Suggestions for my concerns re: chemo?

[nursemae]

Hello all! I've just recently left military nursing and am experiencing civilian nursing for the first time. I moved here and started on an Oncology floor almost 2 months ago. I've not worked Oncology before, although I did a lot of it during my clinical rotations since it was an area of interest. Needless to say, I don't remember a WHOLE lot since that was 10 years ago! :)

I got 6 shifts of orientation because the PBDS said I was good to go. Now, I am used to not getting much orientation in a new place, because that was par for the course in the military. However, my main concern is the utter lack of chemo training I've received!

It seemed that I remembered from OHSU that you didn't do much with chemo until you were trained/certified. Here, only 2 or 3 of the nurses are chemo certified - one of which is the Nurse Manager, who doesn't really work on the floor.

I've heard the typical sort of response - "It's been like that since before I got here, I didn't get training, my preceptor didn't get training, you just learn it". To me, this is some pretty scary ****! I am reading furiously, I'm putting in my application to join ONS and I've used their site to look up the listed trainers. Unfortunately none are within 3 hours of me, but since I plan to be here a couple years, it will be worth it. Hopefully I can get some sort of reimbursement from the hosptial, but who knows? It seems overall that many people have a rather lax attitude about all this...but IT'S CHEMO! Ack.

I hear talk of a training class sometime in the next few months, but who knows?

Any advice or resources you could pass along would be GREATLY appreciated. I have to say for the first time in 10 years of nursing this is the first thing I've run into that truly scares me. And it's not the chemo itself that scares me so much, it is my desire to do right by my patients.

Thanks for your time!

[lucky4timesover]

As a chemo nurse I strongly believe that training is vital. I completely agree with what you say wanting to do it right for your patients. Sounds like a dangerous place to work. I went to oncology as a new grad. My floor was going through a big turnover at the time and we had about 3 or 4 chemo nurses, but NO ONE who hadn't been to get certified was allowed to administer it. I have since gone on to work in an outpatient chemo infusion center. I love it, but there is so much that can go on when giving it. Maybe you could find another place to work, because I would be concerned about the safety of my license in that environment. Good luck to you.

Sunny

[scma]

hello nursemae,

i am a hematology/oncology nurse and also have my chemotherapy certification. i currently work in the outpatient setting were all of the nurses are also chemotherapy certified.

i would suggest that you browse through the ons website for the chemotherapy & biotherapy certification class. it is held around the country at different dates and times. it typically is a 2 day class @ $150, you receive your chemo cert. card and ceus.

i hope this info helps

scma:smilecoffeecup: