scma

Here on the east coast we have also experienced shortages in several medications, some of them for several years. some companies gave us a reason of problems at the plant, then because one plant had problems the other companies could not keep up with the manufacturing demands. We just started receiving Leucovorin and are still have of Doxil. It is truly a said state of affairs.

Well lbutler, How did you do? By asking fellow oncology nurses what study guides they used for preparation is that truly cheating? when I attended IOL last november, the oncc representative circle multiple books on the blue printe as suggested material. Was she helping me cheat? I think it is far to tell someone the best material to use to prepare for the test then it is up to the individual.

The box you are speaking of sounds like a Ambulatory Pump for 5FU infusion. It typically infusses for 46 hours. When you discontinue the pump once the infusion is complete you will need to flush the huber line with 10cc Normal Saline and then Heparin. We use 100u/ml Heparin, so we use a total of 500u or 5cc. If I were you I would check with the hospital to make sure you don't need to flush is line before removing the huber needle.

I work in the outpatient private practice setting administering chemo daily. i have a great number of patients that have completed chemotherapy and have 5+ years cancer free. Please get a biopsy. Find out if you in fact if the lump is benign or malignant. Take it one day at a time. This year I have had 2 family members dx'd with Breast Cancer. Both of which scenerios I cried as their Oncology nurse begind closed doors. Because I know way too much. But I am thrilled to say that they both are either s/p surgery/internal beam radiation or s/p surgery/chemo/radiation and are doing great. What we all thought was the worse turned out to be totally different. Take one day at a time. But get it checked don't wait. Kimberly

You are right on the mark. Your patient at anytime during her chemotherapy treatments can reach her nadir and be classified as neutropenic. Nadir is the lowest point the cell counts will drop. This potentially makes her body a magnet for bacteria. The niece and call but not visit until she is cleared by MD (through Chest xray).

Hello all. I am the Head Nurse for a private outpatient oncology practice. 4 offices, 11 nurses, 7 physicians. lately some of our physicians have thrown our nursing department under the bus several times. forever we have covered for the lack of dictated progess notes, incomplete and missing chemotherapy orders, wrong doses, bsa that have not been updated, etc. we identified these ERRORs and just fixed them and made them look like perfect beings in front of their patients. and now they throw us under the bus anytime they can. I am the Head Nurse so I am the one that keeps get my but chewed for it. Geting yelled at by the head doctor doesn't really bother me, I met with him monday once, 3 times wednesday and once today so I think i am numb. but being disrespected by physicians just makes me mad. The head doctor told me on monday that any errors that the doctors make need to be written up on our medication variance form. Well the nurses do not feel comfortable with this because of possible back lash from the doctors. But with some of them acting the way they are acting I am like forget it, what is good for the goose is surely good for the gander. PLEASE RESPOND WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. I WOULD LOVE TO CHAT WITH A NURSE THAT IS IN THE OUTPATIENT SETTING AS WELL. K

florida is pretty low 19--not what I make but this is what I have been told

Our practice will give a Rx for Emla for the patient to apply at home. 95% of our patients use nothing at all. We use 22G hubers only. When I access patients they all say it is not as bad as they brace themselves for.

The chemotherapy/biotherapy course schedule and calendar is available on the ONS website. Classes are offered throughout the United States. Typically it is a 2 day class. sometimes the classes are 2 days back to back and other times they could be a week or 2 apart. during the class the instructor goes through the entire course book which you receive for attending. this book is a great resource after the class. on the 2nd day you take a 50 question timed test on the material in the book. take notes in your book selectively. pencil, tabs and highlighter. It is an open book test so tabs help you get really familiar with where everthing is in the book. highlight the extremely important stuff most likely for the test. My instructor gave us the "hint hint" signal for the important stuff. Cert is good for 2 years. DON'T LET IT EXPIRE (like I did) because you have to go through the entire class and test all over again. hope all this helps.

Hello All, I will make this short. Recently the Pharmacy Manager of a Home Health Agency came into the office were I work and stated to myself and colleagues that "our company is always looking for nurses wanting to pick up a few hours". Of course in an age that gas is through the roof and a little extra income is golden, 4 of us applied to his company for per-diem work. We sent in the application and everything was rushed through and we set our orientation date and THEN. The DON goes to this meeting then calls me 7 times on friday. Once I finally called her back she is ****** stating that at her meeting she was informed that nurses that work full time in private practice COULD NOT work for any home health agency because it is against the law effective July 1 and comes with a $15,000 per visit fine. It has something to do with referrals and medicare fraud.... This is terrible!!! And not really fair. It was a great opportunity... WHAT NOW... I don't at all have the desire to go back to the hospital nor do nursing home work. Home IV infusions was the the best opportunity. I am chemotherapy certified so it was a golden opp. Any info???

I live in Brevard County. I have worked in the medical field for 15 years and as a nurse for the past 8. It was not until recently that I desided to find a per diem job to supplement the income from my full time job. I found the job, applied and was basically hired until this new rule came into play about not allowing nurses that work in private practice to workin Home health agencies because it would become a conflict of interest. I guess there were medicare fraud issues in Miami and the law became effective July 1. I was really looking forward to the extra income. I don't want to do hospital or nursing home so this was a great opportunity.

Hello everyone, Resently I applied for a perdium Home Infusion job with a local company. Everthing was a GO until the DON had a meeting and found out that nurse that work for local private practices can not work for home infusion companies. What in the world!!!!!!! I am very upset becuase I really needed this perdium job. Anyone know about this insane rule? Is this florida thing?

our office flowsheet is like a spreadsheet. However it is generated from our document manager (Touch Chart). Demographics (name, chart number, dob, primary and Secondar DX. Then the chart starts, 1st column starts with the year then below that has the weight, height, BSA. Then the columns start about 15 across. Dates are placed in the top box of each column and then data runs down. current labs: WBC, ANC, HGB, HCT, Plts. After that some of our docs put tumor markers and renal values then meds are listed starting at the far left column and then doses under the correct date column.

Hello everyone, I am a RN working a private practice Oncology office. One of our MAs went back to school to become a LPN and will graduate soon. She went to our HR manager that is new to the practice and asked about her staying with the practice after graduation and HR response was No it is not safe. Well I think that is rediculous. I wanted to know if anyone works with a LPN in private practice and what ther job description and duties are. I am in a position to influence this decision. She is an extremely qualified MA and will make a fabulous nurse. Looking for input, PLEASE Kimberly

hello nursemae, i am a hematology/oncology nurse and also have my chemotherapy certification. i currently work in the outpatient setting were all of the nurses are also chemotherapy certified. i would suggest that you browse through the ons website for the chemotherapy & biotherapy certification class. it is held around the country at different dates and times. it typically is a 2 day class @ $150, you receive your chemo cert. card and ceus. i hope this info helps scma:smilecoffeecup: