Finding Emotional Support in a Health Care Team

Caitlin Cohen, M.S.N., RN, CPNP-AC, CPHON, winner of the CURE® Extraordinary Healer® Award for Oncology Nursing, discussed how being an oncology nurse is like being “part of the family.” When you’re providing oncology care, especially to a young patient, the family looks to you for guidance, medical advice and emotional support, said Cohen.

“I think that when you become a part of the treatment team for a patient, or a young child or an older child, with oncology diseases, you become a part of their family,” said Cohen.

“We were there to provide (patients) with emotional support and let them know that we still always thought about them. We never stop thinking about the patients that we’ve cared for. We are always there if they need to reach out for anything and we will do everything in our power when we can to help.”