New grad, new job in oncology

Specialties Oncology

Published

Hello everyone, I recently graduated in May, passed my boards and have the fortune of getting offered my first job in an oncology/ hematology floor. I feel fortunate to have been offered this opportunity and went to go see the staff before I started. they all seemed very pleasant and provided me with a tour of their unit. I've always been someone who strived to know as much as they can to be the best caretaker I can be, and I was hoping to get some guidance from you all as to what resources I can use to learn on the most important topics in oncology nursing. I would appreciate it a lot. Thank you - CSG RN

Specializes in Oncology.

So I finally start tomorrow with a preceptor! Let's just say though that I started goin. To my unit ahead of time to meet the nurses. They're all seeming to be fantastic. They're already warning me though about the sickle cell patients...

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Specializes in Oncology.

I never minded sickle cell patients at my old hospital. Most of them were on PCAs so we just had to give them benadryl every four hours. They were all young so sometimes it was nice to just hide from the chaos and bull&(&t with them for a couple minutes.

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So I finally start tomorrow with a preceptor! Let's just say though that I started goin. To my unit ahead of time to meet the nurses. They're all seeming to be fantastic. They're already warning me though about the sickle cell patients...

What did they warn you about sickle cell patients?

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I am so glad you started this thread! I am in the same boat as you are. I graduated in May as well and work on an oncology/palliative floor. It is challenging, but I love every minute of it! Congrats to you in your new career and I can't wait to hear about your new experiences!

The very first patient that I took (with a preceptor of corse) transferred up to our floor from ICU to be put on inpatient hospice and taken off of the bipap. It was a very difficult, yet humbling experience for me. The room was full with family and clergy. I was scared to death as I felt all eyes on me in complete silence as I increased the morphine drip, then pushed dilaudid and Ativan and gave the okay for the RT to discontinue the bipap. It was horrible feeling but I never took my eyes off of my patient, or let go of his wife's hand. and my preceptor and the hospice nurse were there with me. Fortunately, I have not experienced anything quite as dramatic since, but I will always keep that experience in the back of my mind.

There are happy stories in oncology as well; of healing and going home with family.

May you enjoy your endeavors and take nothing for granted.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Thank you very much mandaf88. I'm happy for you as well that your job in your unit is going well! My floor is a mix of oncology/ med/surg. It's very demanding sometimes due to lack of nurses and sometimes getting up to 7 patients, however I'm glad because of the staff I work with and some of the patients ve had the opportunity to work with. You can tell that with them that they are very grateful, and it's humbling to receive that from them. I hope you continue having a great career in nursing.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Hey guys! Well I was talking to one of the supervisors (really nice dude), and they were telling me not to worry so much about these certifications and to just try to grasp as much as I can. Chemo card would require 6 months and the OCN would require a year of experience. I'll keep y'all posted in my progress!

Just cool your heels and learn the lay of the land for your dept. There is so much to learn as a new grad, I wouldn't advise even thinking about a chemo provider card or the OCN until your employer mentions it to you.

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