Thinking about outpatient oncology

[Booty Nurse, BSN]

I'm thinking about applying for a job at a brand new (still under construction) radiation/chemo center adjacent to the small community hospital where I now work. It is a satellite center of a highly-regarded cancer center an hour away. I'm a relatively new nurse; I've been working med-surg for a year and a half, and I'm ready to do something else.

Reading over the post on this forum have made me a little nervous. There seems to be so much to know about chemo, and I know none of it. I've worked a bit with PICC lines, mediports, and central lines, but not extensively. I'm afraid I would be in over my head.

I'm attracted to this type of job because it seems that you have the opportunity to develop longer-term relationships with your patients, it seem intellectually challenging, and the hours can't be beat.

Any advice would be welcome. I'd also love to hear what a typical day is like in an outpatient cancer center. Thanks!

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity - go for it.

I have spent my career as a inpatient oncology nurse - I think if you are looking to develop relationships that last that might be the areana you are looking for - in particular hem onc- where for example a newly diagnosed leukemic person might spent a month or so getting to remission.

It seem in a clinic you might not have the chance to work on a relationship as well during fleeting visits - but that is my opinion based on mt experience...

[SandyRN26]

I work in the radiation oncology dept. of our hospital. I started in Dec. 2004. I never had any experience with oncology other than taking care of patients sometimes on the floor. I have 14 years experience as an RN. I learn something new everyday and really enjoy seeing the same patients everyday for a brief period. I work 8 - 430, M-F, no weekends or call, and major holidays off. Our radiation dept is not a part of the

chemo dept. I draw blood, track the results for the MDs, administer hydration fluids, take nurse calls, and do things that nurses in doctor offices do. I help the Radiation Therapists with difficult patients. This is really a low stress job although we can get very busy. Since I work for the hospital, overtime is frowned upon, so I rarely work those long hours that doctor offices have. I am really lucky to have found this. I don't know how the heme onc nurses feel, but radiation oncology is great.