wiegel34

I had just recieved my permanent license and was at the hospital 6 months out of school when I was appointed Charge Nurse. thankfully there was a good support team behind me or I would have drowned. It happens, no ones fault, just the way things are.

I got called to the Head nurse's office because of a complaint from a female doctor. She told the head nurse that she thought that was against breast feeding. Now the doctors are mind readers!!! My head nurse did not even defend me. I a pro breast feeing nurse, I had 5 children an breast fed everyone of them. I told her that, but she said that I needed to convince the doctor of that. I didn't as, I thought it sounded childish to go to a doctor and try to convince her that I was pro breastfeeding. She should have been able to read my mind!!! It is really going too far when you get in trouble for what they thing you are thinking!

I have lost two, and now I just use the one that the hospital provides.

I have been an Oncology nurse for 6 years, the most important thing to remember is safety first. You will be working with a lot of strong and dangerous drugs that could help your patient, but given the wrong way could really hurt your patient. Always know what you are giving, how the drug works, what drugs interact with it and the correct way to administer the drug. Your patient's life and your license depends on this. Take your time, ask a lot of questions. Your pharmacist is a great source of info. Enjoy your new position, it is a joy to work with cancer patients. They have taught me more than I could have ever expected. I was an Obstetrical nurse prior to this, what a change. It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work with these people.

I am a "Chemo certified nurse" I have taken a certification test called Oncology Certification Test. I have a national certification and am qualified to give Chemotherapy drugs. I studied for 2 years on my own then took a 5 hour test, which I passed. I am registed with the Oncology Nurses Society as an Oncology Cerified Nurse. My cerification is good for 4 years, then has to be renewed by either retesting or by having completed 100 CEU's, of which 65 have to be Oncology related. So their are Chemo Certified Nurses.

I worked nights for many years and have called in when I didn't sleep. It is difficult enough working 12 hour shifts with sleep, I don't want to risk making a critical mistake, that could seriously injure or kill my patient.

I will be 64 this year, I "retired" 2 years ago, but still work per-deim, I am busier now than when I was working. I enjoy the option of saying no when I don't feel like working. I work in out-pateint departments where there is less chance of having to lift patients. I also get called in about once of twice a week to put in PICC lines which I really enjoy. Maybe in a couple of years I will "retire" again. But being a nurse is more that a job it is a calling. I am just not ready to give up caring for patients yet.

The most important thing is always the patient. Treat each patient as you would want a family member treated. Look up the meds that are given, why, they are given what they exect the outcome to be, what the range of dosage is and what to do for an overdose. Observe the nurses and know which one you would most like to be like and the one you would least like to be like. This is a great learning opportunity,relax and make the most of it. Good luck and God bless.

I learned how to insert PICC lines a couple years ago, I love doing them. It is a great high when the x-ray comes back confirming placement. I also enjoy doing therapeutic plebotomies.

I took and passed the ONC certification in 2002, its hard, the only advice I can give is to study,study and then study more. I passed it on the 1st attempt, but there were some there who were trying for the 2nd, 3rd, and one that was attempting for the 5th time. I worked full time in an out patient Oncology unit for over a year and probably put almorst that much time studying on my own time. Try not to read too much into the questions,but as in the nursing boards there are usually 2 answers that don't fit and two that look right. read the question again and go with your first instinct. If you have studied emough your 1st instinct is probably right. Don't change any answers unless another question later in the test gives you a clue that that answer is wrong. Good luck

I have been an Oncology nurse for 4 years. Colon ca is treatable,even stage 4.She should definetly go ahead with the surgery. there are new treatments everyday. The standard treatment is a treatment called FOLFOX, It is leucovorin,5-fu, and Oxaliplatin,At times they also use a 24 hour 5-fu pump, to suppliment the bolus 5-FU. The most important thing right now is to find an Oncologist that you trust,keep yourself involved in the treatment plan. She will qualify for Medicade to pay for the treatments. A positive attitude is very important. Cancer is sometimes not curable, but it can be treated as a chronic illness for years. More and more people are living with cancer,now than ever before. She will need a Mediport even if her veins are good. Chemo is very hard on the best of blood vessels. She has had the cancer for a long time before it was diagnosed so there is no reason to think that all decisions have to be made right now. She will need to heal from the surgery before any chemo is started ,so there is time to find a good oncologist. God bless and keep a positive attitude. A good internet site to research is; The American Cancer Society, site and also,The Cancer Source.

z-coils are THE most comfortable shoes out there, they are pricey, but they last 2-3 years,you just have to replace the coils as they wear out about once a year. The shoes are about $200 and the coils are $25 each. When I think of the money I have wasted over the years,these are really a better value.

As a caregiver there is usally no risk, the only exception would be if you come into contact with their excretions. In the home and also in our out paient setting we reccomend that they flush the toilet twice and to always wah their hands well after using the bathroom. This is due to the chance that not all the drug was completely metabolized,and exceted in the urine. Also flushing the toilet twice removes any chance that some of the drug would be left in the stool for children or amimals to come into contact with. There is no need to wear gloves or to worry about your safety as a caregiver otherwise. I hope this answers your concerns.

I just retired after many years of nursing. Keep doing what you are doing. Not to many are sorry for a degree in nursing. It doesn't always have to be patient care. there are many area's in the hospital that require teaching. From teaching patient about their illnesses to teaching nurses how to care for their patient to teching how to use computers. Once you get your degree, work for a while in one area, if that doesn't suit you move to another. If there is one thing I have learned in my years as a nurse: school and the real thing are as different as night and day. hang in there. There is life after school.