Live the Passion
Testimonials
Rita
Q. What creative projects/opportunities have you experienced that is a result of you career?
A. I began my nursing career as an ICU nurse and transferred to oncology/cancer clinic about 2 1/2 years ago. Little did I know that this change would lead me down a road that would change my professional goals and my life. Having lost my father 5 years ago to pancreatic cancer I know exactly what it is like to lose a loved one to cancer. I also know what it is like to watch a loved one in pain and to feel helpless because of that. I knew then, that pain assessment and management was something that I wanted to enhance my competency in. What I didn't know was how I could make this happen. Working in the Algoma District Cancer Program in Sault Ste. Marie has allowed me to work with a wonderful team of dedicated physicians, nurses, pharmacists and support staff and has renewed my love for nursing. It also renewed my desire to increase my knowledge and skill in the area of pain and symptom management.
This past spring I attended an Oncology Conference where I met an advance practice nurse in pain and symptom management from Princess Margaret Hospital. With her encouragement I submitted a proposal to the RNAO for a fellowship in pain and symptom management, which was later accepted. I am presently engaged in that fellowship and working with my primary mentor in the cancer pain and palliative care program at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. With the support and encouragement of my co-workers, my family, my patients and the Algoma District Cancer Program I have been able to take a 3 month education leave in order to complete this fellowship and gain specialized knowledge and skills in pain and symptom management. I intend to return to Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District Cancer program with these specialized skills and knowledge and to influence the development of a pain resource nurse position.
Helena Akrigg
When I finished my R.N. Diploma Program, my interest was mainly on critical care nursing. I used to work 12 hours in the acute care unit/ intensive care unit. At the time, I wanted to make extra money to pay for my new car. So, I worked at the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA), Vancouver Clinic, as a casual nurse on some of my days off. That was in the early 1980’s. During my casual days at BCCA, all I remembered was the group of caring staff and how nice it was to work with them. As a result, I joined the Ambulatory Care Unit at BCCA in 1983, and worked as a staff nurse till 2001.
Other than the caring staff at the BCCA, I enjoyed caring for the clients as a whole person rather than just caring for the ventilators. In addition, I enjoyed giving my clients education, psychosocial support, advocate, and navigate the cancer journey with them. Further, I believed that my critical care background provided me strong medical/surgical/ path-physiological knowledge in caring for the oncology clients.
While working at BCCA, I learned a great deal about oncology nursing, caring for others, and how to enjoy life. In addition, I believe in working with a community of practice in order to grow professionally.
I have been working as a home care nurse since 2001. I see myself as an expert in oncology in the community. I can educate my colleagues and help them navigate some of the care transition. Furthermore, I can support my clients and their families better in the community.
Personally, I think Oncology nursing has a great deal of support from their leaders and advance learning opportunities. For example, there are many local chapters located across Canada to support Oncology nurses. Also, CANO is a professional organization that supports oncology nurses with a bilingual journal fours times a year, and annual conferences. I do not see such strong professional organization in many other fields of nursing. If variety, advance practice, research, professional growth, life long learning, leadership, and empowerment is what you are looking for, why not give Oncology Nursing a try?
As a result of my career in Oncology, my mentors from BCCA, Karen Jane and Tracy Truant empowered me to present a poster at a CANO Conference. I became Oncology certified. Meanwhile, I have been involved in a community project in teaching Asian Women breast self-examination at a very comprehensive screening clinic locates at BC Women Hospital in British Columbia. The Asian Women’s Health Clinic is held three times a month. This clinic offers Asian Women (mainly Chinese and Korean women) pap- smear and breast self-examination-all women staff who speaks Cantonese/Mandarin. We have Korean interprets (volunteer receptionist). This project started by Dr. Lorna Sent in 1995. The aim was to reduce the cervical and breast cancer incidents among Asian Women. The reason was that many Asian women do not get regular pap- smear due to cultural beliefs, and a lack of knowledge in the health care system. Our clients attending the Asian Women’s Health Clinic are self- referred or referred by their physicians.
In summary, as an Oncology Nurse, I feel empowered and I have been involved in various community presentations due to my role. Best of all, I still have continuous support from my mentors at BCCA.
