Nurses care for 3-4 patients. The rewards of working in an environment such as this are realized through the opportunity to provide long-term continuity of care to these children. Patients typically spend 3 weeks to a few months in the hospital following a transplant. Staff nurses provide all of the education to the patients and their families. Staff nurses participate in self-scheduling, and may work 8 or 12 hour shifts during the week, with 12 hour shifts on the weekends.
Staff have the opportunity to be involved in various unit projects and committees.
All nurses complete competency training to administer chemotherapy, work with central lines, administer blood products and many other medications and infusions. Future plans for this unit involve moving it to be adjacent to the pediatric hematology-oncology unit on 3 John Colloton Pavilion West, so that the staff of both units will be combined, and patient continuity will be greatly enhanced. The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.