cancer.sucks replied to Momof2inMO's topic in Oncology
To get the OCN test blueprint and booklet that includes recommended resources, go to the ONCC website. However, if you just want to know the primary book to study, get the most recent Core Curriculum...
cancer.sucks replied to joyful_wanderer's topic in General Nursing
I rarely dream about work. However, in the early years of my career I had to carefully choose an alarm clock that would wake me up, but that did not sound like any of the alarms at work. If my clock...
cancer.sucks replied to slimz101's topic in Nursing Career
Transitioning to a career from college causes anxiety regardless of the degree. I really think that it is compounded for nursing because you are acutely aware that how well you do your job directly...
cancer.sucks replied to beckyboo1's topic in General Nursing
I prefer to subscribe to specialty (oncology) journals. However, if you are a med/surg nurse facing a multitude of diagnoses, then it can be a valuable tool for you. If I remember correctly, the...
cancer.sucks replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock
Pain is defined as what the patient says it is occurring when the patient says it does. That is a fact. While we as nurses have a tendency not to believe the patient that is asking for pain meds...
but there are medications ie. chemo meds given IV push but are required to be administered over 15mins. When a chemotherapy medication is given IV push blood return also has to be frequently assessed....
cancer.sucks replied to mbutler14's topic in Emergency
Epic is set up to be user friendly regardless of where or how often the patient enters the healthcare system. If one of my oncology patients shows up in the ER, the ER staff can very easily how long...
cancer.sucks replied to LevitateMe's topic in Oncology
Be careful about using an outdated text. The OCN exam is evaluated every 3 years for outdated information questions and anything referring to outdated information is thrown out. If you use an...
cancer.sucks replied to busybee04's topic in Oncology
The reason for using a 10ml syringe to push medications through a portacath (or a PICC line for that matter) is because of the pressure caused by pushing a medication. The smaller the syringe the...
cancer.sucks replied to danceyrun's topic in Oncology
I love that you said that SoldierNurse22!! I have been primarily in adult oncology, but come from the land of St. Jude Hospital although I do not live there anymore. When an adult patient loses their...
cancer.sucks replied to danceyrun's topic in Oncology
I hope that you can find a way to value all of the experiences that you have with your patients--the good and the bad. I have told many people that there are few things in this world that I do well....
cancer.sucks replied to whitecp's topic in Oncology
I gave chemotherapy through 2 pregnancies and all was fine. I consistently use chemo cloves and gown, but have not ever used a face shield or safety glasses. Both pregnancies were uneventful and...
cancer.sucks replied to Cardiacguy7's topic in Oncology
If you can learn to cope with your feelings, you have much to offer a patient that is struggling with a difficult diagnosis. You are a cancer survivor as much as your wife is because you have seen...
cancer.sucks replied to Danish1807's topic in Oncology
There is rarely going to be an individual answer to the quesiton of managing bone metastasis. A combination of long-acting and short-acting opioids, anti-inflammatory, and steroid is usually...
The most memorable code that I was part of was when I had been a nurse for 2 years and I was in charge. The patient was "feeling funny" according to his wife and he was walking to the bathroom. He...
cancer.sucks replied to Lonestar RN's topic in Oncology
I also agre with what SoldierNurse said. The one coment that i would add is that if the chemotherapy and blood will both be running simultaneously, best practice would be for the chemotherapy to be...
cancer.sucks replied to lunate's topic in Oncology
I am not familiar with that computerized documentation program, but I have been involved in initiation of 2 different computerized documentation systems. I do not know who long you have been using...
cancer.sucks replied to sax82677's topic in Oncology
I have been an oncology nurse for 28 years. I know that I was called to be an oncology nurse straight out of nursing school. My plan was to go into labor and delivery and then become a midwife. So...
cancer.sucks replied to AprilDawnLeverett's topic in Oncology
It is much easier and more reliable to track cumulative dosing levels in the electronic world. There are several electronic documentaiton systems that provide ready access to the number for bedside...
cancer.sucks replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock
You call out for a shift just because you had a bad day? That is interesting. No one can define a bad day but you. I would encourage you to take the "bad day" as an opportunity to learn about how to...
cancer.sucks replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock
I am really glad i can program my coffee pot to automatically start 5 minutes before I get out of bed. I barely open my eyes before i get my first cup. The hospital does not have good coffee readily...
cancer.sucks replied to Brian's topic in Nurses Rock
What gets me is that my family cannot get enough blood and gore at the movie theater, but if I talk about an IV start or a dressing change it is more than they can