Sylvi Baillie
When I finished my R.N. Diploma Program, my interest was mainly on critical care nursing. I used to work 12 hours in the acute care unit/ intensive care unit. At the time, I wanted to make extra money to pay for my new car. So, I worked at the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA), Vancouver Clinic, as a casual nurse on some of my days off. That was in the early 1980’s. During my casual days at BCCA, all I remembered was the group of caring staff and how nice it was to work with them. As a result, I joined the Ambulatory Care Unit at BCCA in 1983, and worked as a staff nurse till 2001.
Other than the caring staff at the BCCA, I enjoyed caring for the clients as a whole person rather than just caring for the ventilators. In addition, I enjoyed giving my clients education, psychosocial support, advocate, and navigate the cancer journey with them. Further, I believed that my critical care background provided me strong medical/surgical/ path-physiological knowledge in caring for the oncology clients.
While working at BCCA, I learned a great deal about oncology nursing, caring for others, and how to enjoy life. In addition, I believe in working with a community of practice in order to grow professionally.
I have been working as a home care nurse since 2001. I see myself as an expert in oncology in the community. I can educate my colleagues and help them navigate some of the care transition. Furthermore, I can support my clients and their families better in the community.
Personally, I think Oncology nursing has a great deal of support from their leaders and advance learning opportunities. For example, there are many local chapters located across Canada to support Oncology nurses. Also, CANO is a professional organization that supports oncology nurses with a bilingual journal fours times a year, and annual conferences. I do not see such strong professional organization in many other fields of nursing. If variety, advance practice, research, professional growth, life long learning, leadership, and empowerment is what you are looking for, why not give Oncology Nursing a try?
As a result of my career in Oncology, my mentors from BCCA, Karen Jane and Tracy Truant empowered me to present a poster at a CANO Conference. I became Oncology certified. Meanwhile, I have been involved in a community project in teaching Asian Women breast self-examination at a very comprehensive screening clinic locates at BC Women Hospital in British Columbia. The Asian Women’s Health Clinic is held three times a month. This clinic offers Asian Women (mainly Chinese and Korean women) pap- smear and breast self-examination-all women staff who speaks Cantonese/Mandarin. We have Korean interprets (volunteer receptionist). This project started by Dr. Lorna Sent in 1995. The aim was to reduce the cervical and breast cancer incidents among Asian Women. The reason was that many Asian women do not get regular pap- smear due to cultural beliefs, and a lack of knowledge in the health care system. Our clients attending the Asian Women’s Health Clinic are self- referred or referred by their physicians.
In summary, as an Oncology Nurse, I feel empowered and I have been involved in various community presentations due to my role. Best of all, I still have continuous support from my mentors at BCCA.
Nancy Coutts
In August 2006, I was given the exciting opportunity to create a new role in nursing: Nurse Coordinator for Breast Health and Research.
My experience had been in the operating room but I had an interest in breast cancer and was very interested in the concept of "nursing navigator". At the same time, the Tumour Tissue Repository was being created at the BC Cancer Research Centre and a nurse was needed to develop a system of obtaining consent and organizing the collection of breast tissue at the time of surgery. This tissue would be processed and saved for later research studies on breast cancer. The motto of the BC Cancer Agency is "Care and Research"; the challenge of my new role was to link the care in navigation with research.
As Nurse Coordinator, I am present when the patient first sees her surgeon and hears, often for the first time, that she has cancer. This allows me to know first-hand what the patient knows and what treatment options are discussed. Later I spend some time going over the information and listening to particular concerns. I have developed a detailed information booklet which explains how to prepare for breast surgery and I use this tool to describe what the patient should expect.
If appropriate, I also describe how the patient might donate some of her tissue to research. I then get informed consent and begin the process of organizing the collection of tissue.
I am available by telephone from that first visit until the last post-op visit. I usually see the patients immediately pre-op for any last minute questions and I call two days post-op to see how they are feeling and managing with drain care, arm stiffness or any other concerns. At the post-op visit, pathology results are explained and the next step in treatment/follow-up is discussed. I occasionally receive calls after this time if patients feel they are "falling through the cracks". I'm able to liaise with the radiation and medical oncologists and other nurses to pass on any concerns.
I have also developed a patient questionnaire to assess how this nursing role may have helped the patient through the diagnosis and surgical experience.
