A travel nurse who works in oncology will treat cancer patients in many settings, such as acute care hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, radiation treatment centers and specialty practices. No matter the facility, nurses need to be aware of the complexities that go along with treating cancer patients.
There are a lot of roles that you may have to take on when working with oncologists, and this often requires a lot of knowledge as well as compassion.
“While cancer patients look to all their caregivers to address issues related to their well-being, nurses are usually involved in a patient’s care over the entire course of their illness,” Mark Israel, director of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, explained. “They take on aspects of cancer care that go far beyond actual medical issues, serving as a sounding board for personal challenges or marital and family issues, while working to deliver care, relieve pain, and minimize symptoms.”
Knowing the basics
If you’ve worked in travel nursing before, you already know the importance of being flexible in a variety of clinical settings. In cancer centers or oncology facilities, knowing your basic nursing skills is even more important because you will need to focus on being uplifting, encouraging and passionate.
The first thing you need to do with cancer patients, especially if they are undergoing chemotherapy, is to check the doctor’s orders and lab work. Sarah Spurek, an oncology-certified nurse who has been working at the Center Treatment Centers of America facility in Tulsa for 10 years, said that explaining the treatment process to the patient every step of the way is also important. She advised spacing out fluids, medications and chemotherapy during your shifts, as you might be treating up to a dozen cancer patients on one floor. Spacing out these fluids can allow you to keep track of their process and make the most of your time with each individual.
In oncology, cancer patients will require ongoing treatments, which gives you the opportunity to see the same individuals frequently. In most cases, according to Spurek, you will develop a close relationship with these patients, but it’s important to understand that every person is going to battle the disease differently and react in various ways when things are going well or poorly in their treatment.
Taking care of body and mind
Cancer is a disease that not only puts a lot of physical strain on patient, but it can also test your patients mentally and emotionally. Patients need to be strong in body and mind in order to fight cancer. Getting a diagnosis can be extremely stressful and even devastating to a patient in the early stages. This requires travel nurses to be comfortable listening and offering advice on how to fight cancer holistically.
“People facing life-threatening diagnoses often feel alone, and newly diagnosed lung cancer patients with early stage disease can have concerns about an uncertain future, the potential for treatment failure, the cancer spreading and the possibility of death,” Rebecca H. Lehto, assistant professor in the College of Nursing at Michigan State University, explained. “Health care providers, who are uncomfortable with and avoid discussing end-of-life questions, may contribute to a patient’s alienation.”
This means that as a nurse, you will need to not just treat physical symptoms, but also offer nonjudgmental emotional support. Psychological distress happens when patients are faced with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, and anxiety will only be more taxing on their bodies. Allow patients to feel comfortable talking to you about their struggles, whether they are emotional, physical or mental.