Oncology Nurse Cares For Patients At Every Step Of The Way
Dianne Peabody, R.N., decided to become a nurse after serving one summer as a candy striper at age 15.
That summer, Peabody discovered a talent — interacting with and caring for patients — that has stayed with her throughout her 30-year nursing career at SSM St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood.
For the past 13 years, Peabody has worked as an oncology nurse in the hospital’s Cancer Care Center. As an oncology nurse, she is an important member of a team that provides patients with comprehensive cancer care, including radiation oncology cancer treatments and infusion therapy of blood products, antibiotics and chemotherapy services.
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Peabody meets with each patient on his or her first consultation and maintains contact throughout the patient’s course of therapy. She educates patients and their families about their disease and how to manage symptoms. Peabody also provides information and tips about how patients should properly care for themselves throughout treatment, including skin care, diet and exercise, if appropriate. Peabody maintains close communication with the patient’s physician, as well.
“I spend quite a bit of one-on-one time with my patients and get to know them quite well over the course of their visits,” Peabody said. “I do a lot of time educating my patients, but then I also do a lot of listening. I try to address their questions and concerns, and when I can’t, I work with their physician to provide them with a solution.”
To become an oncology nurse, individuals first must be certified as a registered nurse, which can be earned through a four-year university program, a two-year associate degree program or a three-year diploma program. R.N.s also must pass a licensing exam.
Additional experience is needed to specialize in oncology, and many choose to earn certification. An oncology certified nurse (OCN) certification requires a minimum of one year of experience as an R.N., a minimum of 1,000 hours of oncology nursing practice and the completion of at least 10 contact hours of continuing education in the oncology nursing specialty.
Peabody received her diploma from the DePaul Nursing School in Chicago and maintains an OCN certification.
Other certifications include advanced oncology certified nurse (AOCN) and certified pediatric oncology nurse (CPON). Oncology nurses can serve in many roles, depending on their experience, advanced education and specialized certification.
Nationally, oncology nurses earn salaries beginning at $35,000 annually, with advanced practice nurses earning $60,000 to $125,000.
When asked why she chose to become an oncology nurse, Peabody recalls one particular patient she cared for years ago. A young, pregnant woman was diagnosed with lung cancer, and Peabody assisted with her care throughout her lengthy battle with the disease.
Peabody was immensely touched and inspired by this young woman and her family, and this experience played a large role in her decision to later become an oncology nurse.
“You spend your days with patients who are vulnerable and going through an extremely difficult and challenging time,” Peabody said. “I feel privileged to be able to offer support and assist each one through their journey. It may sound cliché, but I always try to put myself in my patients’ shoes. My goal is to treat each one with the kindness and dignity that I would want to be treated with if I were in their situation.”
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