One year later, the BCCA has a well-coordinated collection of breast tissue along with detailed documentation which will provide valuable material for future research. As well, women have another source of information, practical advice and emotional support to assist them as they go through the diagnosis and surgical treatment for breast cancer.
Cancer is a scary word. Oncology nurses have the opportunity to break that word down into understandable, "do-able" pieces.
Anne Katz
Q. Describe your role in Oncology nursing. How did your career steer you to this role?
A. I am a Clinical Nurse Specialist at CancerCare Manitoba, where I work with men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. My major role is to help them make a treatment decision that is right for them in the context of their life. I am also the sexuality counselor for CCMB which is a highly specialized role.
I have always been involved in counseling roles in my nursing career as well as spending seven + years as an assistant professor teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing students.
I guess it boils down to counseling and educating patients and their families - different from educating students but the same principles apply.
Q. What do you find most rewarding about Oncology nursing?
A. I love it when I can see that the patient has understood something that was confusing to them before. This reduces their anxiety and allows them to ask questions and gain knowledge about their disease and how to manage it. Working with patients newly diagnosed with cancer is a special privilege, I am helping them at a time of crisis and can then work with them as they move through treatment. I know that every day I make a difference in someone's life - that is what drew me to nursing in the first place and it is great, some 25 years later to still be doing that.
Q. What encouraging words would you say to a nurse considering a career in Oncology nursing?
A. Oncology nursing has so many facets and there is a place for many different kinds of nurses. For those who like high tech nursing, there is room for that in chemotherapy and surgical oncology. For those who like palliative care, you can practice to the full extent of your role. For those who like working with children and their families, pediatric oncology may be the place for you. Oncology nurses work with patients and families over time and we get to know each other and to form strong relationships. To me that is the essence of nursing. I would also strongly encourage all nurses to join their professional organization - CANO for oncology nurses. This is where you will have opportunities to learn and grow in your role and to meet other nurses from outside your home facility. The benefits are tremendous.
Q. What creative projects/opportunities have you experienced that is a result of you career in Oncology?
A. I have written, produced and directed an educational DVD for men having radical prostatectomy. I learned so much about filming and lighting from that project even though I am not sure if I will ever use that knowledge again. I have also chaired a one-day educational workshop for prostate cancer survivors which has been a very rewarding experience. I have also written a text book for health care providers on cancer and sexuality. Many of these projects are not typical for practising nurses, however if you watch for opportunities and then act on them, you can do so much.
Colleen Sherriff
I was drawn to work in oncology when my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. On accompanying her to a chemo appointment she told me that I should consider working there because I had a similar skill set from working on vascular surgery (most of our patients were difficult IV starts). I applied at the Vancouver Cancer Centre to work on one of the inpatient wards that had a mixed population - both chemo and radiation patients - that fell anywhere along the treatment trajectory. Some were not yet fully diagnosed through all different types of treatment to palliative patients. Through the 14 years that I have worked at BCCA I have had the privilege to work in many different positions; RN on an inpatient unit giving chemo and internal types of radiation (gold seeds, irridium ribbons and brachytherapy), RN on an autologus bone marrow transplant unit, Clinical Nurse leader on my first unit and now chemo RN at FVCC.
The patients are the most rewarding aspect of my job! They are an amazing group of individuals, resilient and knowledgable about their disease. It has truly been a privilege to work with this patient population. They teach us constantly about how to help them tolerate their treatments better and about enjoying life. They have a strong appreciation of what it is that nursing contributes towards their well-being. They make coming to work fun and not a chore.
Encouraging words for someone thinking of an Oncology nursing career: Go for it! I have never regretted working in oncology. There can be hard days, when you have lost a patient to this insiduous disease but the next day a patient who you have helped along the path lets you know how much they appreciated you being there for them. I have had friends and neighbours as patients and lost my best friend to this disease. None of that has dampened my enthusiasm for being an oncology nurse, I know that I contribute something positive to my patient's emotional and physical well-being. Nursing is constantly evolving - in oncology we have the opportunity to help shape this evolution. I have found that the working relationship between disciplines to be a collegial one - something not found in a lot of other areas.
