KendraRN

I started as a new graduate nurse on a large hematology/oncology floor almost two years ago. I was in a group of the first "oncology internship". Each new graduate nurse on my floor is assigned to a preceptor. The internship lasts six months and the preceptor and new grad work together everyday for those six months. For the first three months the new grad works inside the preceptors assignment and for the next three they would have their own assignment with the preceptor as a resource. The preceptor then would have a lighter assignment so to serve as a resource for the new grad. We had classes once a month related to oncology nursing and were required to take the ONS cancer chemotherapy course. After completing that, we had to be precepted on the floor three times for each type of chemo(vesicant, irritant, etc.) before being allowed to administer it ourself. Even with this extensive guidance, new grads often still feel overwhelmed. As a new nurse, you first focus on learning how to become a nurse and then focus on the oncology aspect. I still sometimes question the safety of my actions as the patient acuity is so high and the staff/patient ratio(while not horrible) could be better. I hope, for what it's worth, this helps! Good luck!