need advice

[kfry]

Hello everyone,

This is my first posting. I have wanted to be a nurse since my senior year in college, but I decided to finish my B.S. in Biology, and then pursue nursing thereafter. I started my prereq. classes for the nursing program in Fall of 2001. Shortly thereafter, my Dad was diagnosed with inoperable cholangiocarcinoma (only 47 yrs. old!) Cancer does not discriminate.

I dropped my prereq. to spend time with my family. It is an understatement to say that it is the most difficult thing that I've every had to deal with.

My Dad was a trouper though, and he responded well at first to the chemo and dealt with his biliary tubes and many infections. He got really sick though, last March, and was sent home from the hospital on hospice care. The doctors said that there was nothing more that they could do. He passed away a week later.

I continued with my prereq. courses and am finishing up my last one this semester. Hopefully, I'll be starting the nursing program in the Fall, and one of my interests is in oncology nursing.

I'm sure that there has to be someone out there in this field who has had a close family member succumb to the effects of cancer. How do you deal with your job everyday, and is it emotionally draining? Is it feasible for someone with my personal background to survive in this specialization?

I just want to be able to give the kind of support and care that my Dad had to someone who is in his same position.

Sorry so long.

Thanks for the help!

[Renee' Y-Y]

I did critical care nursing for many years. Your last statement, "I just want to be able to give the kind of support and care that my Dad had to someone who is in his same position", is why you will probably do well in oncology nursing. Your patients and your families will appreciate it. The other thing is you can truly tell them you understand their pain as you have been through it yourself. I think many areas of nursing can be emotionally challenging. I have always felt that I was called into nursing. As a result, I always felt a certain peace when caring for the critically ill and their families. I think you will do fine...and that biology degree I think will serve you well throughout nursing school as well.

[kfry]

I did critical care nursing for many years. Your last statement "I just want to be able to give the kind of support and care that my Dad had to someone who is in his same position", is why you will probably do well in oncology nursing. Your patients and your families will appreciate it. The other thing is you can truly tell them you understand their pain as you have been through it yourself. I think many areas of nursing can be emotionally challenging. I have always felt that I was called into nursing. As a result, I always felt a certain peace when caring for the critically ill and their families. I think you will do fine...and that biology degree I think will serve you well throughout nursing school as well.[/quote']

Thanks for the reply. I'd also like to think that the families would appreciate knowing that their nurse really knows what they're going through. The doctor who had the task of telling my family that he was not able to remove the tumor said that his Father had died from complications from cancer. At the time, I didn't want to hear this because I didn't want to accept that my Dad would eventually succumb to his disease. However, It was comforting to know that the Doctor had tried his very best, even calling in the head of the department to consult during surgery.

My B.S. in Bio has been a great asset. I'm also in the clinical studies field, which I also think will be a great background, because most of our drugs are for oncology patients.

Thanks again :)

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I went through it with my dad and grandmother. It is very hard. Time will help erase the pain from your memory to some extent but give yourself a very long time. I am sure that is why you would be good at that, empathy.

renerian