I have had multiple opportunities to develop tools to help educate our patients and sometimes my peers as well. I have helped to develop guidelines for symptom management in palliative care (in conjunction with the Fraser Health Region), handouts for CADD pumps, a guideline for sleep disturbance and presentations to community oncology programs around the province (via Telehealth). In the teaching role I am one of 4 nurses/pharmacists who teach a comprehensive program to patients starting chemotherapy and have preceptored new nurses to the chemo room.
Linda Watson
Q. Describe your role in Oncology nursing. How did your career steer you to this role?
A. I am moving into a new position at the Tom Baker Cancer Center called Nursing Professional Practice Leader. This is an exciting and innovative role that will focus on supporting nurses to expand and inform their professional practice. This will include focusing on a number of different areas such as research and education. In terms of research in this new position I will aim to increase staff nurses understanding of research methods, how they can participate in research and how they can implement research findings into practice. In terms of Education my role will be diverse from Mentoring staff nurses to further their education in nursing, to increasing the presence of oncology nursing in the undergraduate curriculum at both local nursing education institutions. This new role will also have a component of supporting the nurses to cope with the unprecidented rate of changes that are happening within oncology nursing. Increasing job satisfaction within oncology nursing is critical to retain the great nurses we already have and to entice new nurses into the field of oncology.
My career steered me towards this role in a discrete and quiet way. I have been an oncology nurse for 17 years during which time I have fulfilled a range of different roles within oncology nursing. The types of roles ranged from in-patient surgical oncology experience, to working with outpatient chemotherapy administration, to working in the radiation therapy department in symptom and side effect management, to revamping and rewriting new staff orientation modules as a consultant. Through the years, as I became more and more confident as an oncology nurse I was able to take on new and innovative challenges such as creating a set of patient education pamphlets that have been shared with cancer care institutions across Alberta and Canada. With each project that I undertook and succeeded with my confidence as an oncology nurse grew. I successfully completed my Canadian Nursing Association specialty certification in Oncology, and then decided to enroll in my Masters of nursing program at the University of Calgary.
It has been through participating in this Master’s program that my confidence as an oncology nurse has blossomed. I found that in each class I was becoming the voice for oncology nursing. Very few of the Master’s of nursing students understood exactly what was so unique about oncology nursing so I began sharing with them the reasons for my passionate commitment to oncology nursing. Over the past two years I have also had the opportunity to present at both a national and an international nursing conference. I have been published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative care. I have had the opportunity to work with first year nursing students to support them with their course work around nursing theory. I worked as a research assistant on a study looking at the experience of hospice workers. I have served on the graduate curriculum committee, ensuring the students concerns are heard in terms of curriculum development and changes. I have worked as a clinical instructor with third year nursing students on an intensive palliative care ward. I have designed and implemented a study to explore the experience of individuals who are living with incurable but treatable cancer. I am currently finishing the composition of the findings. I am quite confident some publications will come out of this work. When I finish this work I will begin into my new role as nursing professional practice leader at the Tom Baker
The most amazing thing about how my career has steered me to my new role, is that I could have never planned it this way. I would not have believed that I was capable of achieving so much before the journey was begun. And I never intended to go back to school and do all the things that have transpired. I am a mother of three school age children, so my idea of just going back to school was daunting enough, I never even began to dream of all that I have accomplished while there.
If I could say one thing to those who are reading my story, it would be to believe in yourself at all times and to follow your heart. I did not know what I was going to do with my masters of nursing in oncology degree when I set out on this journey…I just knew it felt right. I followed the path even though the end goal was shrouded in fog. That is a bit scary, but I think that it was exactly because I did not have an end job in sight that I reached out and accepted all the incredible opportunities that presented themselves to me.
One morning, during an extremely hectic period where I had multiple assignments due at the same time, my son who was in Grade 3 at the time stopped me in the hallway and looked into my eyes and said to me “Mommy, why do you have to do this [meaning grad school]? You were happy just being a nurse, why can’t you just keep being a nurse? At that moment my heart ached. What was I doing to my children? I sat down with my son right there at the top of the stairs and explained to him that for some reason I have been given a gift to help people feel better, and that I am very good at being a nurse. I explained that grad school was a way for me to learn how to use my gift of helping people feel better to the best of my abilities. I explained to him that gifts are given to people for a reason…for us to learn to use them to the best of our abilities. And that was what I was doing in Grad school. He gave me a big hug and said “OK”. To this day he has never asked me again why I am doing what I am doing.
