janhendrixson

I just joined so I could reply to your post. I've been in oncology for 20 years now and it was my first job when I got out of school. However, I had worked as a CNA for 5 years at a VA on the oncology floor & already knew it was the only place for me. I have worked for my husband for the last 15 years in a solo oncology practice in his small home town. I know that not everyone's experience will be like mine. You will see people die, that's a part of it. I even worked as a hospice nurse for awhile to learn what happened to the patients we discharged from the hospital with hospice care. THAT was a tough job! Caring for the dying is an honor as I see it. It is a moment that the family (who are hopefully there at the bedside) will never forget. I always saw my role (when I worked on a hospital oncology floor) to be a calming voice, keeping the family informed about what they where seeing, that it was normal and expected, etc. Any time a person dies with their family at their side is a true blessing for the patient and the family. I would remind them of that in a subtle way. With time, you will learn to see the beauty in a peaceful death, the end of great suffering. By the time someone dies from cancer they have usually fought a long, hard, and sometimes painful battle. Quite often the patient and their family are ready to see their suffering end. The most important thing-often the only thing-that matters to any of them is they are not suffering and they have a peaceful death. It is largely in your hands to make that happen. Sometimes we have no control but very often we do. And believe me when i tell you, that family will never forget the nurse who showed compassion & went the extra mile to keep the person they loved from suffering. Very often, the person who needs the most care from you is not the patient, but the spouse or child. I have boxes of cards from family members thanking me, telling me how they love me and how I will always have a special place in their hearts for a kindness I showed them or their loved one during their battle with cancer. I have saved every one over the last 20 years. When things are hard or sad at work, I only have to look at a few cards to be reminded of how blessed I am to have the love and trust of so many peoples. How I can make a difference in the lives of people who feel helpless and scared and look to me for answers, understanding, and support. Don't worry too much about patients dying. Not everyone does thank goodness. Sometimes we win great victories and sometimes we win small battles, but we celebrate them all. People often tell me that it takes a special person to work in oncology. I don't know if that's true or not. I know people will get cancer and some will die from their disease. That will happen no matter if they are our patient or another doctors. My greatest hope is that by them being our patient they will get treated and taken care of in a way that they wouldn't somewhere else. And by that, we are making their battle with cancer less emotionally painful, less stressful, and they will have less fear than they otherwise would have had. That is the difference I make every day. It matters. Now, on a different aspect of oncology nursing...once you become a specialized nurse, an oncology nurse, you become much more in demand. You will be able to find a job anywhere in the world. Oncology docs are looking for nurses with experience in oncology. Working in an office is great compared to hospital nursing. Monday through Friday, no holidays, no big hospital administration to deal with. And you form long, lasting relationships with patients and families. You become an important part of their lives. And the money is great. You will get paid for your experience. And if you get your oncology certification, you;ll be in high demand. I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope you grow to love it as much as I do.