Posted by Jeanine Gordon on April 30, 2009
I'm here at the internet cafe at the convention center and I'm having a good time. Opening ceremony this morning was great and the keynote speaker Geralyn Lucus author of "Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy" was absolutely amazing. Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so because there is a really long line of nurses behind me waiting to have their books signed. I'm taking lots of pics and will post some later when I get back to my hotel room. I hope you will write and let us know if your at Congress and what you're doing.
Posted by Kari Wujcik on April 27, 2009
Last week, my job required me to become certified in PALS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support. It is basically the ACLS for pediatrics. I was very apprehensive about taking the course because I had heard these horrific stories that I would have to run my own codes in front of my peers. I really did not understand why I had to take this course, because at the institution I work, the attendings always run the codes. Shortly into the course, I soon realized that there was a very good reason for having this course be a requirement for all nurses. During a code situation, everyone needs to know what their role is and what needs to be done. If there is no organization and protocol for how code situations are handled, it leaves room for error and potential harm to the patient. The hardest part of the course was not memorizing which drugs are to be administered during certain arrythmias, it was learning how to be vocal to direct others during a code. Vocalizing the information I have learned throughout nursing school has always been a struggle for me, but the class allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and trust my abilities. I am quickly realizing that the nursing profession will continually test my abilities, it really is not over after you pass the NCLEX.
Posted by Erin Elphee on April 21, 2009
The April edition of ONS Connect updates readers about changes to two existing guidelines from the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) on cancer screening. The first revised guideline recommended against colon cancer screening for individuals older than age 85 because the harm outweighs the benefits. In addition, for people aged 76-85 the recommendation was made against screening although it noted that a small benefit may be realized and each individual should be considered based on life expectancy, individual health, and prior screening. The second revision affects prostate cancer screening and advises against routine screening for men older than age 75 because screening "provides small of no benefit and known harms such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and mortality risk." The article highlight briefly the impact repeated biopsies, and false positive results can have on patient anxiety levels.
It is important that nurses are aware of these revised guidelines and take the time to educate patients about the changes and the rationale behind them. For patients less isn't necessarily more. For some, more is more. The more screening the better. It is often a mentality of "keeping on top of everything" and "catching it early." This way of thinking can cause stress and anxiety for patients encouraging them to focus on their cancer and the possibility of treatment rather than trying to understand that they have a low stage disease and repeated screening is not necessary and in fact poses risk and harm. Once the word cancer is heard for the first time life changes, priorities are re-organized and the future becomes uncertain.
Nurses are in a unique position to educate patients about their disease, help them to cope with their diagnosis and look forward to the future. Through education and information, realistic expectations can be formed, and the uncertainty of the future can be accepted if the patient understands their situation accurately.
Posted by Kari Wujcik on April 12, 2009
My orientation period in the PICU is under way and it is not easy! I attended an amazing nursing school and learned a great deal from my instructors, but I don't think any amount of schooling could really prepare me enough to be a nurse in a critical care unit. It is like nothing I have ever seen before. Everyday I feel like I am on this information overload that I can not quite seem to get a handle on. I must say it is HARD being a nurse!!! I know I will soon understand a lot more about critical care nursing, but I really do believe that graduate nurses go through a period of transition, from a novice to a critical thinker to hopefully an expert one day. My preceptor told me the other day that I was exactly where I needed to be, which is always good to hear! I am still trying to figure exactly what tasks need to be done every hour on top of trying to figure out which way to turn the stop cock on an arterial line. She reassured me that soon all these tasks will become second nature and I will be able to critically think about the patients' condition and what needs to be done for them. She has reassured me that I have my whole career to learn about different diagnoses, right now I need to be concerned with providing safe care. That is why hospitals have so many resources! It is always reassuring to hear that you a doing a good job, but it is very hard being the new graduate nurse that just got their license that doesn't want anyone to think they are stupid. Starting my nursing career has been one big adventure so far, but to be honest, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I really am enjoying myself. It's hard work. It's exhausting. But it is definitely worth it.
Posted by Jeanine Gordon on April 8, 2009
Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI) is a method of infusing chemotherapy directly into the hepatic artery to treat malignancies of the liver by targeting the tumor site directly. Here at my institution we consider this an advanced skill and nurses are educated on the technique once they have mastered the IV administration of chemotherapy. We have few nurses that are educated to educate other nurses and we're currently working to develop an educational program to improve this. I was wondering what you all do at your institutions.
Do you administer chemo via HAI?
Are nurses educated on this skill during orientation or at a later point in time?
What tools are used to educate nurses on this skill (direct observation/return demonstration of skill, readings,etc.)?
Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Erin Elphee on April 4, 2009
Today our local chapter held our 6th Annual Education Workshop. As president it is one of my responsibilities to plan and execute this day every year with our executive group. It always a lot of work and in the days leading up to the event I am always overwhelmed with the task at hand and filled with doubt that it will be a successful event and serve the learning needs of our membership.
This years theme was Ignite the Passion and what better way to energize our chapter than to bring a nurse leader in to serve as keynote speaker. Our local chapter was able to bring in the President -elect of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO) to deliver the keynote address. Her talk titled "Examining Cancer through the Ages: A Timeline Perspective Ignites Excitement for the Future of Oncology Nurses" reminded us how quickly cancer care and oncology have evolved in the past 50 years despite the first recorded case of cancer in 1600BC. This frenetic pace of research and discovery helps to explain the feelings we have as nurses of being overwhelmed, over-extended and surrounded by endless new information, new treatments, and different ways to practice. In those moments it is hard tomake sense of our surroundings let alone forge out a path for the future. She reminded us of what an exciting time it is to be an oncology nurse. As we look forward the future is bright and the opportunities available for nurses are countless.
As I sit back and reflect on our most successful workshop I am proud to be an oncology nurse. I am proud to have put forth the effort with my colleagues to provide this opportunity for local nurses to come together and share their ideas with one another. As the ONS Congress approaches I encourage nurses to attend if possible. Education opportunities should be embraced and the ONS Congress is an excellent way for oncology nurses to keep current and learn from each other. The exchange of ideas and knowledge is one way to ignite the passion in all of us.
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