Baptist Cancer Program - Baptist Memorial Health Care

Baptist Oncology Nursing
Compassionate Care
At Baptist, our oncology nurses are compassionate caregivers who understand that cancer is much more than
a physical disease. Our oncology nurses understand how cancer can affect every aspect of a patient’s life and
are there to assist our patients and their families navigate through the dark valleys of all that is cancer.
Oncology nurses care for patients and families dealing with cancer. At Baptist, our oncology nurses can be
found in our inpatient oncology units (Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology and Myelosupression), Stem Cell
Transplant , Radiation Therapy Department, the Breast Comprehensive Center, and Hospice; the scope is wide
ranging from cancer prevention to end-of-life care. While some of our nurses care for patients at the bedside
and administer chemotherapy, others work in the community encouraging early detection.
The Medical Oncology Unit
The Medical Oncology Unit on 5 south is the largest of the 3 units with 34 beds. The patient population includes
a wide variety of diagnoses but primary focus is on solid tumor diagnoses. Both newly diagnosed patients
receiving their first treatments to patients coping with symptom management at the end of life receive the
specialized therapy available on this unit. All cancer treatment modalities are available – chemotherapy,
brachytherapy, immunotherapy, and occasionally surgery. The staff receives specialized training in the newest
therapies and provides very specific care during all phases of patient treatment regardless of the treatment
modality.
The Myelosuppression Unit
The Myelosuppression Unit (MSU) provides for the needs of hematologic cancer patients (leukemia, lymphoma,
multiple myeloma), autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant patients, and other profoundly neutropenic
patients. The MSU is a 19-bed unit on 5 East that provides a higher level of infection control both by policy and
design. Hand washing requirements, visitation restrictions, low bacteria diets and self-care protocols for
mouth and perineal care are all infection control policies strictly enforced on the MSU. Electronically controlled
sinks, positive air pressure, and hepa-filtered air supply for the entire unit are examples of infection control by
design. DOP testing of the air filtration system is completed quarterly. All these infection control measures
effectively control the infection rates despite caring for a patient population with profoundly suppressed
immune systems. In addition to neutropenic patients, the MSU administers high risk cancer therapies such as
high-dose IL-2, carboplatin desensitization, and arterial chemotherapy drips and monitors those patients for
complications. The patients on the MSU can receive a wide range of treatments and assessments including ICU
monitoring and care. Four of the nineteen beds are ICU- equipped. One room has a negative pressure
anteroom while still providing positive pressure environment for the immunocompromised patient that also
requires airborne isolation. This room has the capability of transitioning to an ICU bed if needed for the patient
in airborne isolation.
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