...Even after completing the SmarterMeasure and receiving my score report, I feel as it does not fully identify all the barriers one could face. In my case my emotional opposition to how my cancer experience will benefit me or hinder my abilities in becoming an oncology nurse. This barrier makes me have a great amount of self-doubt in my abilities, that I am not capable enough of achieving the most important dream of mine. It affects my positive process of thinking, and when I think negatively my coursework reflects my state of mind. It feels like a voice of negative thoughts is hindering me from putting forth my best work, its a voice that refuses to be silent, it’s a compilation of my own self-doubts, negative thoughts, and emotions....
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...I was feeling great. I’ve been working for this for seven years, I confidently walked out of the school with a smile on my face and holding my masters degree in my right hand. Thinking to myself, I can finally become an oncology nurse! As I was opening the car door my head started throbbing with pain. I’ve been feeling this for the past couple of days, but it hasn’t felt anything like this, this is the first time it really started hurting. I decided to sit down in my car for a while to wait till it felt better, I ended up waiting for 30 minutes. As I drove off, I felt the headache coming back again, I had to pull over and stop. I needed to get it together and hurry to dinner! My boyfriend, Brandon and I were supposed to meet at Asiana’s for...
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...Oncology Nurse: One who Heals with Hope and Rejuvenates the Spirit During every hour pounds are shed a day, until 24pounds are lost, finally it became the point where you can barely stand up. Then one day there’s a fall and the ambulance comes. While arriving at the hospital the doctor says “I’m sorry, you have cancer” and “This is where you need to start fighting for your life.” Those words right there are two hits to the heart, feeling nothing but so many different types of emotions, like being on a rollercoaster. Knowing this is where it all starts and not knowing where it will end, just like watching a sad movie then never getting to the end. Everyone wants a good ending to their story… Cancer is honestly such a struggle, however in Collegeatals.org...
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...Being a recipient of the Larry Wayne Cole Sportsman’s Scholarship would truly be an honor. Throughout my high school career I have gone above and beyond in everything I’ve taken part in. I plan to do the same in college. I have big goals to be met in my future, and this financial support can help me in reaching them. When I was 15 years old my step dad was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer. He went to Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Chicago, Illinois numerous times for treatment and surgeries. The nurses there were a big help and motivation to him throughout his eight and a half month journey, and I hope to be that to someone. I plan to be an Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner someday. My goal in the next four to five...
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...I interviewed Emily, a nurse I have worked with on L&D for many years. She also has a Certificate in Holistic Nursing. She has been interested in holistic care since before nursing school. During her senior practicum for her BSN, she made a proposal to our director for a Healing Arts/Aromatherapy trial for our patients. In addition to our ‘normal’ labor patients, we have a high-risk unit where many patients stay for extended periods of time, sometimes 3 or more months. The trial patients really enjoyed the services. Our director liked the patient response so much, she worked hard to develop an Integrative Services program, which Emily oversees. A policy was developed, as well as order sets. Trained nurses provide aromatherapy, essential oils, guided imagery, and meditation as well as music therapy, art therapy and an entire healing arts program. Somehow word spread around the hospital, and Emily has since taken this program to the oncology department. She will also be training the entire nursing staff at another metro area hospital (another nurse from oncology is responsible for training too.) Emily said that the rewards are immediate, from a labor patient becoming more relaxed and confident in her abilities, to a high-risk patient combating boredom and becoming more optimistic regarding her pregnancy. The providers in L&D are very receptive to the program, and we have quite a few nurses trained in this area. She said going to the oncology department was quite different...
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...practice encourages individuals to take precautionary measures to prevent the onset or waning of an illness or disease and to adopt healthier lifestyles. Health promotion and disease prevention in nursing is now becoming the forefront of the nursing practice. Historically, nurse educators have taught patients how to manage their illnesses, but today, the focus is growing towards teaching people how to remain healthy. As more people develop awareness of activities that lead to good health and as more individuals become aware of their own health status and that of their families, the overall health of the population will improve. Hospitals and nursing associations throughout the nation are adapting the concept of health promotion and disease prevention as a key factor in the future health of the population. The World Health Organization (2014), defines Health Promotion as “the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health”. Health promotion and disease prevention involves methods of care that are classified into three categories: primary prevention, secondary prevention and tertiary prevention. As nurses are advancing their careers to public health nursing (PHN) advanced practice nursing (APN), and are taking on leadership roles, nurses now more than ever, play a vital part in educating the public on all three levels of disease prevention. There are three articles of choice that will further explain how evolution of nursing roles and responsibilities...
