How Patients Shape Oncology Nurses' Lives
Explore stories of oncology nurses who forge connections with patients, transforming challenges into triumphs in cancer care.
Nursing is at the heart of cancer care, and no clinicians are more familiar with the ins and outs of a patient’s journey than nurses.
This year, Oncology Nursing News and its sister brand CURE celebrated the unique bond of oncology nurses and their patients through a series of nurse and patient spotlights on their respective social media channels.
This issue features just a few of these nurses’ stories. Lyndsie Helsel, RN, who works at American Oncology Network’s Zangmeister Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio, credits working in oncology with making her a “more resilient, compassionate, empathetic, and vulnerable” person. She also says that as an oncology nurse, “[patients’] triumphs are also your triumphs.”
Similarly, Pritrice Lott, RN, a nurse at American Oncology Network’s Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute in Hot Springs, Arkansas, shared that, having gone through a renal cell carcinoma diagnosis in 2021, her patients have inspired her to have strength.
Lacey Babin, RN, a nurse at the American Oncology Network’s Hematology/Oncology Clinic in Zachary, Los Angeles, California, said she is always learning as an oncology nurse. “You may not always have the answer, but [you] will work hard to try to find one,” she said. “The job is very challenging but rewarding.”
What inspired you to become an oncology nurse?
Helsel: I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. After my dad’s fight with cancer, I knew that oncology was my place. I knew I could use my personal experiences to be a better nurse to my patients and provide support to their families and loved ones. I understand the emotional and psychological challenges they face. I wanted to form lasting relationships with my patients, and I knew I needed to provide not just clinical care but emotional support. Being their nurse gives me the chance to make a difference in patients’ lives, whether that looks like comfort during treatments, support through difficult decisions, or a listening ear in a hard time. This field is where I know I can make the biggest impact.
Lott: I became an oncology nurse because my dad had prostate cancer in 2019, and I wanted to know more about the disease and its treatment. In April 2021, I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma while working as an oncology nurse at Genesis Blood and Cancer Institute. I truly believe that God puts you in the right place at the right time, and he did. I am so grateful to [my oncologist], Robert Muldoon, MD, PhD, for quickly setting up appointments for me to have surgery to get my right kidney removed. I am thankful for my Genesis work family for supporting me and making sure I had food during my recovery.
Babin: Oncology nursing was not my first choice, believe it or not. I was placed in the inpatient oncology unit out of nursing school and just fell in love with my team and the patients [who] came to the floor. When an infusion job opportunity opened up to work for American Oncology Network, I wanted to give it a shot. I had gained enough experience with chemotherapy and the patient demographic that I felt confident in the field. Oncology is so broad that I am always learning. The patients are definitely what made me fall more in love with my job. Every patient becomes more than another person to treat; they become a friend.
What’s one lesson a patient has taught you?
Helsel: I wish I could narrow this down to something simple, but nothing about this job is simple. No matter what you’re going through, half of the battle is mental. You learn the power of perspective. You will not succeed if you keep telling yourself that you can’t. A positive attitude can take you so far.
Lott: The lesson that I have learned as a nurse is that you are not exempt from anything. You never know the journey you will have to endure.
Babin: The biggest lesson that I have learned from several patients is to slow down with life, enjoy the little things, make the most of your time here on earth, and live 1 day at a time.
How do your patients inspire you?
Helsel: My patients inspire me to be a full person, not just a nurse. There’s nothing comparable to a patient’s gratitude to you. Their gratitude for me taking the time to listen to them, share stories together, be their cheerleader, or provide a safe space to talk about the scary stuff is priceless. It reminds me every single day why I chose this job and inspires me to find more ways [to] help the next person.
Lott: My patients inspire me to never give up and to always fight. Patients give me strength, and I love to encourage my patients to never give up.
Babin: My patients inspire me so much. No matter the pain or sickness they are struggling with, most of them come to our clinic with a smile, ready to conquer the day. A lot of patients keep their faith, which I love because they are motivated, and giving up is not an option. They inspire me to believe that overcoming hardships has a bigger reward.
Find Babin’s, Lott’s, and Helsel’s full responses, along with more highlighted nurses, on our social media:
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