I absolutely loved the oncology nurses and doctors at VSH just as soon as I met them. I could tell immediately that the people I was surrounded by were very passionate about giving loving, quality care to each patient. All of the different services at VSH work closely together to give excellent care to the patients. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful family.
Each day starts with rounds with the oncologists and the other oncology nurses. We discuss each patient on our schedule and their treatment plan. Sometimes our patients need to be hospitalized and if we have a patient in the ICU, we will evaluate their status as well during morning rounds. Even though we have set appointments, there is no telling how the day may end up. We start taking in our patients after rounds. We see returning patients coming in for their chemotherapy or radiation treatment as well as new patients who have been recently diagnosed with cancer and are seeking our advice and treatment. We strive to maintain a positive environment with positive reinforcement. All of our canine patients know where the treat jar is!! In between administering chemotherapy, we are rechecking patients who are in remission, administering radiation therapy, seeing new appointments, performing radiographs, running blood work, doing CT scans, and connecting with and educating clients. We have a special bond with most of the families of our patients and our day can sometimes turn very sad. We typically have to end up consoling and crying with our clients over the loss of their pet. However, on the other end of the spectrum we are also frequently hugging our clients because their pet has seen another birthday!
Most people when they find out what I do immediately say “how can you do this job”? Yes, working in oncology can be sad but I try to focus on the positive of what we do – giving some extra quality time with a special pet to devoted owners. We learn everyday how to fight this terrible disease. We rely heavily on one another for support during the sad times. For me, it is a very rewarding experience everyday and I can go home knowing that I provided the best care I could and I hopefully provided some knowledge and compassion to a client and some relief to a pet. Working at VSH makes it very easy for me to do a job well done as all of the doctors and nurses are so committed to providing quality care and everyone has such a deep love for what they do.
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