Educating Patients and Teams to Reduce Anxiousness During Cancer Treatment

A radiation oncology nurse takes the time to educate both patients and her clinical team to better manage side effects during therapy.

I work directly with Brenda Wilbanks, RN, on the radiation oncology unit at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, Georgia. Brenda is responsible for educating our patients with breast cancer on radiation therapy and side effect management.

Brenda always goes above and beyond for our patients. She developed very informative and comprehensive handouts for our patients without being asked. She did it because she saw there was a need and our patients would benefit from them. She consistently spends 30 to 60 minutes with every patient with breast cancer detailing radiation therapy treatment and addressing all their questions and concerns. Brenda has single-handedly organized our breast service with her education handouts, organizing our referral system and prepping our team on upcoming patients. Due to Brenda's hard work and compassion, our service runs smoother and our patients are more informed and less anxious. She takes initiative, which is an integral part of quality nursing care.

Editor’s Note: This is an essay submitted by Camille Usher, NP, for the 2021 Extraordinary Healer Award. Click here to read more about CURE®’s Extraordinary Healer® Award for Oncology Nursing event on April 30, 2021.

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