You Tell Us
How Has Your Practice Been Affected by a Disaster?
Our natural disaster occurred during Hurricane Irene. It seems so long ago now, but at the time, it was surreal. Many of our patients came from the areas hardest hit in Vermont. Closer to home, many pharmacies were wiped out by flooding, so Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center’s outpatient pharmacy had to take on many more prescriptions during that time.
What Are Your Concerns About Administering Chemotherapy on Non-Oncology Units?
About six months ago, one of our patients with cancer was admitted to the rehabilitation floor. The patient was due to have her port needle changed and labs drawn. None of the rehab nurses had experience with ports; therefore, one nurse went on YouTube and watched how one was accessed. I was utterly shocked and feared for the patient’s safety!
What Have You Done to Make a Name for Yourself in the Oncology Nursing Community?
I volunteered! The biggest impact I made was becoming a volunteer chairperson for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) onsite enrollment in July 2010. Our goal was to lead a task force of 40–50 community folks and recruit and spread the word about CPS-3 and enrolling in the study during a five-day enrollment period.
How Do You Communicate With Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Who Can’t Talk?
I’ve used sign language or provided patients with a clipboard with paper and a pen or pencil to write. If it is okay with patients, I’ve also used family members or loved ones to communicate or translate for them.
How Do Your Patients Pay for Genetic Testing?
I think one of the key issues is to make sure we are testing appropriately, and that means making sure the patient has met with a genetic counselor to help address all the financial, psychosocial, discrimination, and other issues associated with testing.
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