annacat

Has anyone graduated from a MSN at Grand Canyon University? I am looking at it. I spent a ton of money on my BSN at a very highly regarded school and I don't want to spend that kind of money again ( I was so poor for so long!). Any pro's or cons of GCU would be welcome!

It is completely inadequate that at this time there is no required testing of chemo nurses for exposure. I have gotten complacent and thought it was funny to joke about it too. I am guilty of the same thing. But think about what we are joking about. Exposure to substances that can change your DNA and cause cancer. That is not funny at all when you really think about it. Also you speak with such conviction when you say that they couldn't possibly check our dna for changes by testing our blood. They can by swabbing our buccal mucosa. Take a DNA sample at hire date and take one every year after that that you continue to give chemo. Hopkins Did a test of the infusion area when I was there. Swabbing surface areas like chairs, desks, floor and found that chemo was present every where. Even though we used Phaseal devices and wore gowns and gloves etc. the chemo was everywhere! guess why? The patients sweat and vomit and blow there noses, and cry, and exude all kinds of body fluids and skin/hair cells constantly. All of these bodily products contain chemo. This goes on for years and years. We work in that environment for years. The patients and family members visit, but we practically live there. I value my health enough to question the status quo on this one. I am reconsidering my role as a nurse. I may end up opting out of Oncology to protect myself.

I don't think it hurts to call the manager. You will probably have to leave a message but there is always a chance that you will get them in person. They will want to know your most recent experience, be prepared to give them a 30 sec. intro to what you have to offer how many patient's per shift, special skills related to the position etc. If they are mean or rude to you just smile as you speak and apologize for bothering them. Most managers will be glad you called. They are juggling a million administrative tasks and the squeaky wheel gets the oil! They may really need to get a travel RN in but be up to their ears in other tasks. You saved them the time it takes to call you and possible not reach you and playing phone tag.

Either you are disorganized and lack follow through or your preceptor is a bully. You need to ask your self which is it. If your preceptor is a bully ask for another one. If you can't then maybe you need to either get help in managing a bully or find another job. If you are disorganized how can you change that? Do you need to spend extra time coming up with an organizational plan for yourself? If you lack follow through. How can you change that? Set reminders on your phone? check lists? How do you eat a tree full of apples? One bite at a time. ( I changed that from how do you eat an elephant because I find that to be totally distasteful and disrespectful to elephants).

The fact that no one has answered this question is disturbing to me as an Oncology RN. We should be tested annually for changes to our DNA and radiation levels. I feel that we are expected to hold a certain level of professionalism with certifications and such but that the companies who produce and sell the chemo should be required to give money to fund a centralized testing service for nurses who give chemotherapy. Anyone else feel this way?

Hi californianurse! Thanks for sharing. I recently found out that this is an option, am single with 0 dependents and it seems like a great way to make some money while seeing a part of the world that I have never seen! I am wondering what the rules are on paying taxes on income made in Saudi on your US taxes. I can't imagine that Uncle Sam would let us remain citizens in good standing without paying him some taxes. Let me know if you have any good websites or links regarding this issue. Thanks! annacat

I am signed up to take it in October. I have found very little information online about preparing for it. I have the Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice Book. Every time I pick it up to read it I find myself daydreaming about 1/2 way into the second paragraph. Dry is an understatement when it comes to the presentation style. It is very strange to me that the process for preparing to pass this course is so secretive, you would think that ONS is a top secret government agency charged with preventing us from passing the course! I know they don't want people cheating but considering that we want more nurses who are competent in the administration of chemotherapy/biotherapy and Everything that comes with it I would think that there would be a little more hand holding and encouragement coming from ONS. God help me, Because it doesn't seem like ONS is going to!

Wow! Thanks for the reply. That explains the low offer. I definitely don't want to take the LVN rate. I worked way to hard to get through my bachelors degree program and have excellent training from a very prestigious hospital. I will definitely not be settling and would rather take a hospital job and get paid a decent wage. I will see what I can do to work with them but if they won't come up I will be looking else where. I really appreciate your honesty!

I am an RN with a BSN and 5 years experience in Oncology and Neurosciences. I am interested in Home Health or Hospice Nursing. I just moved from Maryland to Orange County CA. Looking for basic guidelines for what sort of pay to expect starting out in Home Health Nursing in this area. Does anyone have any advice on where I can find this information? I have a job offer but it seems low for this area. I was definitely expecting to make more money in Orange County than I did in Baltimore.

1000 hours for the chemo/biotherapy certification or the OCN? I got the chemo/biotherapy certification right off the bat when I started as an oncology RN.

I have pushed vesicants through PIV's in the hand before without a problem. (Just be sure to check for blood return before, after, and every 2cc of push!) I have also had patients who's ports would be clotting every 2 weeks. Nothing is perfect but I do agree, as does the ONS, that central lines are much preferred in general for vesicant administration. Anyone who has seen the effects of vesicant extravasation would most likely agree. Sounds like you all need the support of those up the chain of command from you to influence the doctors who are resistant.

I agree, Chemocare.com is the place I go to get drug information for patients and to remind my self of the common side effects and precautions as well. It took me 2 years of Oncology nursing to feel up to taking the OCN exam, but I got my chemo/biotherapy certification right off the bat. Know your lab values, Heme 8 with differential and Comprehensive panel as well as electrolites. You will have computer access all the time so don't be afraid to google, wikipedia, or find another reliable site, I use these all the time and have not had trouble finding accurate info. Don't be afraid to ask the more experienced nurses for help. I have found that most of them love to share knowledge and are happy to help. But be careful, sometimes it has been a long time since an experience RN has reviewed current evidence based practice, so make sure you are getting accurate info. Good luck!

