Teaching and Oncology

Almost a month since our last post. Shoot, that must mean something is eating our time. What could it be? Oh, wait, I know. School!

Dan is headlong into the credentialing program. Writing papers, hours of observation at Anaheim High, pages and pages of reading. He works so incredibly hard (yet always finds time for football). Thankfully, he'll have his credential in 8 short-long months. (The UCI anteater, left)

I am already into my second preceptorship. After spending 8 weeks on a telemetry floor, I am positively thrilled to be working on an oncology floor at a Magnet hospital (St Joseph's Hospital Orange, below). My preceptor is young and talented and patient. On my first day with her, she threw an IV kit to me and said, "Do it." And I did it :) My patients are incredible and tough, though several have brought me close to tears.
I sought out to keep Dan's cancer a secret from my preceptor and my patients. Unfortunately, that plan has already failed. One patient (my favorite, thus far) needed a neupogen (white blood cell growth inducer) shot and just shook his head at me as I walked in with the needle.
"How many of these could you have possibly given?"
"Quite a few."
"Impossible, this is your first day on the floor."
"Honestly, I gave my husband neupogen shots for nearly 5 months."
"Oh, ok. Here's my arm." Then, he started to cry and pour out his heart as I gave him the injection. It was the only way I could convince him to let me give him his meds!
This same patient has since told every charge nurse that they need to hire me when I graduate. Somehow, all of these nurses know that I want to work at Stanford...I didn't tell them!
It has been encouraging to have people tell me that I am good at what I long to do. My confidence is continually something that I need to work on, so this is helping.
I love oncology...as a nurse.

On that note, I hate oncology...as a patient's wife.
Dan has an appointment at Stanford next week. His first CT in 4 months. I am trying to remember God's faithfulness in Dan's recovery. Yet, being on an onc floor just reminds me of how far he has come and how easily he could be one of those patients. God willing, Dan never ends up on an onc floor again. We'll update everyone next week. (Stanford Cancer Center, below)Time to get to work. Homework never sleeps.