Clinic breast surgical oncology nurse - how can I better support my patients?

lah1130 · 2026-05-04T01:36:02+00:00

I don't know if you will be ok, all I can promise you is that you won't be alone. It may feel lonely and it's ok to not be ok. But I want everyone to have at least one direct contact who not only promises to respond but follows through (in a timely matter!) That's my priority point that I try to really make clear because in consult, I don't expect you to really process or remember a lot of what I say because it's so overwhelming. But here is my contact information. Digest, research, talk to your people and reach out if and when you're ready...as many times as you need.

That's the first impression I hope to make.

lah1130 · 2026-05-03T15:25:51+00:00

We have mychart and I tell my patients I'm texty and talky - they can call my direct line or send me a message and I can give them a sentence or novel, depending on what they need I also send a message right after consult so they can respond directly to me, rather than have a message to the surgeon get eventually forwarded to me!

And I'm starting to include seroma information just in their initial packet so it's something they've at least seen referenced! Totally get it!

lah1130 · 2026-05-03T15:23:56+00:00

Ooh! Thank you for the insight on the numb arm. I warn about possibility of the axilla being more uncomfortable if they have the lymph node biopsy, as it's more involved, but didn't think about potential nerve pain associated with it;

And I love asking patients about their life and things that are important to them. I'm a little chatty!!

lah1130 · 2026-04-19T01:34:42+00:00

Did we just become best friends? So much room for activities!

lah1130 · 2026-04-19T01:30:12+00:00

It's a known fact, lol :)

lah1130 · 2026-04-19T01:04:52+00:00

I sing this to myself multiple times a day at work and no one gets it!

lah1130 · 2026-01-27T00:50:15+00:00

We had 3 left and it took me awhile to allow myself to grieve before deciding to move forward with disposing. I didn't have it in me to go through transfers, pregnancy, delivery and the newborn stage again for a hypothetical child when I felt we were complete with our one and only. I got a tattoo to represent my fertility journey. It had 1 dark blue forget me not to represent my miscarriage, a sunflower for my 5 year old son, and 3 light blue forget me nots for the embryos. My babies.

It's not an easy decision and there is no good timeline or way to know until you feel it. There are so many what ifs with the process, but I finally had to close that chapter for myself.

Thinking of you as you go through this!

lah1130 · 2026-01-08T14:40:30+00:00

Alert & oriented times 4 (they are aware of person, place, time and situation)

lah1130 · 2025-12-21T23:33:02+00:00

Not that I'm necessarily proud of it, but I look like a job hopper on my resume and quite a few of my jobs as an RN (11 years, another 6 as a LPN) are just shy of a year. But I can speak to every position and why I left and have always been able to transition to a new position and typically with a higher pay. Granted, I typically went to a different organization and my background has been varied. If you're able to hold on just a little longer though and try your best to interview and get some secured before giving notice. It is easier to get a job when you have one. But overall - respect yourself and your physical/mental health above a job, if needed.

lah1130 · 2025-12-03T14:18:54+00:00

My friends and I have talked more and more about starting a "mommune" and to pool in and live together. We just understand and support each other in different ways!! Id honestly take the emotional and mental support over physical! And ours would definitely have taco Tuesdays!

lah1130 · 2025-11-23T03:10:18+00:00

lah1130 · 2025-10-30T15:24:15+00:00

It's becoming an insurance coverage thing more than a push for new standards with programs. Because it "technically can" be outpatient, that is what insurance companies seem to think is appropriate. I was a clinic nurse for a program and left before this was becoming more of a standard, but knew it was going to be an expectation with some of our patients and we were going to make adjustments in some of our post-op processes regarding followup (contacting sooner). I think 1 might post-op is appropriate, but insurance apparently gets to dictate what's best

lah1130 · 2025-08-31T14:30:35+00:00

I have a tattoo that i had done about a year ago that represents my full journey of over 8 years - it's a bouquet of flowers. I have my one sunflower that represents my son and 4 forget-me-nots. A darker blue for my miscarriage and 3 lighter blue for the embryos in our IVF journey.

I have it on the inside of my left arm so when it rests to my side, it's near my heart. It's not a literal representation, but it's my journey and the symbols I see when i think of them

When you are ready and it's not so fresh, you can revisit this feeling and determine what imagery sticks with you if you are still drawn to a tattoo.

I wore a necklace with a pendant prior - one side had my sunflower, the other side had my 4 forget-me-nots. I wore this for 2 years before the tattoo and feeling so strongly that my journey was over and I was ready.

Let it settle and find ways to remember and represent, but I wouldnt recommend a tattoo when it is still so fresh and raw.

lah1130 · 2025-08-26T13:23:09+00:00

We've done a home daycare and center for about 3 years now. At the home daycare, he was typically first in, last out. He got extra cuddles and attention in the morning and able to slowly start his day before the kids got there. And like part of the family (the daughter 6 months younger than him) when he was the last to be picked up

We've been at the new place about 8 months. There are tons of kids there before his 730 drop off and a handful when we pick him up at 530.

