Althuizen 1Life as an Oncology NurseAs a child I have always wanted to help people with multiple different needs-- safety, protection, finances, justice--but it finally came to me, at the age of ten, that my passion is to be an Oncology Nurse. My aunt, Leslie Gomez, had suffered Lobular Breast Cancer and had multiple treatments that the doctors thought destroyed the cancer. However, what the doctors didnt know was that cancer was still lurking in her fragile body. At age fifteen I was told that Leslie had cancer throughout her body. The team at Kaiser in the Oncology Department knew for a fact that the monster inside her body was not going to vanish. Leslie was told she only had a month to live; however a heart as golden as hers with so much fight in her she was able to defeat cancer for eleven months, and at eleven oclock on November 3rd her suffering came to an end. Having such a close relationship with Leslie and my mom, I was able to attend each and every one of Leslies long chemotherapy treatments. During these many years (ten) of going to her appointments has developed a infinite love not only for the workers, patients, but also the working routine. Not only do you have the privilege to treat many sick patients, but also being able to feel the love that lingers between patient, family, and worker.I contacted an Oncology Nurse that currently works at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa. Cheryl Faulkner dispersed loads of information referencing her oncology experiences and college courses that guided her. Cheryl provided me with lots of juicy details; however, what I was happy to know is that working as an Oncology Nurse is better than you think. You get the opprotunity to care for frightened individuals from young teens to the elderly fight a disease that that

Althuizen 2changes their entire life. You are given the chance to comfort these patients through their most darkest and challenging days of their lifes. Seeing patients survive is abeautiful thing, but youll also experience patients that lose their battle with this deadly disease. Not being able to see another day on earth in some eyes is very intimidating;however, if you have faith it can be very peaceful. Through all Cheryl goes through she is able to stay dedicated to not only to patients, her family, friends, but also her Christian faith. She revealed that her religious ways have helped her accept the conditions of the patients and the belief in eternal life is reassuring as she experiences many deaths through her occupation with failed medications. Cheryl also informed me that she worked in many other nursing fields before being recommended to come work along side an old coworker. She lost interest in nursing before accepting the offer. She was interested in becoming a firefighter; however, she realized with children on the way, being away from home for three plus nights a week wasnt an exception. The oncology department has a much different vibe than the departments Cheryl had been working at earlier. Similar to me, she found a love within the oncology department in Kaiser. Being told Cheryls nursing adventure, I learned a lot about becoming a nurse. I was also able to learn a little about myself. Cheryl illustrated many examples that sent forth many lessons for my career. It was reassuring to hear from another person that everything gets better with time and just when feel like giving up something great is around the corner. Always be nice to people because you dont know when they will come back into your life and to always stay true to who I am.

Althuizen 3My feelings toward this career has definitely changed from Cheryls insight. My love for helping others will always grow. My passion for nursing, especially in the Oncology Department has increased with Cheryls words and I am so thankful for this wonderful experience. I will forever remember the love filled words that she outlined her sentences with. As I grow, I will hopefully make it into the Oncology Department and show the talent I have which can only be revealed by giving love and care to those around me.