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...like he is speaking of the physical aspect of health. There are different kinds of health including physical, mental and physical. I believe this is why there are so many definitions. The U.S. Public Health Service proposes that health promotion is more of advocating health in hope that it will become a “societal norm” for people individually as well as for the private and public businesses (Kreuter, 1980). The medical field is one “public business” that does a lot of health promotion for everyone, nurses especially. Nurses’ role in health promotion is necessary and critical. Nurses have a multi-disciplinary knowledge including many resources to help people understand their situation and get their health moving in a forward direction. Traditionally, nurses focused on preventing disease and changing the behavior of individuals regarding their health. Due to nurses becoming more diverse in their knowledge, their responsibility of being a “health promoter” is more complex. Currently, nurses are so focused on treating people who have illnesses and teaching them how to become healthy that teaching patients how to stay healthy is quite a challenge. Teaching individuals how to remain healthy is, in my opinion, going to be the future of nursing. Being an advocate, educating people/communities on how to move towards a better quality of life and focusing on all types of prevention. There are different levels of health promotion including primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary prevention...
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...Is becoming a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist worth the long years of training and hard work? Many of those whom choose to enter this field develop their initial interest as Pediatric residents experience the challenges and joys of caring for children and teenagers with complex disorders such as blood diseases and cancer. Students interested in becoming a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, should understand the basic information about the pediatric's job description, working conditions, and the required training. Although radiation and surgeon oncologists may treat cancer in pediatric patients, the term '' pediatric oncologist '' refers to the physicians who have received further training in medical oncology and hematology after specializing in pediatric. Since pediatric oncologists treat children and teens, their focus is somewhat different than of medical oncologists who treat adults. Patients of the pediatrics are not usually afflicted by the wide variety of cancers that are commonly seen in adult patients, therefore pediatric oncologists may deal with fewer cancer cases and more genetic hematologic disorders. Most hematologic disorders (sickle-cell disease, hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, leukemia, lymphoma, and embryonic tumors) occurring during infancy, childhood, and adolescence are uncommon and require a highly sophisticated approach to diagnosis and treatment based on molecular and cellular biology, and other academic disciplines. The rapid and impressive progress...
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...CHCPN(C), and Frances Flint, RN, MN Current nursing literature recognizes the need to honor the concept of ambiguity. Nurses experience uncertainty with handling or honoring complexity and ambiguity when confronted with times of struggle. Traditional models of care fall short as patients and families define their expectations of the healthcare system. Nurses bear witness to the discomfort caused by the unknown in their daily practice. They are challenged to address their feelings, unsure of what to anticipate, what to say, or how to respond to their patients. Uncertainty diminishes the opportunity for meaningful dialogue between nurses and other people. Nurses attempting to ease the discomfort of ambiguity by providing patients or families with reassurance, offering advice on how to fix problems, or avoiding talking about situations often express dissatisfaction. Nurses should be invited to explore ambiguity and seek understanding through dialogue and nursing knowledge. Encouraging nurses to define the meaningfulness in nursing practice that embraces human science theory will help relieve some of the ambiguity that exists in current practice. This article will explore the concept of ambiguity, highlight how nursing theory based on human science can support practice, and propose recommendations for practice. urrent trends in the healthcare system call for nurses to build the capacity to practice in situations that require complex decision making on the part of practitioners, patients...
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...MSN, RN, AOCNS®, FAAN Abstract Nurses have a longstanding history of witnessing the tragedy experienced by patients and families; however, their own reactions to profound loss and premature death have not been systematically addressed. There is a paucity of research describing interventions to prevent or minimize the ramifications of repeated exposure to traumatic events in the clinical workplace. Compassion fatigue is a contemporary label affixed to the concept of personal vicarious exposure to trauma on a regular basis. Yet this phenomenon of compassion fatigue lacks clarity. In this article, the author begins by describing compassion fatigue and distinguishing compassion fatigue from burnout. Next she discusses risk factors for, and the assessment of compassion fatigue. The need to support nurses who witness tragedy and workplace interventions to confront compassion fatigue are described. Citation: Boyle, D., (Jan 31, 2011) "Countering Compassion Fatigue: A Requisite Nursing Agenda" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 16, No. 1, Manuscript 2. DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol16No01Man02 Key words: Compassion fatigue, nurse stress, work setting improvements, communication skills Nurses care for ill, wounded, traumatized, and vulnerable patients in their charge. This exposes them to considerable pain, trauma, and suffering on a routine basis (Coetzee & Klopper, 2010; Hooper, Craig, Janvrin, Wetzel, & Reimels, 2010). While many nurses perceive their work as a calling, few...
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...I am very proud of my accomplishment of obtaining my license as a Registered Nurse as this was my lifelong dream. I chose a very common route to achieve this, through a community college. This program offered a low cost and rather short timeframe to reach my goal of becoming a RN. The ADN program was rumored to be one of the best in Wisconsin so I chose it, with plans of pursuing my BSN right after I graduated. Unfortunately, like most get their ADN, this just doesn’t happen. A person gets a nursing job and deals with work, life and family stressors, who needs to go back to school for a BSN? A BSN does not generally pay better, the job description is the same for both degrees, why would one possible waste their time? During my first class at the community college, the students were told that the ADN graduates generally performed higher on their NCLEX exams than did the BSN graduates. Another point taught was that this ADN degree was more desirable to perspective employers because ADN’s had greater clinical skills and got hired faster. This information seemed to be true, I was hired at a desirable facility and so began my career as an ADN. My career was going great, I was living my dream, having everything I always wanted. Then policies changed, nurses could no longer hold management positions unless they returned to school to earn their BSN. Some of the sister hospitals were becoming MAGNET facilities and the trend was for restricting the hiring of ADN’s. .Many...
