, its more challenging. Just get it out of the way BSN!

DON'T GIVE UP. FIGHT!!!!

In my facility (outpatient) we push adria. Over 30 minutes while hydration drips. Cyclophosphimide hangs in a bag after adriamycin.

Don't be afraid to jump into it. I did right after college. I love it. Seek for outpatient clinics/dr. Offices where you can grow and focus more on treatment rather than bedside care.

After accessing many porta-caths at my outpatient oncology office I have discovered that some patients (not all) have a metallic taste at the back of their mouth. Some smell a salty strong bad odor as I flush the saline. I always suggest a mint/gum to chew/suck while I flush the saline before and after their treatment. Has anyone ever had this experience. For some pts is so bad it makes them gag and throw up. I blame it on the Saline bc When I flush the Heparin at the end they don't experience this "bad" taste/smell. Any input? Always been so curious about this. What exactly causes this?

It's always challenging to convey to outsiders what we (nurses) do in terms that are meaningful to them. There is still a widespread belief that nurses are "helpers" to the physician, obediently and selflessly following orders. What most people (even some nurses) fail to recognize is that nursing is an independent and autonomous profession. It is a knowledge-based profession with its own body of science, research, and practice standards. Nurses develop their own plan of care for patients-just as physicians do. We use critical thinking skills, initiate life-saving measures, and conduct comprehensive, precise evaluations and monitoring. We teach, counsel, coach, nurture and support. We are healthcare experts in our own right. Nurses possess a great body of healthcare knowledge and experience-even right out of nursing school. A question I find most remarkable and annoying is, "you're so intelligent. Why didn't you become a doctor?" It's as if intelligent people become doctors and less intelligent people become nurses. When I was recently asked that question-for the first times in years- I gave the questioner my standard answer: "It is precisely because I am so intelligent that I chose nursing. Nursing and Medicine are two entirely different career paths. One is not an elevated version of the other. Don't ever underestimate the amount of intelligence, science, and the skill needed to be a great nurse. We make it look easy because we are so good at what we do" So the next time someone asks you what you do, consider responding, "I save lives and improve health. I'm a nurse what do you do?" Excerpt taken from Donna Cardillo R.N., MA www.nurse.com

Did any else apply to their rn residency program for their pediatric units. hei app was due in april. I am wondering if anyone has heard back from Loma Linda University Children's Hospital - RN Residency in Pediatrics

What is the difference between internal and external applicants!?

They should be calling us this week or next...anyone got a call back yet>???????????????? im nervous

Northridge on Roscoe is correct, it is part of CHW (catholic healthcare west). Also Mid-May officially begins on the 15th , which makes it May 17th for working days. So I guess starting next week. Does anyone know how many people applied? They are targeting graduates from the past 6 mo. to a year with BSN. I graduate May 09 so I'm crossing my fingers I get it an interview.

I am a graduate from May 2009, but I passed my nclex in December '09, I started looking for jobs after I passed. I have not found a job either

When do you think they will start calling people for interviews. I don't want to call and bother them just because May isn't over yet. But then again i'm so eager to find out.

its true!

NHCM RN Residency application was was due in the last week of April Has any applicants had a call back yet?