Compassion,
knowledge strengthen oncology care
Roswell
Park honors nurses
By DEBORAH A. MILES
Taking care of patients who are suffering from cancer
requires a constant outpouring of compassion as well as
keeping up with the latest medical treatments.
For providing excellence in oncology nursing, Roswell
Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo honored several PEF
members during May to celebrate oncology-nursing month.
Lisa Huffman, an RN who was nominated by her peers for
her professionalism, dedication and compassion, worked
for more than 10 years on the surgical floor before
transferring into clinical research services.
“We took care of patients who had pretty hefty
surgeries for things such as colorectal and upper gastric
cancer,” she said. “I wanted to learn new
things and see things from a different perspective.
I’m still involved with patients, but I’m also
involved in the cutting edge of potential new
treatments.”
Huffman now screens people for new cancers and sees the
effects of the latest chemotherapy treatments, vaccines
and drugs.
A different kind
of nursing
Huffman said today’s cancer patients have more
treatments available to them to ease the side effects of
chemotherapy. And there are more effective pain
medications with fewer side effects during post-operative
care. Huffman emphasized that early detection is often
the key to complete recovery. She also said successful
nursing in an oncology setting differs from other
hospitals.
“There’s long term contact, not only with the
patient, but with the family. We try to incorporate the
family into patient care as much as possible,”
Huffman said. “When a person is diagnosed with
cancer, it’s a scary thing. There are a lot of
components — emotional support, reassurance and
compassion. They are as important as the physical
components. We, as cancer nurses, treat people as if they
were our own family.”
Basics for
special care
Laura Cornwall, who received special recognition as
“Outstanding Inpatient Nurse,” said the key to
successful nursing is a base of good solid knowledge,
people skills and an excellent support system. She
recently celebrated her third anniversary at RPCI and has
been a nurse since 1995.
“I felt I represented many nurses here,”
Cornwall said, upon receiving the award. Both Cornwell
and Huffman said they were flattered and proud to receive
the awards and felt extremely lucky to work among a
special group of people.
“In the history of Roswell, there have been people
with strong character who have passed down their legacy
of nursing and caring to the nurses working here
today,” Huffman added.
Other nurses who received special recognition are: April
Proefrock, Outstanding Research Nurse; Deborah Sendlak,
Outstanding Preceptor; Cheryl Ramos, Amgen Award;
Patricia Mack, Outstanding Ambulatory Care; and Keith
Scranton, Outstanding Nurse in an Alternative Role.
In addition to Huffman, PEF nurses nominated by peers or
supervisors and recognized for professionalism,
compassion and dedication include Bonnie Harsch, Cortney
Montgomery, Suzette Parent-Joachimi and Shiloh Belz.
Derail unsafe staffing, put
legislation on the fast track
Compassion, knowledge strengthen
oncology care:
Roswell Park honors nurses
Nurses conference addresses timely
topics
GO TO RN DEPARTMENT
|
Site Map What's New Search COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
Lawmakers override all 119
budget vetoes
Set state safety, security
standard
Thank your legislators
Departments
President's Message:Our work
continues
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
PS&T Contract Update:
Pay hikes hot topic
Member Highlights;Keeping up
the good fight
Retirees In Action: New
officers take the reins
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Nurses' Station:
- Derail unsafe staffing, put
laws on the fast track
- Roswell Park honors nurses
- Nurses conference addresses
timely topics
Legislative Action:
- Union presses lawmakers on
contracting out
- Legislature passes 11 bills
PEF supports
- Don’t let feds
shortchange NY
Health Benefits:
- Feds aim to guard your
privacy
- College students need shot
in arm
- HMO applied wrong rule for
disabled kids
Union Matters
PEF, OASAS train workers for
emergencies
EAP Coordinator earns
Quality Service Award
Making state park system a
summer delight
Pre-Tax Transit pilot put on
hold
Balloting brings 13
newcomers to E-Board
Convention 2003: Delegate
preview
You can COPE. Join today!
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
Do You Prefer The Online
Edition?
How To Advertise Here
PEF Pride Store
The Communicator Staff
Questions on this site? Email the comwebmaster.
 Register here on the
PEF
Member Network.
 Click Here email notice when next issue is
online
|