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It’s an honor to be part of this journey—not just for my patients, but for my colleagues and the entire oncology community.

There isn’t a single day that goes by that I’m not grateful to call myself an oncology nurse. This field has challenged me in ways I never imagined and has brought out skills in myself I didn’t know I had.

While I no longer work in direct patient care, but in my role as a NPD Specialist, my mission is clear: to make it a little easier for my colleagues to deliver high-quality oncology care. I do that by educating them, providing the tools they need, and helping them grow in their careers.

Now I will say, every day, I am still learning. Whether it’s understanding new treatment modalities, triaging oncologic emergencies over the phone, studying for my Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam, or discussing complex care needs with other nurses—there’s always something new to master.

Education has always been at the heart of my work. And because of the ever-changing nature of oncology nursing, I was fortunate enough to receive two promotions within one year—first as a Unit Nurse Educator and later as an Outpatient Oncology Nursing Professional Development Specialist.

For me, being an oncology nurse has allowed me to merge my passions for education and patient care. I’m always looking for ways to make things easier to understand, whether it’s creating a simple, colorful one-pager on Canva or helping my peers navigate new technology.

There are always obstacles to overcome—whether it’s transitioning to new electronic medical record systems, managing staffing shortages, or implementing the latest treatments. But that’s part of what makes oncology such a dynamic field.

That’s the beauty of oncology nursing—there’s always something more. Whether it’s for the patients we serve or the nurses we work with, we never stop learning, teaching, innovating, and improving.

Of course, it’s not without its challenges.

They get excited about new technologies, even when those advances may only give a patient a few extra moments with their loved ones. Oncology nurses take you under their wing, teach you everything you need to know and more, and provide opportunities for growth unlike anything I’ve experienced.

But let me tell you something—oncology nurses are a special breed. They are some of the kindest, most passionate individuals you’ll ever meet. They care for their patients as if they were family. They mentor new nurses like me.

I soon found myself working with G.I. oncology patients returning to my nursing roots while simultaneously applying to grad school for nursing education.
My nursing career has been anything but linear, and I’ve had the privilege of working in many different units alongside a diverse range of people

To be completely honest, I never envisioned myself in oncology, especially in an ambulatory setting. I thought it would be a brief stop on my nursing journey before I figured out what I *really* wanted to do. But fate is funny that way.

As a new nurse without a permanent home unit, I was drawn to the NICU, believing that’s where my passion lay.
But as life often goes, things don’t always unfold the way we expect. After only 11 months in the NICU, I found myself in outpatient oncology—and I’ve never looked back.

After graduating from nursing school, I started working on a general surgery unit where most of our patients were G.I. surgical oncology cases. I always told myself, “If I can work here, I can work anywhere.” That belief was certainly put to the test when COVID hit.

I often say that it's a blessing I found my way into oncology nursing. Like many of us, my journey into this field began with a personal connection. Little did I know, this would mark the beginning of my journey in oncology.