Contributors

My all-time favorite reason for being an oncology nurse is when patients return after receiving cancer care to say thank you!

Videoconferencing can be used by nurses in a variety of work settings and roles to reap numerous benefits.

Building momentum for implementing survivorship care plans for all.

Oncology nurses’ intimate knowledge of their patients’ situations can enable them to match patients' needs to the appropriate resources.

Here are some things nurses can do to prepare patients to adhere to their treatment regimens once they leave the hospital.

This year, I’ve made 3 New Year’s resolutions that I know can help make me a better nurse.

Listening to a patient carefully, anticipating their needs, and being flexible in your responses to their care schedule are 3 ways oncology nurses can help improve the patient's experience during a hospital stay.

By being aware of one’s own woundedness (including the wound of our mortality) we can be more effective healers in our work as healthcare professionals.

Three things I wish I had been told when I started my career as a nurse would have been to become computer literate, that great footwear is essential, and that communication is key.

A strong preceptor program specific to oncology is needed to help train nurses new to working in the field.

Putting yourself as No. 1 on your to-do list is not selfish or inconsiderate; it is your right, and it shows that you are making an informed decision to practice self-care.

Talking about end of life during what should be the happiest time of year can be difficult. Nurses can help ease these discussions with patients and their families.

A study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery described a surgical procedure called prepectoral breast reconstruction that was used among patients who had mastectomies and radiation therapy following their breast cancer diagnosis.

I decided to take on a personal video challenge during the month of November, to share cancer information with patients and caregivers. I created a series of livestream videos on Facebook each weekday.

Every year I attend the ONS Congress, and I find it to be an educational high, as I enjoy seeing oncology nurses from around the globe come together, networking, sharing best practices, mentoring, and presenting the latest and greatest data in oncology practice to our peers. This year, I will be presenting on the topic of leadership.

Elise James, LCSW, and Mayra Garcia, LCSW, describe the Stem Cell Transplant Meet and Greet program at The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, which provides psychosocial support to pre-transplant patients.

An 11-year study showed that patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer who learned to manage their stress with cognitive behavioral interventions had less depression and a better quality of life.

Elderly women living in nursing homes who were diagnosed with breast cancer may face a greater chance of death compared with their non-resident peers–despite what, for many in other age groups, is routine surgery. Therefore, the decision to perform breast cancer surgery must lie with the patient, family, and her physician.

As nurses, we need to step up as mentors and help newer nurses achieve their goals.

This is the third in a 3-part series about nurses as advocates within healthcare.

My training as a registered nurse helped me as I developed long-distance relationships with several women who have anal cancer--I call them my “virtual sorority sisters.”

A weekend of immersion in the energy and enthusiasm of the National Nurses in Business Association annual conference left me recharged and ready to take my own ideas forward.

As oncology nurses we need to be aware of complementary therapies and how they may potentially interact with our conventional therapies.

Patient education comes in many forms. Consider the podcast.

Though having well-fitting wigs and prostheses may seem like secondary concerns to some, providing these items—and a safe environment within which to learn about them—can go a long way in helping a patient feel supported and positive about their appearance while they are receiving treatment.

As oncology nurses, we are uniquely positioned to proactively address the disparity in breast cancer mortality in the United States.

Caregivers of people with cancer should get flu shots.

This is the second in a series of 3 articles about nurses as advocates.