What to expect in Oncology Inpatient unit? + Interview help

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 27, 2016

What is an RPN? I'd love to answer your questions, but I don't even know what that is.

tschoenholz · Aug 28, 2016

Registered Practical Nurse, so I don't have a bachelor in nursing. I have a college diploma.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 28, 2016

Registered Practical Nurse, so I don't have a bachelor in nursing. I have a college diploma.

That is a new one for me. I've heard of LPNs and LVNs, but not RPNs.

An inpatient oncology unit has patients in various stages of cancer diagnosis and treatment. They may be newly diagnosed and shell shocked, requiring information about their options and emotional support in coping with the diagnosis. They may be hospitalized for chemotherapy, or from side effects of the chemotherapy. They may have failed chemo and be hospitalized as they begin the active dying process. Everyone says they want to die at home, but the families still call 911 when the dying process begins, unless hospice is in place.

As a practical nurse, you probably will not be administering blood products or chemotherapy, but you will be monitoring the patient's tolerance of these therapies. You will be providing physical care for those too weak for self care, dressing changes, prn medications, assessments and documentation. Most likely your job description will read "under the supervision of an RN."

In some places I've worked, the LPN takes her own patients and is fairly independent in her practice except for those things outside her nurse practice act that the RN must supervise. In other places, the LPN role is more akin to a CNA role. That's one of the things you'll need to find out in your interview.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2016

So, I guess an RPN is an Ontario, CAN thing?

What is an RPN? | RPNAO

So, I'm guessing RPNs function the same as LVN (California/Texas)/LPNs (everywhere else in the US) and so you don't have to worry too much about IV meds. From what I hear from the RNs that float to other onc floors at my hospital, the PNs are essential to help care for the more stable patients with PO meds/feeds and are so helpful in supporting the RNs. As far as functioning on an onc floor, I'm sure that you'll be asked about how you expect to deal with all the sad things you'll see and with the extreme stress families are undergoing. Semi-pro tip: patients who have had a bone marrow transplant or hematopoetic stem cell transplant are often exceedingly picky (for good reason when they're on that floor -- less so when they're step down to the more general onc floor) and methodical in how they do their care. They are notoriously difficult to deal with but it all comes down to raising your level of customer service (blech) as a means of accommodating their perceived needs when you work with them on step down. One more, with end of life patients, families sometimes insist that the patient be on a full monitor (cardiac + pulse ox) when there is no need and they will obsess over the numbers and minute changes that occur throughout the day. I would use this as an opportunity to cite a "reinforcement of teaching" moment for your families: instead of obsessing over the monitor (especially if the patient is a new DNR - "do not resuscitate" in the US - and not expected to die anytime soon), remind them to look at how the patient is doing by looking at them, touching them, talking to them and otherwise connecting with them and not the monitor.

Good luck on your interview!