Baptist Cancer Program - Baptist Memorial Health Care

Baptist Oncology Nursing-con’t
Specialized nursing and good communication skills are vital to successfully flow patients through the
various phases of transplant. Our nurses also provide emotional support to patients and caregivers in
addition to meeting their physical needs. Nurses play a crucial role in treating the transplant patient as a
whole. This contributes to patient satisfaction and successful outcomes.
Radiation Oncology Nursing
Baptist Centers for Cancer Care, Radiation Oncology, employs three (3) full time Registered Nurses. All of
these nurses are instrumental in assisting patients in understanding their diagnosis and what resources are
available to them in the community. Participation on the Cancer Committee, attendance at Tumor
Conferences, and collaboration with the oncologists on the patient’s plan of care are all part of the
department’s strategies in providing a patient-centered care environment.
The Breast Comprehensive Center
The Comprehensive Breast Center employs three full time nurses, all specialty certified, who help our
patients navigate through the full continuum of care. Prevention is one area of focus for our nurses. They
participate in numerous health fairs throughout the community teaching patients screening
recommendations for breast cancer and the proper way to perform breast self exam. At the Breast Risk
Management Center, one of the nurses works closely with referring physicians, radiologists, and genetic
counselors to identify patients early who are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer, thus giving
these patients options for increased screening. A second area of focus for our nurses is diagnosis and
treatment. As soon as a patient is told that she needs a biopsy, one of our nurses will meet with that
patient to explain the biopsy process and will follow that patient throughout her treatment should the
biopsy be malignant. Our nurses will assist the newly diagnosed patient with scheduling surgical consults,
medical oncology visits, and radiation therapy consults. The final area of focus is support and
survivorship. Our nurses work with our patients in our monthly support group, Women Helping Other
Women, and also partner with the American Cancer Society for “Look Good, Feel Better” sessions
throughout the year. Patients in the Comprehensive Breast Center benefit from learning and understanding
the screening recommendations for breast cancer, and also benefit from the familiar face of one of our
nurses available to them throughout their journey after a breast cancer diagnosis.
The specialized facilities, high-tech care in a high-touch environment, and interdisciplinary cooperation
help to maintain the Baptist commitment to excellence. Regardless of where the patient is in the continuum
of the cancer experience, from diagnosis to cure or end of life, specialized care continues to be provided at
Baptist.
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