The environment at the Cancer Center was very friendly and outgoing. The oncology nurses
need to have good people skills to be able to communicate with the patients in a kind manner
as well as the oncology doctor. Oncology nurses provide services such as long-term follow-up
care to patients with cancer, prescreening prior to chemotherapy administration, the
management of fatigue, or general symptom management. General hospital equipment is used
such as IV starting supplies, IV pumps, vital assessing tools, and a calculator are used on a daily
basis. As more and more cases of cancer are diagnosed every day, there is an increase in
research of treatments. As new medications are invented the oncologists and nurses must
know how to utilize them. In today’s world, technology is huge in being able to view a patient’s
labs, see what treatment they need and be able to chart and dispense the correct drug and
dose. All people who work in this department must be compassionate and diligent in making
sure things are precise. I learned that a port-a-cath works as an easily accessible vein and got to
see what it feels like when accessing it to administer chemotherapy or an IV. I also got to learn
that there are different types of ports with some partially hanging out and off of the skin, which