Get the Facts on the Penguin Cold Cap

R.N.s in oncology and med/surg jobs figure prominently into the care and treatment of breast cancer survivors; keeping patients’ morale high during chemotherapy is an absolute must—and that’s why compassionate professionals in registered nurse and travel nurse jobs should prioritize keeping up with the latest in alopecia solutions, recognized worldwide. The Penguin Cold Cap is such a solution, and grabbed the interest of the healthcare community at large, recently, when its related non-profit, The Rupunzel Project, which subsidizes the cost of cold caps for women with breast cancer, was featured on Good Morning America.

The reason Cold Caps are increasing in popularity; It’s good news for your patients!     

Cold caps have been around for decades, but are only recently achieving success and popularity. First introduced in 1994, with FDA support pending until more studies are run on the risk of developing scalp metastasis, Penguin cold caps recently calculated a miniscule 1.1% risk. These studies were on women with cancer in the early stages, and further showed an 80 to 90% success rate among patients whose treatments allowed them to use the caps correctly.

How does the patient use the Cold Cap—and what is it made of?

The current cold cap making headlines for its success, is really more of gel-filled helmet, and because it’s tightly strapped to the patient’s head, preventive measures must be taken to avoid frostbite on the forehead and around the ears—that’s why moleskin and Kotex—cut and set in place with the latter’s adhesive—is ideal for improving comfort and safety in the long hours the cap is worn; typically 2 hours while chemo takes place, and then for up to 4 hours following each round of chemo. The cold cap is priced at about $35, and must be replaced approximately every 25 minutes with a new cold cap registering at 30 degrees or below.

The patient featured in this video advocates bringing plenty of reading material and your best electric blanket. She likens the cold to “ an ache”—like being on a ski lift for a long time, but well worth the mild discomfort in the end. She made many insightful comments about the process, but the one that might capture the interest of compassionate registered nurses is this one: how, as a cancer patient, she realized much it meant to her family to have something to do. Participating in the transportation of the cold caps, fitting them and refitting them again, gave her spouse a valuable sense of purpose throughout her breast cancer ordeal.   

Work in a rewarding Med/Surg Nursing career that utilizes the latest trends in Oncology

American Traveler, a leading nurse staff agency, strives to keep the registered nurses and therapists in our employ on the tip-top of the hottest trends in healthcare. Our recruiters staff talent in America’s best hospitals, in med/surg and other specialty healthcare careers that have helped the facilities in partnership with us achieve their high rankings in U.S News & World Report. Call us at 800-884-8788 or apply online today to be part of groundbreaking patient care, where marvels like cold caps are just the tip of the iceberg!

Oncology, Med/Surg nurses and other RNs who work with cancer patients may be the most cognizant group when it comes to statistics and controversy surrounding stem cell research and the transplants it facilitates. Bioethics is a subject that fuels content for incendiary, page-turning books (see footnote).

Whatever your view, it’s hard to ignore the stats. In the U.S., diseases that can be treated with a stem cell transplant are diagnosed in about 30,000 children and adults each year. For those cancer patients who can be helped by stem cell transplants, full recovery hinges on excellent nursing staff—one that provides thorough information on new treatments, and methods of effective after-care. Learn more

Stem cell transplants are nothing new. Bone marrow transplants began in the 1970s, and were essentially renamed “stem cell transplants”; no matter what you call them, patients have come to view stem cell transplants as just another a step in their treatment plan, similar to surgery or radiation.

The decision to go through with bone marrow transplant is not to be taken lightly—a certified oncology nurse plays an important role in guiding patients during their treatment. Over the decades, nurses’ responsibilities and  those with an oncology nurse’s job description have changed along with improved patient outcomes. Because of advances in technology, a variety of clinical settings are now available to stem cell recipients.

Most importantly of all, oncology nurses can expect to administer their skills and TLC for the long haul. Though hospitals discharge stem cell recipients within three to four weeks, it may take as long as two years for your patient’s immune system to recover.  Home Health Jobs have experienced an influx of these survivors, thanks to sophisticated ambulatory pump technology and the growing number of nurses, like you, experienced in the care of transplant patients.

Footnote: Looking for a fascinating summer read? The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is perfect for travel nurses; learn how cancer cells taken from a 1951 cancer patient are still growing and guiding scientists today. This book personalizes the incredible drama behind the HeLa cell line and encourages thought provoking debate on bioethics.

Learn More About Stem Cell Gathering Techniques and Oncology Nursing:

Gathering stem cells is done via mobilization techniques, which include the use of chemotherapy. Every good oncology nurse knows the side effects of chemo and what to look for when monitoring a patient and ensuring his or her safety. Several days before the stem cell transplant, the patient gets large doses of chemo and radiation. Patients and families require your reassurance that isolation is common on transplant units. They’ll also need instruction from you on meticulous hand-washing and other infection control measures throughout this process.

Nurses who work with stem cell transplant patients should familiarize themselves with the newest available options, like the peripheral stem cell transplantation (PSCT). Stem cells are collected for the PSCT, via apheresis, which requires that a central venous access device be placed in the patient or donor. Are you well educated on caring for patients with catheters and related complications? Careful attention to patient safety is critical, as a catheter complication can delay stem cell procurement, as well as the transplant itself.

Your familiarity with The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is also important in providing extra reassurance to your patients. You can also broaden your knowledge by visiting the Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Resource Directory.