What inspired you to become an oncology nurse?

Judy Nunn, ONS member and Nursing instructor was talking about ONS and all of the benefits to being a member. I said to her, "I don't think I could do it." She said, "Don't decide until you take a look and talk to the nurses on the Oncology floor. You might be surprised and decide that it IS for you." We set up our preceptorships and mine was in February of 2008 over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The nurses were ALL amazing. Carol Williams, Robert Stone, Wendy Arthur, and Kendra Case. I watched them all, listened to them all. The patients were amazing in this fight for their life. Our Oncology patients are so very special and as hard as it is sometimes with tears in our eyes and aching in our hearts, Oncology Nursing is something amazing.

That is a great story Tammy. I am not a nurse but can tell you that not only are the patients special but so are the nurses.

The oncology rotation in nursing school was my best......I learned so much from a radical neck dissection patient as I watched the love in his wife's eyes and the fight in his, but also the acceptance. My oncology patients never fail to amaze me with their courage and strength. They teach me something everyday about how precious and beautiful LIFE can be. Besides that, I think I was pushed this way a little by my Zedo (grandfather) in heaven who died when I was 5 of colon cancer.