LaRoseRN

Hi There! I posted this the Oncology section but also thought I'd post here: I work on a pediatric BMT unit and am looking at testing for one of the specialty certifications: either CPON (Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse) or BMTCN (Bone Marrow Tr...

Thanks for your response, jrtaylor4, after talking to a number of different folks I've decided CPHON is the best option at this point in my career. I like that it's peds focused and covers Heme/Onc/BMT together. One of our travel RNs pointed out the ...

We draw labs on the kiddos w/ CVC or PICC lines. Phlebotomists usually draw on kids w/ IVs. We also have an IV team for difficult pokes.

...also if you run a search, there are a couple threads on here outlining lots of tips about what to study in preparation for BMT work. Check them out, they're full of useful information!

Congratulations! Pediatric BMT is where I started straight out of nursing school & I love it. I was so terrified, but the nurses I work with are an incredible bunch mixing extremely intricate, specialized knowledge with deep compassion and commi...

Thank you!! I really enjoy my job, my patients, and my coworkers/managers too -- I'm a second career RN, and often tell my preceptees that going into nursing was one of the best (and hardest) decisions I ever made. I had to move far from home to sec...

When I first graduated and landed my job in peds oncology, one of my male nurse friends who worked in the ER told me, "I could never do that. The only reason you can do it is because you don't have kids yet. Once you have kids, you'll understand." S...

Some places ask for this, others don't consider it experience -- there are a few threads on this. I'd suggest a separate page, include the hours of that rotation (this was requested at some major teaching hospitals I applied to) and focus on skills -...

Hey there! Huge Congrats! I did my senior practicum in BMT too & LOVED it. It's not for everyone, but it was definitely for me. I remember it being a steep learning curve because, as you mentioned, we really hadn't learned much about BMT during ...

I try to avoid them & wish they were labeled clearly like in Europe so I could make better, informed decisions as a consumer. At least let me choose -- GMO plants are NOT the same as hybrid plants, and trying to sell them as such is a big ol' li...

Hi there! I am compiling a list of gift ideas/toys that are particularly good for sick kids - both in the hospital and at home. Aside from the normal things like puzzles, and art supplies, what clever or popular items have you seen at the bedside th...

Susan Cain is also the author of a wonderful book on introverts aptly titled "Quiet"

I love child life! They offer so many wonderful, creative services!! So glad we have them as part of our team at work.

I wasn't planning on working Peds either! Of course, life had a different idea. I had a background in education working with children before nursing school and the idea of working with sick children just felt scary and too emotionally challenging f...

I second that. I do think my class was very unique, we were small, and the competition to get accepted to the program was SUPER fierce (state school tuition pulls a lot of apps!) so our group had a lot of fascinating life experiences/background comi...

PS: I definitely agree that working as a CNA is probably one of the best ways to get an edge as a new grad!

I completed a generalist (not NP, or specialty based) direct-entry MSN at a cal state school. No previous healthcare experience other than volunteering. Myself and my classmates all had jobs within a year of graduating. None of us had to relocate out...

Sounds like you know your answer. I wish you the best on CTICU!!!

I'd find out if "part-time with full time hours" means no benefits & factor that in. I have some classmates who were hired "part-time" only to work full time hours w/out medical insurance or a 401k. I personally favor full-time benefited posit...

"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." - Lord Byron

I found my job off Facebook -- there was a group page that had started for new grad RNs looking for jobs in my state. Everyone would post updates about new grad positions they had found, or when a particular residency program application was going t...

I am in my early 30's and my first year of practice. Definitely doable!! Only thing I grapple with a little is postponing starting a family while I am building my foundational nursing skills and expertise at the bedside. But I guess I'd need a husban...

Thanks! I actually really love my job and feel very blessed to work where I do...it just amazes me that even during those crazy shifts, when you think you're doing nothing right, there is still room for appreciation -- when you least expect it. It do...

...one of those running around all night, kid's spiking, need STAT cultures, and blood products to pump up BP's that are bottoming out but there's no type & screen yet and parents are annoyed that there's a BP cuff going off Q15mins, and there ar...

Hey Fireball! Looking forward to seeing how you progress towards your dreams!! I developed an interest in palliative care/hospice during school -- shadowed a hospice RN during CNA training, then in nursing school did a rotation in a free-standing ...