I worked in a very busy chemotherapy infusion center at one of the most renowned hospitals in the US. We tried to stay away from using the hand/wrist veins with chemo, especially when planning to infuse irritants or vessicants. It seems very strange to me that they want you to start with the hand. As far as the tourniquet goes I was under the impression that they are good for finding and accessing a vein but the shorter time you have them on the less stress is put on the vein that is already getting punctured and could blow with prolonged pressure and stress at the puncture site. It doesn't hurt to ask politely what their rational is. Maybe it was something specific to the patient you were accessing?

I am finding the above advice reassuring too! I am going to start on a BMT unit as a travel RN. I have 3 years experience giving chemo and blood products (and dealing with side effects) in a very busy outpatient infusion center. I haven't worked oncology in patient but do have experience working in a step down unit in the Neuroscience department. I had a anxiety dream last night that I went to my first day and didn't know how to use the computer system and got so far behind passing meds that I was reduced to tears. I am hoping reality is nothing like that dream! I have found that the Leukemia and lymphoma society is a really good source of information. Any more suggestions for where to get my info to study up on?

Did you put your housing wanted add on craigslist? If not where did you put it?

I would like to create a thread where Nurses can go to find out what others are getting paid all across the US. Please state your credentials (RN,BSN, NP, LPN, CNA) How many years of experience you have. What area of the country you live in. If you are inpatient or other type of work environment. What is your specialty (Critical Care, Telemetry, Pediatrics, Oncology, Med Surg....) What sort of hours you work (Day, Night, 12 hour shifts, 8 hour shifts What your hourly base pay is and what kind of differentials you get. You can also feel free to include what kind of benefits you get that might add value to your job (paid parking, matching retirement plan, ...) The reason I am asking this is because I am thinking of getting a new job and I have not found a good source for how pay rates vary around the Country. I am not even sure if I have a good deal going or not. It would be great to have this information so that I can make an educated decision. Hopefully it will help others who are looking for work or just wanting to compare how much they make to what others make. Knowledge = Power. I am an RN, BSN, 5 years experience, Certified Oncology Nurse working in Maryland (Baltimore City) in an outpatient chemotherapy infusion center, 8 hour shifts 5 days a week, 8am-4:30pm, Base Pay $30/hour with no differentials at all (because I don't work nights, weekends, or holidays). I get good health insurance for $60.00/month. No other benefits (not even parking). Anyone else care to share?

"Were gonna need a bigger cup."

By low $40s you mean low $40/hr right? I am looking at moving back to Southern California after living and working in Maryland (the pay sucks!). I am trying to get an idea of how much I should be making in California with a BSN and 4 years of experience at the now #2 ranked hospital in the US. I thought I would start out by being a travel RN and possible stay with that or get a permanent position if I find a place I really like. Any advice on good resources for information on travel nursing and how to negotiate a good pay package?

I worked day/night rotation for 2 years. It was very difficult. But I think that day shift teaches a new nurse a lot! Day shift is when the doctors round, family members visit, patients are sent to surgery... and lots more. If you can handle it for a couple of years you will learn a lot. You are also more likely to obtain a full time day rotation if you have day experience! I was 36 when I graduated and got my first RN job. After 2 years of day/night rotation I had to stop because it was really affecting my physical health and mental state. I have heard that it is not so hard on the body/mind when you are younger. I now work in an out patient center with full time day shift and not weekends or hollidays. :) My experience with night shift is that it is not as supervised. This can be a good thing for people who don't want management on their backs but as a new RN you should want to be supervised well. On my unit mistakes and unprofessional behavior were much less likely to be corrected on night shift. Most of the strictly night RN's were excellent and very experienced but there was a contingent who liked to find a dark corner and go to sleep for a few hours or hang out on facebook, these people were horrible to work with and not very strong in their nursing skills, I remember one such RN who began to perform CPR on a patient who was breathing and had a pulse! Imagine being a new nurse and trying to learn from people like this! If you do choose to do all nights try to stay in touch with your management and actively stay involved in learning skills and understanding what goes on during day shift. Find the experienced competent RN's on night shift and learn from them. And try not to be one of those night nurses who leaves a lot of work for day shift. I wish you good luck and great success with your new career path!

Thanks shortsuzy!

Thanks, I just missed the discounted early bird sign up date for any tests befor July 2012. I am going to wait until July to take the test. That gives me way too much time to study, and worry. I think I will get the book and start reading it and then take a review course a bit closer to the test date so that I don't drive myself crazy too early. I am excited to do this. I have been in oncology out patient for just over a year and feel that I still have so much to learn to feel really confident. I also want to make myself more marketable to get a better paying job at a place with better benefits!

I wish my employer would pay for this or al least split it with me!!!

Thanks for the info. i think I will take the prep course too!

A 1 year outside vendor run program should be starting soon on my unit. It is supposed to help us fix our very low morale problem and all the problems that are causing that low morale. Some of the more experienced nurses expressed scepticism. They think that they have been through this before without much change. I am curious to see what will happen. In my opinion we need what ever help we can get. Is there any one out there who has had sug a program implemented on their unit? I would love to hear about other nurses experiences with this kind of program.

I found this document on amgen's website for prescribing neupogen on page 13 and 14 it has a brief explanation of the reasoning behind not giving neupogen within 24 hours before or after cytotoxic chemotherapy. Sounds to me like they think that in the first 24 hours the chemo would damage the newly growing wbc's and render it useless if not harmful. http://pi.amgen.com/united_states/neupogen/neupogen_pi_hcp_english.pdf Hope this helps. Thanks for motivating me to find this. Now I know too!