annaotis

Had a twenty something patient that I had been taking care of for a couple of months. He was funny, sweet, always even tempered despite his hospitalization. Had assessed him just two hours earlier, he was fine. I walked into his room to see him and he was a "little cranky". That's it. Alarms went off in my head! Immediately took his BP, he was crashing. Called a code, he was vented and passed away several days later.

I was 24, the charge nurse and my patient's family refused to allow me to care for him until I presented my drivers license to them! I thought it was pretty funny!

I worked in an outpatient oncology facility apart from the hospital for 4 years. We had an in house pharmacist each day. The only time I ever had to mix chemo was during snowstorm. I lived close and was sent to call the patients to tell them not to come.One doctor and several patients drove in the storm. No pharmacist. I was scared out of mind. I did call one of our pharmacists each time I had to mix as I had no one to check it with. I would not want to do that again. Also, as crazy busy as we always were(only two nurses), there is no way we would have had the time to mix and hang. My worst day was 28 infusions. But most days it was around 10. Personally I wouldn't take the job if I had to mix. There are pharmacists for a reason.

OCN63 took the words right out of my mouth! My advice would be just what she suggested. Totally different from working inpatient, but I enjoyed it. Hope you get the job!

Increased urinary output?

You are already on your way to being a great mentor because you have expressed your willingness to teach and guide your extern. I am sure he/she will appreciate your honesty when teaching, admitting your strengths and weaknesses. That doesn't make you appear less confident, but genuine. You only get good at a skill by getting exposure/experience over and over again. I was an extern and have mentored externs. Best advice- be patient and encouraging. Expose your extern to as many experiences as possible. This will take extra time on your part. But this is how he/she will learn. Also, know the extern's scope of practice. There will be a lot of things they can do, but some very specific, important skills/tasks they will not be allowed to do. They can always observe, so talk your way through tasks so they can learn in those situations too. You will be awesome! Good luck and enjoy the experience!

Working Oncology, I have seen numerous patients pass. The first was as a GN. My pt. was sixteen, a BIG, tall boy. My preceptor and I were transferring him from the bed to the chair and he coded. He fell right on top of both of us. We struggled to get out from under him and yell for help. Our team was able to revive him. He coded three more times that same week. The hardest part was hearing his mother scream, having to pull her out of the room so he could be worked on. Each time was worse than the last for her. Each time they asked for a full code. Each time she wailed. After the fourth code, they understood and made him a DNR. He was her only child. Another time I was charge on evening shift. This gentleman passed away very quietly, family said their good byes. (This was before everyone and their mother had a cell phone mind you.)The patient was being prepared to go to the morgue, the nurse had cleaned him up, placed the chin strap on him, cotton pads over his eyes, toe tag on... She went to get the body bag. In her absence, a "new " family member showed up and was sitting in the rocking chair in his room. When the nurse came into the room, he asked why the patient had all those "contraptions" on his head and were they part of his treatment....he had no idea his family member had passed. The nurse was speechless and ran to get me. No one had gotten a hold of him. I had to explain.

I have spent 8 years in Oncology and BMT. Oncology patients often want and need connection with those who are caring for them. I think that is one of the things what makes for a great Oncology nurse. They also don't want you feeling sorry for them or treating them "differently" for lack of a better term. Warmth and genuine compassion go a long way. Humor too! ( I always have my patients laughing and joking during their chemo treatments and they love it!) They are in a tough situation as it is, my experience has been that they don't want to be in "gloom and doom" environments. People that don't work in Oncology always say to me, "I could never do that, it must be so depressing". I wouldn't want to do anything else. Can it be heart wrenching at times? Yes, but the best part of working with this patient population is exactly that - the patients. Such wonderful people who are so appreciative of your care. You all will be fine, and a few of you may end up actually loving the rotation! Let us know how it works out, good luck!

"Thanks for listening Doc, you're all heart!"

I wouldn't just pop in on her because that might not sit well. Could you go to the unit and drop off a note with your explanation , along with your resume/cover letter? It couldn't hurt at this point. You don't get if you don't ask. What you did showed true compassion. That is a trait that should always be a the core of nursing. I had a different situation first day at a brand new job and my favorite young patient of all time (Oncology) died on the unit I had just left. His Mom was there alone, didn't know any of the staff there, because they had not been there in a while. Dad was on the way and did not know. Got a call at my new job. Wanted desperately to leave and be with the mother. I didn't ask to leave because it was my first day. The nurse orienting me, who was leaving for a new job the very next day told me to go be with that Mom. I would not trade that experience for anything in the world. Trade off, those few hours of orientation were all I received. I had to fly solo in a free standing clinic the next day. Yikes. Steep learning curve. It was worth it. You put good into this world, you will get it back. Let that manager know how much you want this position, ask for another chance to interview. It can't hurt. Sending positive thoughts your way, good luck!

The nurse Lt. Coleen McMurphy (actress Dana Delaney)on "China Beach". She was a bad ass!

My first job, had to rotate day nights every two weeks for two years. On days, I slept only 5 or 6 hours a night. On nightshirt rotation I slept 14 hours during the day, did NOTHING but sleep between shifts during those two weeks. (no family at the time). This was doing 5 eight hour shifts, so I would need the weekend days to get things done or get myself turned around for the upcoming day shift schedule. Not fun. I feel for you.

I was just going to suggest that book! Great read! Also, " The Introvert Advantage" by Marti Olsen Laney, Psy.D. is wonderful too.

Your article caught my eye because I am married to an introvert. He is not a nurse , but everything else you described about being an introvert is spot on! I felt like you were writing about him! I mean you could be twins! I am always looking for knowledge,wanting to understand so that I can be sensitive to his ( and others) feelings. Introverts rock! Thanks for a your wonderful insights and much needed information for those who might not otherwise understand.

Congrats! What a blessing for you! What is your driving passion? Think pt. population- Oncology or Pediatrics? You can go to Adult BMT and gain some amazing oncology experience (I was a BMT nurse for many years) and eventually use that experience to move into Peds Oncology in the future. But if the pt. population you really love caring for is Peds, then the type of unit might not matter as much. Don't over think it too much. Also, definitely think about location. You will be living there for who knows how long?You want to be happy not only in your job, but also your environment. Personally, just from your post, you sound like you have a passion for Peds. Good luck!