Celebrating an Expert at Emotional Support

From left: ELIZABETH ASHWORTH B.S.N., RN, OCN, and DIANE HUDSON, RN, OCN: © PHOTOS BY ALEX HEARN

It is with great pride and admiration that I nominate Diane Hudson, RN, OCN, for the Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing. She has provided exceptional care, compassion and expertise in oncology for many years. In fact, she mentored me when I was new to the outpatient oncology setting in 2005 and has continued to be a respected leader for new nurses over all of these years.

ELIZABETH ASHWORTH B.S.N., RN, OCN, and DIANE HUDSON, RN, OCN: © PHOTOS BY ALEX HEARN

She is a nurse who stands out as a beacon of compassion and expert medical care, always willing to share her knowledge and experience to help nurses develop skills and confidence. She has the innate ability to look at a patient with her fine-tuned assessment skills and determine whether they are in distress, their laboratory results are off or they just need a hug. Her emotional support is as expert of a skill as her clinical skills.

Being an oncology nurse requires a high level of clinical skills, and Diane continually exceeds expectations. During my years of working with Diane at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, I’ve watched her call about new treatments such as a rapid protocol and discuss how it must be primed down the line to work effectively. She has meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of a patient’s care is managed. She looks at the whole patient, and it is evident in the way she practices as an expert nurse in oncology.

Diane Hudson exemplifies what it means to be an extraordinary oncology nurse. She has had a profound impact on the lives of patients and nurses, including on my life. This is not only a nomination, but a “Thank you” to her. The world has been made better with her in it!