Q. What do you find most rewarding about Oncology nursing?
A. The most rewarding thing about oncology nursing is working with oncology patients. They are the most amazing group of individuals that I have ever had the privilege of caring for. Cancer knows no boundaries…I have been privileged to care for the affluent and the homeless, the educated and the illiterate, the young and the old, women and men, and patients of every race. I have learned more about the diversity of how people live than I could have imagined. I often get asked by those outside of oncology nursing how I could handle working with cancer patients all the time. I have been asked the question “Isn’t it depressing?” many times, and every time my response is “NO”. I find oncology nursing far from depressing…I find it inspiring. These patients, over time come to a place where they are focusing their energies towards making the best of a tough situation. No one chooses to get cancer; the inspiring thing is how they all find a way to continue. When you make the choice to become a nurse, it should be an informed choice…meaning you should realize that you will be working with ill people in many different dimensions, but the common denominator is that all the patients that we work with need our help in some way or we would not be in their lives. So yes sometimes it is difficult to see so much suffering, but the suffering that I see as an oncology nurse is really very similar to the suffering that a nurse can come in contact with in any other specialty area such as Intensive Care, Emergency, Psychiatry, Medicine or Pediatrics. I have found that by spending time with my cancer patients I have attained a degree of wisdom that I would never have grasped otherwise. They have taught me that every day is precious, because you truly do not know what tomorrow will bring. I have explained to those outside of oncology nursing that being an oncology nurse is a privileged position because we can grasp what good cancer has to offer…how to be in the moment, how to value the little things, how to love those around you without actually having the dreaded disease. I tell my children and my husband every single day that I love them, because I know that life is precious and you never know what can happen in the next moment. I am a better person because I am an oncology nurse.
Q. What encouraging words would you say to a nurse considering a career in Oncology nursing?
A. Come and join us. Oncology nursing is exciting and stimulating. Oncology nursing is technically challenging and emotionally diverse. It is a great environment to apply all that you have learned in your nursing education and career so far. Oncology nursing offers us a chance to truly make a difference in the lives of those struggling to find their way through cancer. They appreciate all that we do no matter how small or grand. Often these patients and their families share with the oncology nurse what a difference we have made which is gratifying to the nurse. At the end of the day you may go home tired, but you will always go home with a new insight into the world because of the patients that you have met, talked with and cared for. It will make you a better person.
Jennifer Wiernikowski
Q. What do you find most rewarding about Oncology nursing?
A. When people are diagnosed with cancer it is often the most vulnerable state they can ever remember finding themselves in. As an oncology nurse the patient and family bring you into their circle in a most profound and special way. When they tell you "I couldn't have gotten through that without you", you realize what a privledge it is to provide care that has such a tremendous impact. The wide variety of options that exist for nurses within the speciality of oncology means that nurses can spend their entire careers in this field and continue to find variety and challenge in their practice. From systemic therapy to radiation or surgery, from survivorship to palliative care the trajectory is broad and the opportunites to learn new things is always there.
Q. What encouraging words would you say to a nurse considering a career in Oncology nursing?
A. I have heard many nurses say, "I don't know how you work there". I know they are often thinking of the emotional toll it must take. I always respond by saying, "I cannot imagine working anywhere else" and I mean this. There is an enormous sense of pride in aquiring the knowledge to care for cancer patients, there is profound joy when you see someone celebrate years of successful healthy follow up and there is so much we learn about ourselves spiritually when we help patients prepare for palliation and the end of life. As much as I have given of myself to oncology nursing, it has always given back much more.
Q. What creative projects/opportunities have you experienced that is a result of you career in Oncology?
A. I have been very lucky to have had many speical opportunities as an oncology nurse. I am the incoming vice president of CANO so the next four years will be full of learning for me. I represent CANO on the Clinical Practice Guidelines Action Group of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer so that gives me a chance to participate in the national strategy. I sit on the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Research Advisory Committee. I have worked as an APN with breast cancer patients for many years and co-chaired the Life After Breast Cancer patient conference planning committee in 2001, 2003 and 2005. I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing researchers who have mentored and supported me. I have a great interest in fostering an evironment that promotes evidence based nursing practice so that is a focus for me in my role as Chief of Nursing Practice for the cancer program at Hamilton Health Sciences.
