Empathy Is Vital in Oncology Nursing

March 7, 2019

Maggie A. Smith is a director-at-large for the national Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), as well as nominating-chair and immediate-past president of the Chicago Chapter of ONS. Her clinical and research interest include being a voice for underrepresented and underserved populations. She is also, involved in community outreach and breast health education.

Empathy and cultural competency are two vital traits for an oncology nurse to have.

While competency is key, empathy is also a vital characteristic to have in the field of oncology nursing, explained Maggie A. Smith, SNP, MSN, RN, OCN, field medical director in GU Oncology at Pfizer, and Oncology Nursing News contributor.

Each patient and family will handle a cancer diagnosis differently, so cultural competence is also important, explained Smith, who recently learned this firsthand when her father passed away from cancer.