What to expect on oncology floor instead of gen med/surg?

[notthereyet0]

We are signing up for summer clinicals and a section opened up on a floor that will have oncology patients on it. Our instructor told us that we would learn a lot by being there. I know the generalities of oncology, but practically what should we expect that would be different? I really want to learn a lot from my clinicals and so far (we are only 4 weeks into our first semester) we have been very sheltered. Thanks for the input!!!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

oncology will be medical patients receiving either surgical or medical treatment for cancer. they may be hospitalized because of a complication related to the cancer treatment or because of the cancer itself causing a medical problem. cancer treatment today is moving toward being treated as a chronic disease. having gone through radiation therapy and chemotherapy myself i can tell you that these modalities of treatment can cure the cancer but leave the patient with other problems. which is why oncology is primarily a medical specialty. you are likely to see patients with just about anything going on and any kind of treatment and device. it would be interesting. oncology nurses are experts in chemotherapy and the cancer treatments and their side effects. lot of ivs and picc lines. they are also very compassionate. their patients think about and face issues of life and death daily. lot of psychosocial issues going on. yes, you would learn and see a lot from working on this kind of unit.