Soneshine

Dee Angel, Could you please send me a link. I actually tried searching the internet first- with really no luck Thanks

Hi, I am returning to a Med/surg floor next week after being out of general floor nursing for a couple of years. I am having some anxiety about simple procedures & setting up a PCA pump is one of them? Anyone have any good instructions or tips for me! Thanks

First of all, let me say that, that is a lot of chemo pts that you see in a day for one nurse (particularly if you mix chemo). Sounds like a lot of responsibility. I also work in an outpatient chemo clinic & mix chemo. We maybe have 6 chemos per day on average and a number of hydrations, zometas, port flushes, ect. We have 2 nurses. Will you continue to be the only nurse? Who covers you when your off? Oncology is both a difficult and enjoyable area. I also love the patients (they are like no other)- and frankly make my job worthwhile. I feel a lot of intensity just having 4 chemos to be responsible for. It takes a lot of attention to detail and good time management skills to be a chemo nurse. I believe that you must be pretty awesome or have a lot of nursing experience if you're not running away after caring for 8-16 pateints! Seems a little like a safety risk- but I don't know exactly how the clinic you work at runs- perhaps you have techs, ect?

Let me add to the previous post that the 2 nurses who check chemo, need to both be chemo competent (meaning they've somehow demonstrated competency through their skills being observed by another knowledgable & experienced R.N) This is my understanding based on ONS guidlines.

Thank you! These are really good suggestions. I am feeling a bit more at ease now. The best one can do is follow all of the recommended safety precautions & not worry excessively. The fact of the matter is, is that you could die tomorrow in a car accident. You can't live in fear of the "what ifs." Oncology has it's risks- but I think I let my mind go a bit wild after reading studies about chemo drugs found in the urine of nurses who don't mix; who are just in the general environment OR miscarriages & birth defects, ect ect...... Other than mixing & hanging these drugs, this is a specialty I really enjoy!

Hi! I am new to Oncology and have been working in an outpatient clinic for a little over a month now. At our clinic, the nurses mix all of the chemo drugs in a BSC. I really like everything about this specialty so far, except for the idea of personally mixing and hanging of these drugs. It scares me more than I would like to admit. I haven't actually started mixing or hanging yet- but anticipate I will start soon. My biggest concern is exposing myself (even if it's just minimal amounts from surface contamination or the general environmental in which I work for 10 hrs/day). I'm concerned that this exposure may increase or cause me to get cancer in the future. I mean if OSHA recommends NO food/drink, or even applying chapstick in the general infusion area?? This is scary- I am within 10-15 feet of my patients at all times. The treatment rooms are only privatized by curtains. Maybe I'm blowing things out of porportion, but I need to vent & know what others feel about this- or if anyone has or has had concerns about this.... I realize that using PPE and practicing other safe measures reduces overall risk- but I can't help wonder if working in this environment will prove to be more harmful than previously thought.... Insight anyone?

1. Good assessment skills (looking at patients/family in a holistic manner). Cancer affects every aspect of the patient's/family member's life. Knowledge about the different type of cancers/drugs. Compassionate & good listening skills! 2. Oncology is a unique field because of the patient population. Generally speaking, cancer patients have a different perspective on life. They are faced with the possibility of death/dying. Many patients find a deeper meaning/understanding of life. Many strengthen bonds with family/friends that they would have otherwise taken for grantid. Also, nurses see patients frequently & stronger relationships are established!

When you're stressed & surrounded by endless goodies!!

Hi! I'm a new oncology nurse. I'm in desperate need of advice on being new in this area. Anything really would help! I'm worried about of giving chemo- and having a shorter training period than previously thought. During the interview, they made it sound like I would be trained for a few months before hanging chemo. Now, a few days into my training, they are talking as though they'd like me to start hanging chemo in the next few weeks. I haven't gone through the necessary chemo training courses yet.... Thanks

I most certainly agree with the majority here! You are not horrible or wortless anything!! Infact, probably just the opposite I bet. Please know that there are people out there that do care about your situation. Please be honest with your boss, but your priority should be your personal health and wellbeing at this time. Breathe deeply and remember that no matter how hard times are now, they will pass.... You'll be in my thoughts!

