Oncology rotation

Biol20fan · Oct 24, 2008

I don't think my clinical group will, but I'm fairly certain that another one of the Intermediate Med-Surg groups will do a day or two in oncology.

If you don't mind me asking, what about it upsets you so much?

Chantilly · Oct 24, 2008

We don't have on in our program. However, I did do Advanced Med/Surg rotation this semester on an oncology floor. It really isn't that bad, but it is very sad at times and you do see some very young people who are very sick.

avahnel, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

I worked for four years as a receptionist in an Oncology practice, and that experience is one of the things that made me decide to work toward me dreams of being a nurse. It was very hard at times, and also so rewarding. Even though there are lots of patients who died, and it was weird to actually see lots of people that I knew in the Obits, it was great. I made a difference in lots of patients lives. I was able to make them smile, and they returned the favor. I thought the positives outweighed the negatives. In my first clinical rotation, the floor we are on is Med Surg/Oncology. I was really excited to find that out on the first day!! (I know-I'm weird!!)

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

When I was in nursing school I spent a semester of med-surg on a medical oncology floor. Like you, it would not have been the place I would have choosen, but I had no say in where I was placed for clinical. It was the most emotional 8 weeks of nursing school. I watched pt after pt die, and it was hard to deal with at first. It was hard to watch someone die and know there was not alot you could do. There were times I was asking my instructor if I could leave the floor for a few minutes just to clear my head (she was wonderful, she knew it was hard on all of us).

That being said, halfway through the rotation I fell in love with it. I began to enjoy being there for families during the difficult times. I looked at it this way, my other two semesters of med surg (cardiac and ortho) taught me to take care of the pt's physical needs. In oncology, I still worked on improving my nursing skills, but I was now learning, for the first time in nursing school, how to deal with a patient and family's emotional needs. I formed friendships with these pts, and mourned their loss. One patient i even kept in touch with after the rotation was over, and was friends with him until his death nine months later.

If you're being required or even suspect you might have to do an oncology rotation, try to go into it with an open mind. At the very least, you'll learn alot about a patient's emotional needs and end of life care.

avahnel, ASN, RN · Oct 24, 2008

I think that is why I love Oncology also. I think that when most people get diagnosed, and treatment for CA they end up in a more "real" state emotionally. It really puts things in perspective. I know that it changed my live and made me more thankful for every day. When I graduate, I want to go in to Oncology nursing or Phych nursing. I like caring for the emotional side too.

SunnyAndrsn · Oct 24, 2008

Can anyone tell me if you have an oncology rotation in student nursing? That is one area of nursing I hope to never have to do! Please, oh please, tell me it isn't so.

No, because there is specialized training to give chemo meds. My peds rotation was on a hem/onc and med/surg floor, so we did have kids with cancer, we just couldn't do their chemo meds. Mainly we were assigned to the med/surg pts.

I did have a pt. who had cancer but was back b/c he had pneumonia.

tessa45 · Oct 24, 2008

Thanks so much to all who responded. I think it is just a psychological thing where I associate it with death where I should be putting my mind where many of you suggested: being there emotionally for the patients and families. I believe I am afraid I will be so emotional about it that it will get in the way of doing what I should be doing. But your responses definitely put it into a new perspective and actually was very encouraging. And for those of you who chose that route, what a blessing you all are!

chaxanmom · Oct 29, 2008

I'm doing all my med-surg on oncology. It's not a big deal that you can't hang chemo. You can do everything else and many of them are there d/t complications from their Ca or chemo anyway. We get lots and lots of septic pts.

LaceyRN · Oct 29, 2008

I am finishing my last semester and have been on an oncology floor this entire term. The best way I can describe it is that is is a "super charged" med-surg environment. The patient's are very high acuity and very sick. I had stat orders for a pt to receive K runs, Mg runs, RBCs, FFP, and albumin, written all at the same time. I was thinking OMG how am I going to do this? Somehow you rise to the challenge. I have grown more in the last 10 weeks on this floor than the entire 1.5 years in my nursing program. Oncology tests your nursing skills and assessments in so many ways and is psychosocially challenging as well. But I find it to be immensely rewarding. :)

midcom · Oct 29, 2008

During my LPN training while doing our only rotation at the hospital, 2/3 of my class worked on an oncology floor. They got to experience so much more than we who were assigned to the skilled nursing floor.

Sure, they said it was sad at times but not everyone was dying. Many patients were there because of complications with chemo. I, actually spent 3 days there myself last spring when I got a lung infection while I had neutropenia, due to chemo. Unfortunately, it was a holiday weekend & there were no students.

Dixie

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 29, 2008

We don't have an oncology rotation...but I am going to have my next batch of clinicals on an oncology floor.