Amanda Snyder, a most cancers survivor, turned an oncology nurse to supply help she as soon as lacked, now main progressive therapies for sufferers.
This nomination has been a very long time coming for this particular oncology nurse, Amanda Snyder. Why, may you ask? Properly, I’m right here to stipulate: This can be a second profession for Amanda. Her first profession was as a dental hygienist.
Whereas working as a hygienist, Amanda was recognized with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She went by chemotherapy and radiation. Throughout her remedy interval, she felt unsupported by the employees. That’s when she determined to go to nursing college and dedicate her profession to oncology. And that she has. After nursing college, which she acquired a certificates from UPMC Shadyside Faculty of Nursing, she took an in-patient place on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. She labored there throughout one of the difficult occasions on the transplant unit, the peak of the COVID pandemic. Amanda then transferred to UPMC Hillman Most cancers Heart, outpatient unit, the place I met her and had the privilege of working together with her.
She furthered her information by studying about stable tumors, remedy regimens, and the outpatient world. Amanda carried out additional caring strategies, as that is what had pushed her to be a nurse after her personal most cancers expertise.
Amanda championed photobiomodulation remedy on our unit, is taken into account an issue skilled, has educated a number of outpatient most cancers flooring in our constructing, has aided outdoors establishments with the implementation of this program, and has been approached to assist with a grasp’s stage mission. What’s photobiomodulation, you could ask? It’s laser mild remedy. This remedy has been an integral a part of our head and neck inhabitants. This remedy helps to scale back mucositis, mouth sores, and aids in lowering thick, ropey saliva that this inhabitants of sufferers is susceptible to. Why is this beneficial? Properly, it reduces ache, reduces using opioids, and helps the affected person to keep up their swallowing perform, permitting them to proceed with their oral diet. This remedy has been so efficient with the top and neck most cancers inhabitants that it’s now getting used amongst different most cancers diagnoses with reported affected person success. Amanda additionally was in a position to safe a photobiomodulation machine for our unit.
Amanda’s different achievements are: accomplished her BSN, efficiently handed OCN, is a nurse ambassador, offering integrative therapies to our sufferers, served on our skilled observe council, serves on the Higher Pittsburgh Oncology Nursing Society board as director at massive, all whereas offering the compassion and help to the most cancers affected person inhabitants. Amanda additionally nonetheless maintains her hygienist license too. I may go on and on about Amanda’s accomplishments.
I’ve been to a number of CURE dinners at ONS Congress, and all of the nominees and winners are caring oncology nurse leaders. I imagine that Amanda Snyder has efficiently carried out the qualities of a unprecedented healer and ought to be honored to obtain this prestigious award.
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