JamieLeeRN

It is always hard to go home and have to be around someone after a long day if you have to worry about upsetting them. Have you told him how you feel about needing to be yourself at home? If you haven't you really need to. It isn't fair of him to expect you to hide your feelings, tell him it's nothing personal to him and you will most likely be fine once you get a chance to wind down.

It is very difficult decision to make to up and move to a new state, it is what I did when I graduated nursing school....only I did it alone and had no family in the state I was moving to. I think that as far as a professional aspect is concerned moving is the right choice, and as far as your child is concerned, three isn't an age where I think they would really know much of a difference, and having the chance to be with family may actually be great. I think the issue is really your husband...is he willing to move for you? It's time to talk, because from your post it seems you really want to move and know it's the best choice for you...good luck!

I had a patient who was starting chemo, and her hair was just beginning to fall out. She was so upset, it was devasatating to her...she didn't want her husband to see her with her hair falling out, and she was so embarrassed. When I had the time while I was working, I went into her room and I sat her up...and we shaved her head...we then put a scarf on her head...It was inspiring and wonderful to help her in that way.:redbeathe

Has there been any progress or updates since the surgery? I hope everything is going okay...

I find that it can be difficult, as it has been said and will be said to you time and time again, to become so attached to so many people who don't make it...I know that is what makes it difficult for a lot of my coworkers and friends. I think to become and Oncology nurse you need to be very passionate, it takes a lot to be a true Oncology nurse. I know some nurses who get into the field in hopes of just being able to get into outpatient so they can work Monday through Friday and have weekends and holidays off...it's not the right reason to do it...because the only thing that will make the patients feel your possitive energy, is if you have the possitive energy to start with...and the only way you will be able to make it through the heart break...is if you are there for a bigger purpose than yourself. I am fortunate, I have been working in Oncology since I started nursing, it was all I ever wanted to do...and I love my job. I hope that if you go into the field, you will find that the wonderful parts of the job, and the incredible people you meet...will show you so much more happiness than the sorrow you feel with the loss of certain people... Instead of asking what the most challenging part is...you should ask what the most wonderful part about working in Oncology is. For me, it is knowing that I am helping these people, even in a small way...and for me...it's having the opportunity to have my patients be a part of my life...:redbeathe Good luck, and I hope you make the best choice for you.

I guess her school may not do background checks, which is unfortunate, because I am pretty sure you cannot get your RN if you have a criminal history, DUIs included. I know my school did background checks, but I am not sure what state you are in...and also maybe her school isn't even accreditted, which means it won't matter even if she gets through it?? As far as the state goes, they will do a background check before they let her sit for her NCLEX, and then willl decide if she can legally sit...which it sounds like she will have gone through school for no reason...and also, with that history and being fired from a hospital job like that already, there is a good chance she won't get rehired anyway.

Because nurses have to be on their game almost immediately out of school, however doctors get to have about 4-8 more years of having someone else tell them how to their job.

you may want to reconsider...as long as the school has a good NCLEX passing rate it would be worth it. My school did exit exams, and an exam to gauge how we were doing every semester, but they have an over 90% passing rate on the NCLEX...the honest truth is...exit exams are a good gauge because if you can't pass an exit exam you probably won't be able to pass the NCLEX.

What specialty are you in right now? If you are feeling this overwhelmed it may have something to do with where you are working. As far as time management goes, it takes a while to start feeling like you even know what is going on, let alone feeling like you have it together, if you felt like you knew everything in your first year of nursing, that quite possibly could make you the scariest nurse ever; knowing your limits is important...however, limiting yourself with doubt is not a good thing either. Try to remember why you decided to become a nurse, try to remember the good things about being a nurse...and try to focus on the good things that happen while you are working. Maybe if you make a list while you are working, just quickly, and keep it in your pocket, and add possitive things as your shift goes along, and then go home and look at it, it will make you feel a little better... "All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming." ~Helen Keller

The only reason I could think of in regards to the not wanting to use tylenol is the risk of masking the fever, as stated before. However, I do have to say that some kind of NSAID, may be very beneficial since it will most likely help a lot with the bone pain. And I also have to say I agree that the ER doc is most likely missing the whole point of hospice here...it is about making the patient comfortable, we have already come to terms with the fact that we won't be able to cure them.

It is important to remember, that with Oncology patients the managers will most likely be looking for someone passionate about the field. You are going to be at an advantage of those other new grads applying against you because you have been in psych, so you know how to talk to, or "council" these patients if they need it. I would use that to your advantage in your cover letter. I would also use an example from nursing clinical experience, and how you used your psych skills to help a patient; even if it wasn't an oncology patient, or maybe even the family member. Remember that with Oncology nursing, the family is usually a very large aspect that will need to be focussed on. For example if you had a patient while you were in clinical who had just gotten diagnosed with something, or told they had a poor prognosis, and you took the time to sit with them and hear their concerns, and you reassured them and helped them refocus on something else, and gave them hope to get through, it would be a good route to take. If you want to send me a private message and send me your cover letter, I would be happy to proof read it for you. Good luck!

Congrats to everyone for passing their boards, and welcome to field of Oncology Nursing! I have been an Oncology nurse since I graduated, it has now been two and a half years give or take that I have been working with Oncology patients, and it was always my dream to do so. I wish everyone luck. My advice for anyone who is going to be working in this field, is to be prepared, because it is a gift to spend time with these patients, their outlook on life is inspiring in a way that you don't have the privelage of experiencing. Also, know your limits. You are going to have bad days, and weeks at work, and find out what you need to do to cope. I had a bad week a couple months ago, and the way I cope, is by going home after my week of work is done, filling a hot bath, making dinner, and drinking some wine, and I usually spend my alone time crying and regrouping, and reminding myself of the greater purpose for me being where I am. There is no shame in crying if it what you need to do, however I would recommend to avoid doing it while at work, and if you cannot avoid it at work, go in a bathroom and try to pull it together until your shift is over. Good luck to everyone, and I hope you all end up loving this specialty as much as I do!

I am sorry to hear about the diagnosis, it is always hard to handle when someone close to you is ill. It is hard to tell you how the prognosis is without more information, but I can try to give you my opinion. This cholangiocarcinoma, as with most types of cancer, depends on how soon it was found..where they able to operate and remove the tumor? If they were able to remove the tumor, odds are decent that she will survive past this, at least for now. However, if the cancer has begun to spread, or if they are unable to remove it all, the odds decrease. One thing I feel I should prepare you for, is that even if her treatment is successful, with any cancer treatment, there is always a chance for relapse, and there is always a chance for a new type of cancer developing; often times the very treatment we use for one type of cancer can cause another type later in life, so my advice from one professional to another, is to be prepared. I wish for the best for you and your family.

Yeah we use the Sigma Spectrum aka "Smart Pumps". I like them for the most part, it is nice to be able to run blood through them and everything, but they can be very sensitive, they can react to sometimes bubbles that aren't there, and the false upstream occlusions can drive you crazy lol. But for the most part I really like them.

I don't think you can do it online, but I know the school I went to first, where I got my associates degree, if you are an LPN, and you get into the program, you don't have to do the first semester, so you would only have to do three semesters rather than all four, which could be very helpful, it may be something to consider?