A Cancer Nurse With a Caring Heart and Bright Mind

Michele Murray, BSN, RN, OCN, is truly one of a kind — both as a person and as an oncology nurse. I first met her when I started my job as an oncology infusion nurse at Morristown Medical Center. I could tell from the way the staff and patients spoke of her that she was special, and I quickly saw for myself, too.

Michele has an inherently kind soul that she carries into her practice every day. She comes to work with a positive attitude and faces all challenges with a calm demeanor. We work in an outpatient infusion setting where the patients tend to be relatively independent as compared to the inpatient world.

I remember one specific patient that proved to be very challenging in terms of nursing care, requiring more than just an IV with chemo. The patient was bedridden and required frequent tracheostomy suctioning. Though Michele had a full assignment that day, she still took the time to not only provide the necessary care to that patient competently, but also sitting with him and getting to know him as a person. That meant the world to him.

Michele is not only emotionally in tune with her patients but also continues to maintain up-to-date knowledge on all of the most recent changes in oncology practice. She is a reliable resource to her colleagues when questions arise in day-to-day situations. She never hesitates to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, without ever expecting anything in return.

Michele has given so much of herself to our infusion center and is truly one of the reasons it has the positive reputation that it has. I couldn't think of another individual that deserves to be recognized more than her for what she has done for both her job and her patients.

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