MS, OB or Onco Patients?

cool_nurse, LPN

It's a blessing in disguise since our ward caters to three major areas of nursing. We have OB, MS and Onco patients in which we can practice our nursing and theoretical skills. But among these three, which type of patients do I prefer to work with?

Medical-Surgical is the least area that I would like to work at especially during emergency procedures. Pre-operatively, patients are always hot-tempered with what they're feeling. Some are quite panicky while the rest remains clueless of what they're going to face for the next few hours. Post-operatively, MS patients are either asleep, groggy or feeling cloud nine not until their anesthesia wears off.

Then, the pain and hunger games begin. Depending on the skill of the anesthesiologist, most of our patients feel little or no pain at all. I find patients with continuous side drip of pain reliever to be the most effective in conjunction with several fixed doses of IV pain medications. Regarding the NPO status, most patients can resist food and water intake for several days (e.g. S/P Exlap patients) while I find it annoying for a few who always tell me that they might DIE if they're not going to EAT! As always, I tell them that they're current IV fluid has enough glucoseplus they're PPI will always make wonder in their starving bodies.

OB patients are the best for me but being a MALE NURSE, I always find it awkward to assess female patients as their husbands might kill me! So whenever I make rounds, my female co-staff nurse is the one who handles the assessment part.

From looking at the degree of heaviness of the vaginal blood post-operatively up to the patency of the suture site, female nurses,in my opinion should handle their fellow kind. OB patients in terms of toxicity, are not that toxic at all unlike MS patients. I always see fast recovery and full patient discharges in as little as 24hours for NSD moms up to 3 days for post-surgical CS, TAHBSO and D&C patients.

To be honest, when I was a student, I find Maternal Nursing to be the most boring part of the curriculum. I really don't appreciate this field of nursing not until I became a staff and saw the miracle of God's gift come to life.

Cancer patients for me are the kind of patients that I can tolerate. Though my heart always melts seeing these patients, I always do my best to be compassionate and to attend to whatever they complain. Though these patients are the most toxic during the terminal stage, these patients are also the sweetest as they would always verbalize being grateful for having a nurse to help them plus, they also give foods or items to nurses as a sign of appreciation.

This area can also be a dangerous workplace as we are the ones who mix and dispense the chemo drugs without hazard pay (yes, that's our hospital for experience sake). This is also the area in which you can test your attitude and patience to the growing demands of a terminally-ill patient. But overall, this is the best area as you get to appreciate your healthy life and just be thankful to God for being fit and alive. Moreover, the Oncologists in our hospital are very very kind and humble and I just wish that every doctor was just like them.

For my fellow nurses around, which area would you prefer to work at?

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2013

I work OB and would have it no other away!!

mmc51264, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 23, 2013

I am on a URO/Gyn/Gyn Onc unit for a few months after being trained on an ortho floor. I am amazed how strong the gyn onc women are. I don't know if I could be that strong. I like being around them. Ortho is physically hard sometimes, but they are not "sick" usually. Pain is the big issue. NO interest in OB whatsoever (or ED/trauma).

sapphire18 · Sep 23, 2013

Lets see...OB scares me (until the baby is out and cleaned and healthy- then I love the babies)...surgical patients have too many pain issues and need so much assistance with ADLs, dsg changes, etc...medical; it really depends what the problem is...and onc I like despite the sadness. But I will stick with my critical patients, thank you:). You only have 1 or 2, can control visitors, pt is always on a monitor, sometimes vented and sedated (well, often), and I find the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and interventions fascinating!

hikernurse · Sep 24, 2013

Newborn ICU. There is a lot of technology and when things are quiet, there are babies to hold :dummy1: . It's challenging and can truly be heartbreaking, but these kiddos are amazing! The things we put them through and they still smile and just want to be loved.

cool_nurse, LPN · Sep 24, 2013

I work OB and would have it no other away!!

I find OB nice as well if it weren't for me being a male nurse. haha.

cool_nurse, LPN · Sep 24, 2013

I am on a URO/Gyn/Gyn Onc unit for a few months after being trained on an ortho floor. I am amazed how strong the gyn onc women are. I don't know if I could be that strong. I like being around them. Ortho is physically hard sometimes, but they are not "sick" usually. Pain is the big issue. NO interest in OB whatsoever (or ED/trauma).

I had post-ortho patients in our ward. They only have pain issues most of the time. And yes they are not usually sick unless complications arise such as Fat Embolism, infection,etc.

cool_nurse, LPN · Sep 24, 2013

Lets see...OB scares me (until the baby is out and cleaned and healthy- then I love the babies)...surgical patients have too many pain issues and need so much assistance with ADLs, dsg changes, etc...medical; it really depends what the problem is...and onc I like despite the sadness. But I will stick with my critical patients, thank you:). You only have 1 or 2, can control visitors, pt is always on a monitor, sometimes vented and sedated (well, often), and I find the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and interventions fascinating!

I agree with CCU and ICU patients. However, I just don't like the morning care part. haha.

cool_nurse, LPN · Sep 24, 2013

Newborn ICU. There is a lot of technology and when things are quiet, there are babies to hold . It's challenging and can truly be heartbreaking, but these kiddos are amazing! The things we put them through and they still smile and just want to be loved.

I always fear being at NICU! haha. although newborn babies are huggable and gives you a stress-free feeling , i'll stick with adult patients. haha.

hikernurse · Sep 24, 2013

I always fear being at NICU! haha. although newborn babies are huggable and gives you a stress-free feeling , i'll stick with adult patients. haha.

We empty our patients' ostomies with a 10 ml syringe, that's pretty convincing in my book ;-). And with the average size of patient being around one-two kilos, we never have to use a hoyer, lol. Although pushing their covered isolettes around isn't much easier than moving an adult size bed--especially when you add in iNO, vents, etc.

hwilliams1 · Sep 26, 2013

I work on a general medical/oncology floor and caver patients rock! I am a cancer survivor and so I can really relate to what they are going through. I love it when I am able to help put someone's mind at ease by making them see that cancer isn't a death sentence. So rewarding!

I also work OB once a week and I love that as well.

cool_nurse, LPN · Sep 27, 2013

I work on a general medical/oncology floor and caver patients rock! I am a cancer survivor and so I can really relate to what they are going through. I love it when I am able to help put someone's mind at ease by making them see that cancer isn't a death sentence. So rewarding!
I also work OB once a week and I love that as well.

Indeed! Furthermore, my heart is actually at peace with my cancer patients! I salute you for being a cancer survivor! God bless! =)