Wow, I would not have accepted both positions, but this is my opinion. There is a learning curve present in each job and 2 weeks is not enough time to make an accurate assessment as to whether you like the job. It took me a good 6 months before I started to enjoy my current job. Best of luck anyhow

Adequate staffing is key! Another issue is working 12 hr shifts. While I prefer 12 hrs and more days off, I think it creates safety issues. Both safety issues for the patient and the nurse. For example, as the night goes on and the stress levels remain high, I am more prone to back injuries, ect. You become less focused on the patient and more about "what needs to get done still" before your shift ends. This is not a great thing to admit- but I think we are all a bit guilty of it at times. Sometimes in order to stay sane or prevent burnout, we need to do whatever it takes to take care of ourselves. Many "sick" days are taken due to stress and burnout. But, when you call in sick because of stress, you're just contributing to the overall problem, and putting your co-workers and patients at greater risk. So, in summary, having adequate staff, shorter hours, and an emphasis on stress management are HUGELY important in preventing errors and injuries!!

Hi All, I just got a job in an outpatient oncology clinic!!! I'm very excited and nervous at the same time. I've been a nurse for a little over a year now, working in Med/surg. Before I start my new job, do you have any advice for a new nurse in Oncology? Maybe things you wished other people would have told you sooner- or that you would have known before you started in this area? I really want this to work out!! Any really good resources or books you'd recommend? Thank you so very much for any feedback!!

Hi, Would like some opinions. I'm very interested in oncology nursing and am thinking of applying for a job at an oncology outpatient center. I'd like to hear from people who have either worked in oncology or have opinions about it! Would like to know the pros and cons- or anything else regarding this area of nursing. Currently I work in med/surg. Thanks!

I'm currently working on a med/surg floor at a smaller, rural hospital. I have been there for a bit over a year now. During this time, I've had mixed feelings about being in this area. I know that it is not my niche in the nursing world- but at this point, I'm not sure what is. Prior to getting my R.N., I worked for many years as a CNA in LTC with the elderly population. I liked it, although it was often very mentally and physically exhausting. I think that as a nurse, I would prefer to be in an area that allows me to get to know my patients better and have more of a routine each day. I don't think I'd want to work in a nursing home simply because of the high patient load! Okay! Here's the situation: A while back I contacted the nurse manager at our local outpatient cancer center to inquire about job openings. I did a 6 week internship there as a student nurse and loved it! I love working with cancer patients. They didn't allow me as a student to administer chemo, but I accessed ports and hung the pre-meds. I really liked the environment and the staff there. At this time, there were no current openings. This aftenoon I got a call from the nurse manager, and she told me that a position is opening and asked me if I wanted to interview for it. She woke me out of a sleep, so I told her I would contact her tomorrow. The problem is this: My job requires a month's notice! The nightshift is usually a bit short-staffed, I am scheduled for ACLS this month, I requested holiday time off, ect ect. Although my current job, is not my "niche", it is generally pretty flexible regarding scheduling (which is so important to me). I am caught between staying in my comfort zone (which I don't love) - and moving on to something different (which I'm not sure I'll like if I actually have to give chemo or practice as an R.N. rather than a student)? I'm worried that because we are "slim-pickin's" at night at my current job, and that I've just completed several certs, that they may not consider hiring me back in the future (if I decide oncology isn't my thing). I'm also worried that if I decline to interview, that the oncology nurse manager won't consider me for future employment. Ahhhh, I am feeling stuck as to how I should go about all of this!! I'd appreciate any opinions or to hear from others who have gone through similar conundrums. Sorry this was so long!!!