What it Means to be Affected person First in Most cancers Care

Cassidy Lockwood is the definition of what it means to be a nurse, particularly one who supplies oncology care. She practices as an oncology nurse at Smilow Breast Heart at Yale New Haven Hospital, has expertise as a flooring nurse in malignant hematology and continued her profession as a follow nurse now on the breast heart. Consequently, I’ve gained arguably the perfect colleague I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside and a lifelong pal. There are too many causes that Cassidy ought to obtain the Extraordinary Healer Award, and I’m hoping this essay can present a snapshot of why that is so well-deserved.

A nurse is outlined as, “an individual educated to look after the sick or infirm.” Cassidy always practices to the highest of her coaching as an oncology nurse. She demonstrates knowledgeable data on the remedy protocols she counsels on routinely, and when discussing issues that sufferers name in with.

My colleagues and I usually discover ourselves going to her for solutions, and he or she is at all times prepared to assist. It’s clear that she is continually studying and working towards probably the most up-to-date, evidence-based drugs inside her scope. She shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions and seeks out alternatives to be taught extra for the betterment of the folks she serves. Moreover, she is keenly conscious of the boundaries of the scope of her coaching and can gladly attain out to her group when there’s a concern or query that she will not be the perfect individual to reply.

She practices with most effort, usually works late after arriving early for the day, and is at all times prepared to assist with no matter she is ready to. She triages messages, assists with workplace visits, enters orders and even helps cowl for infusion nurses when there may be want, together with cross-covering for different nurses when they’re out for his or her groups. These are just some of her day-to-day duties that she excels at and expertly manages.

She is the epitome of a group participant – always and successfully speaking along with her colleagues and making certain that each facet of every individual’s care is addressed and tucked in, with acute consideration to element. When there’s a downside to be solved, she is dogged in her persistence to discover a resolution, or proper a mistaken that has occurred.

Past her knowledgeable data and dedication in oncology care at Smilow Breast Heart, in infusion and along with her historical past as a flooring nurse in malignant hematology, she performs all her duties with modesty and recognition of the group strategy to affected person care. As a part of this, she brings a jovial spirit to the workroom and when interacting with sufferers, no matter what could also be occurring in her personal life.

Whereas working along with her, I discover that everybody’s temper is uplifted by her presence and the compassion she demonstrates. She can also be not afraid to be herself, which provides to her attraction and talent to deliver a smile to anybody’s face. Every day, she is pleasant, personable and has her personal catch phrases that everyone knows and love. Now we have dubbed them “Cassidyisms,” corresponding to, “I’m very teachable,” when speaking with sufferers about studying their wants.

That’s maybe the loveliest a part of Cassidy as an oncology nurse – she places sufferers first. From the primary second of assembly them, she goes out of her option to find out about their life, their values and what they need out of their care. She then applies this data to her follow of patient-centered care by safeguarding their values and sharing with the group when there may be new details about somebody that we could not have heard but, and that might affect their care.

She is considerate and intentional with every individual. As one such instance, we had a younger grownup breast most cancers survivor in her early 20s with newly recognized triple-negative breast most cancers, who was overwhelmed by the analysis and was not responding to follow-up calls to get her in and begin remedy. In an effort to make sure she had an excellent end result and to get her began, Cassidy went out of her method almost every day over a month to succeed in out to her personally.

The primary hurdle she overcame was simply getting in contact along with her, but additionally then supplied help and understanding of her state of affairs – somebody who shouldn’t have skilled such a factor for her age. She helped her perceive the significance of initiating remedy and satisfied her to come back in for care and begin her remedy. Then all through the remedy, she continued to supply shut help for her and helped get her by it, making it loads much less of a scary and daunting expertise for her.

Consequently, she had a pathologic full response with no residual illness left as soon as she went to surgical procedure – the perfect end result we might have hoped for. She did all this with the utmost compassion and empathy – traits that she brings to each affected person she cares for, and with the hassle that permit’s every individual know that they’re the precedence and really feel that they’ve their group’s full dedication.

I need to reiterate – Cassidy Lockwood is the definition of what it means to be an oncology nurse, however moreover, serves for example of how we should always all be working towards healthcare. She units the usual along with her patient-first strategy, real care, knowledgeable data and going to the extraordinary lengths that she goes to for every particular person she has the privilege of caring for. She is an absolute pleasure to work with. I totally belief her as an oncology nurse, and I’m reassured and comfy understanding that our sufferers have her care and help. It’s for these causes amongst many extra that she deserves to obtain the Extraordinary Healer Award for her service as an oncology nurse.

Nominations are open for the 2025 CURE Extraordinary Healer award.

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