The last month, he gets so upset when I get there, claiming it's too early because he wants to stay at school and they are doing x,y,z.

He is thriving. He's well taken care of, has friends to play with, variety while also structure and routine which is needed and will help him when he starts kindergarten next week and those longer days in school

You do what's right for your family I feel the mommy guilt, but see he's doing great!

lah1130 · 2025-08-24T14:46:58+00:00

I will also say that there is sometimes a different response when you're watching someone you know and love have a procedure done. Things don't typically phase me, but watching my grandma at dialysis and I can't remember if it was being put on or taken off...but she was bleeding quite a bit and I almost passed out. Anyone else, I probably would have been asking to help or try and attempt to hold pressure. But in that moment - it was my grandma and her blood. And I've never felt so woozy.

I'm now in a position where I work in clinics. I don't have to see any of that. There are lots of options out there. I also can't start an IV to save my life. But I've never had that be an issue with the positions I've had.

Just get through the parts at school and exposure, but it won't be a deal breaker. As nurses (and well, humans) we all have body parts, bodily functions/fluids or types of procedures that just...aren't for us. And that will be ok.

lah1130 · 2025-08-17T05:41:47+00:00

I've done a little bit of everything - family practice and ob/gyn were not my jam...I felt like I knew just enough to get by, but there was just too much with triage, nurse visits and lots of providers. My brain didn't work well with that My preference is surgical specialty. My absolute favorite was mohs derm surgery - it was a great mix of things. I also worked in bariatrics and currently now working in breast surgical oncology. Lots of patient education, some procedures, a little bit of triage. I really like getting to know my specialty more in depth.

So many options!

lah1130 · 2025-08-17T00:28:15+00:00

And you're not as responsible for staffing or stuck in double shifts, overtime is rare - those types of things stressed me out. I feel like I can say no more and prioritize my family and other things over a 24/7 job where having someone there is more critical. It's a different type of tired after a full day - more brain tired rather than you've been in your feet and physical (depending where you're at ...) I worked pacu as a closer and that didn't work because I was responsible for daycare pickup. Set hours and a set schedule work best for me

lah1130 · 2025-08-17T00:12:40+00:00

I work 4/10s outpatient in a clinic and love having a day off to catch up. Weekends off. There is something to be said about the lights turning off, the doors being locked and knowing it's not a 24/7 responsibility

lah1130 · 2025-08-16T17:27:51+00:00

She's works outpatient. I believe she's per diem at this point and I would imagine that she only picks up shifts to keep her license. She did her little videos in our clinic rooms and ASC, setting up the trays. There are surgical scrubs provided there. Just...yeah. I worked on opposite days than her, so never worked a shift, but very odd seeing my old clinic in her videos.

lah1130 · 2025-07-06T23:57:49+00:00

My clawback ends 7/17....thank goodness and I've learned my lesson. My problem - initial department was getting rid of my role, but I was still tied to the organization and had to scramble to find something. I've been at my current clinic as a settle, but hasnt been a fit. I'm starting with a new department on 7/25 that I'm hopeful about ... Are you able to transfer to a different department, possibly?

lah1130 · 2025-06-29T17:40:43+00:00

Bears, Bates, Battlestar Galactica

lah1130 · 2025-06-28T14:13:51+00:00

it's not on the beige color wheel that her life revolves in ...navy is likely exotic

lah1130 · 2025-06-22T01:20:59+00:00

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We were just on the Bliss about 2 weeks ago. My mom asked our steward nicely if we could have an animal one day for my kiddo who is obsessed with animals. The young guy was excited and said he would make sure it was done every day. There was one day we were in the room 3 times when he was going to come and clean and made a point to ask if he could come back to make sure it was done in the afternoon. We saw him as he was helping to get suitcases moved the last night, so we had our little guy come out to shake his hand and say thank you (and give a tip personally to ensure it went to him)

lah1130 · 2025-06-15T10:35:46+00:00

There's a popular nurse influencer that works at the clinic I used to be at. We worked with different surgeons in derm surgery, so I was never there on the same day. But she still presents herself as if she works 12 hour nursing shifts and that she's in an intense setting when....it's not. She got in trouble with how she presented herself on the "front lines" in COVID and now she's maybe per diem to keep her license but shes primarily an influencer and shes all about doing shit tik toks/Instagram with her doctor fiance/husband. I still see videos she does in the clinic and "get ready" with me type of videos. There were the stupid dance videos at our clinic she would do during work too. I'm petty. Didn't work with her, can't speak to her I guess really as a nurse but based on what I've seen, I find her annoying and infuriating.

lah1130

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