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...Five years ago, I began the journey of becoming an LPN (License practical nurse). Even though there where many obstacles. I was able to complete the program and become the great LPN that I am today. Unfortunately, as the years have passed, I once again have decided to continue my education and finish what I started 5 years ago and become an RN (Register Nurse). Not only do I want to become an RN because, I love taking care and providing for others, but I want to be able to be more financially stable to provide for my family. There are also better opportunities as far as work places and duties. My skills will no longer be limited and the benefits will be more gratifying. In total, becoming an RN seems to have more pros than cons. Not only do I want to become an RN because, I love taking care and providing for others, but I want to be able to be more financially stable to provide for my family. It will be fewer hours for better monetary outcome. It will endow me the time needed to spend with my family. As an RN, there will be doors that will open to provide better opportunities and flexibility. Upon completion of graduation, registered nurses are able to work on staff at hospitals, nursing homes, teaching positions at colleges, hospitals, and universities. They can also specialize in certain nursing fields, such as: neonatal nursing, patient educator, oncology, and clinical nurse manager. The need for nurses also gives you some flexibility for your schedules, various shifts...
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...Educational Preparation There is an ongoing debate about nurses trained at the Associates Degree level versus the baccalaureate degree level. In this paper, I will discuss some of the important differences between the two levels of education and try to determine if one is really better than the other. First of all, when considering the difference between the two types of degrees, it is important to recognize that at either level, a nurse must be able to pass the same NCLEX examination in order to become licensed. Therefore, it is safe to say that a nurse from either type of program must have the basic knowledge required to safely take care of patients as an entry level nurse. So, why bother getting a baccalaureate degree if you can do the same job with less time and money put into your education? Let’s explore some of the advantages. Ask any working nurse if they would have more job opportunities if they had a baccalaureate degree and they will most likely tell you “yes”. Although you can get a job with an associate’s degree, many jobs require that you have baccalaureate degree in order to hold the position. The reason for this is that many positions for nurses require that they be able to be a strong leader in the work environment. Continuing past the associates degree level, a nurse can really learn how to use their knowledge in a leadership role. Many studies have shown that nurses trained at the baccalaureate level are more prepared to care for patients...
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...surprisingly brief, less than an hour and a half long, but in this short time, I was able to observe and absorb a great deal of information. This experience took place on the main level of the Military Hospital in the Cancer Center. Even though I was unable to shadow Dr. Blair, an oncology surgeon, during his rounds, I was able to sit in on a multidisciplinary clinic that consisted of a diverse gathering of doctors, nurses, and social workers. After this meeting, which lasted approximately 50 minutes, he took my friend and I into a free room in the Cancer Center to inform us of what was actually happening in the clinic and answer any of our questions. I briefly met Dr. Blair before he led us into a small conference room crowded with people all of which were intently listening to the central speaker sitting at a table in the middle of everything. I later found out that this was a meeting referred to as a multidisciplinary clinic that consists of specialists from a variety of areas. Because this clinic was discussing oncology patients, the people there were all somehow related to this field of study. There were radiologists, radiology oncologists, oncologists, oncology surgeons, general surgeons, psychologists, nurses and social workers to name a few. The whole reason for this variation in the people was because it is an attempt by the health care system to make diagnosis more efficient for everyone involved, especially the patient. Without these multidisciplinary clinics, a person newly...
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...Psychology Interview Assignment Interviewee: Michelle Simpson, RN Job Title: Hospice Nurse, Bayada Nursing (Oncology) Primary Questions I. What appears to be the greatest challenge facing individuals who work with grieving people? II. How do these individuals maintain their own mental health as they often are surrounded by issues revolving around death? III. How do you separate your professional duties from the personal aspects in your life? IV. As a Hospice Nurse, what are the obstacles that you are faced with while in a patients home with the family who wants privacy when they know it's their loved one end of life is near? Follow Up Questions I. In your career as a Hospice Nurse, were you in an ethical dilemma of following the physician's orders and the family asking you to do otherwise? If so, how did you handle this issue? II. How do you know when it's time to end an assignment? III. How you cope when your patient dies? Interview Summary I interviewed Michelle Simpson, an on call Oncologist Nurse who works with Bayada Nursing. She provides service to terminally patients who live at home where they receive specialized care toward the end of their life. As Michelle explained, hospice care is supposed to give the terminally ill individuals a pain free life each day with dignity. During the time she works with the patients, there is constant interaction with family members. There are heart wrenching moments...
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