dreavt

dreavt BSN, RN

Hematology/Oncology

Member
  • Content

    73
  • Visitors

    3,824
  • Followers

    0

All Content by dreavt

  1. Portland oncology nursing?

    Hi everyone! I am 95% sure my family will be moving to Portland, likely within the next 1-2 years. My partner's a writer, so can live anywhere, but I've been an oncology nurse, specifically a "chemo nurse" (aka infusion nurse) for almost 6 years, an...
  2. Portland oncology nursing?

    Thank you! This is very helpful! I have found a couple of programs that I think I could do in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable amount of money. Now just need to decide if I definitely want to get my BSN first, or try to get a job *with...
  3. Portland oncology nursing?

    Than you for the insight! I have to admit the work/debt involved in getting a BSN isn't too appealing... but I will definitely research my options. Thanks again!
  4. OCN 2015!!!

    i took the exam 4 years ago and passed, and quite a few of my colleagues (past and present) are also OCN and passed on the first try. In fact the only nurse I personally know of who failed was one who didn't study -- she felt she'd been an oncology ...
  5. I may be getting ahead of myself, but I'm obsessing about this and hope articulating it will help -- any feedback appreciated! I've been a nurse for just over 2 yrs, all of that on an inpatient hem/onc unit. Currently I work 2 12-hr nights back-to-b...
  6. Hi everyone! Just a shot in the dark, but I'm wondering if anyone here works or has worked in the US Virgin Islands? Or known anyone who does/has? It's freezing and snowy here, and on night shift last night I flipped through a magazine about island...
  7. Thanks, Purple & Meriwhen! That's what I was leaning towards. Part of me is just curious to know if I'll make the cut... Appreciate your input!
  8. Hi all, I applied for a job which I think in many ways would be perfect for me. Alas, the hours (8-5 M-F) and commute (1+ hr each way) would be terrible for my life & family. In my initial interview, it became clear that this was not something ...
  9. I'm sure it varies regionally and facility-to-facility, as others have pointed out. My experience is no -- I've got an ADN, and neither I nor any of my classmates had a harder time getting a job than BSN nurses who graduated at the same time (summer...
  10. Hello all, I just got back from the ONS Institutes of Learning and am now fascinated with the use of "closed system transfer devices" for chemo administration, especially for actually connecting the chemo tubing to the pt's line (central or periphera...
  11. Best way to study for OCN exam?

    *oops -- random double-post deleted*
  12. Best way to study for OCN exam?

    You find out if you passed the OCN exam immediately -- right after you submit your final answer!
  13. Best way to study for OCN exam?

    Everyone gets the same number of questions, but not the same questions. However all the tests follow the "blueprint" -- i.e. x % of questions are about oncologic emergencies, x % are about supportive care, etc. Remember that unlike the NCLEX, you c...
  14. Best way to study for OCN exam?

    I signed up in January 2011 and passed in May! It was tough but not absurdly so -- however IMHO *you must study* no matter how many years experience you have. The questions are just too detailed and in too many subspecialities of oncology for any o...
  15. So i'm a Nurse right????

    Yeah, I passed the NCLEX in early June, didn't start my first nursing job until late August. So technically I was an RN/nurse, but felt like a fraud when family/friends would introduce me as such "She's a nurse" -- um, no. Maybe on paper, but not i...
  16. New Grad starting Oncology

    I was hired as a new grad to an inpatient hem/onc floor, in Aug 2009. I LOVE it, at least the onco part! About 5 months ago, my unit sent men to an ONS chemo course. The things I did not know much about as a new grad, and *needed* to know on the f...
  17. As a new grad ADN in summer 2009 (when the job market for new grad RNs started to really suck), I applied for a "BSN preferred" new grad position at a teaching hospital, and after some lobbying and waiting and networking, was hired. Still there and ...
  18. Nursing in the US Virgin Islands?

    Thanks for the replies! I hadn't really thought of travel nursing -- I'll have to look into it more, I'm afraid the competition for assignments in paradise would likely be stiff!
  19. Hello all! I'm looking to get my MSN, probably with a CNL focus, and have found a few schools that will allow RNs with an ADN plus a non-nursing Bachelor's to apply directly to the MSN program, no BSN required. I can't relocate, and no local schools...
  20. Online MSN programs for RN with ADN + BA ?

    Thanks for your replies, sorry I haven't responded -- so busy with "real" life, haven't been on the forums much at all! I've done that a few times, and though I find mentions of the schools here and there (i.e. "I'm looking into School X"), I've fo...
  21. Continuing Education Units(CEU's)

    In oncology, advocacy orgs like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offer lots of free CEUs for nurses -- the ones I have done are often a podcast of a talk, conference, etc., which makes it extra convenient, I just listen during my commute, fill out...
  22. How to narrow down the choices

    I'm afraid I don't have much advice, just lots of sympathy! It seems like every day I learn of new programs out there -- the time it takes just to navigate the (sometimes poorly designed) web sites and try to figure out/guess what *might* transfer (...
  23. Yep -- not much luck, though -- I find brief references (i.e. "I'm considering XYZ school") but no discussion of reasons chosen/interested, experience thus far, etc. So I thought I'd try a brand new thread! Thanks, Drea
  24. Hi all, I'm trying to figure out which online BSN completion program is best for me. It is crazy how many are out there that meet the minimum requirements of CCNE accreditation and no on-campus component. I have a BA in liberal arts, so will be abl...
  25. Carpuject!?

    Definitely no air! Learned the hard way when I was on orientation -- we have the carpuject injectors, but few use them, and they are often hard to find. I was in a rush to get morphine, knew it was possible to draw out of the carpuject vials, injec...