Starting a career as Oncology Nurse...

[Kristin G]

Hi Everyone:

I recently graduated and just got a job as an Oncology nurse at a large metropolitan teaching hospital. I have been working towards this for what seems like forever and am very excited. But would love some advice as to what to research, good reference books, et. al. so that I can somewhat get a handle on things (I know I can't learn it all in the three weeks before I start)...but would like to put that time to good use.

Any other advice would be helpful as well...

Thanks so much,

Kristin

[Ted]

First off, congrats on graduating and on your new position! These in themselves are note-worthy accomplishments! :)

I would say to work on the basics. Hopefully your preceptorship program will help ensure that you feel confident with the "basic" (for lack of a better word)tasks and responsibilities of nursing. Also, hopefully your place of employment will include basic oncology workshops as part of your preceptorship program. If not, contact a local chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society for more info. Many chapters offer some kind of programs for the new oncology nurse to help him/her focus on issues, "tasks" and responsibilities associated with this nursing specialty. Visit http://www.ons.org . It's the web site for the Oncology Nursing Society. Consider joining this society. :)

Hope this is helpful to you! :)

Ted