TCU Nursing offers specialized courses to its students, broadening their learning opportunities and growing awareness about in-demand specialties in nursing. One of these is the “Aspects of Oncology” elective which seeks to provide a holistic introduction to caring for a cancer patient, while also highlighting the unique challenges of being an oncology nurse and ways to maintain one’s own wellness while taking care of someone with a complex and terminal disease.
Associate Dean for Nursing & Nurse Anesthesia, Director of the Center for Oncology Education & Research in Harris College, and Professor in Nursing Suzy Lockwood, Ph.D., is an expert in the field and believes in the importance of introducing students to oncology nursing because of her passion for the patient population.
Almost all of our students will encounter a cancer patient at some point in their nursing education,” explains Lockwood. “This patient population is unique and so are the challenges it presents for nursing students.”
This course structure includes not only learning about the disease itself, but it
is followed by experiential conversations with survivors and oncology nurses and is
rounded out with lived experiences through observational clinical experiences and
simulation activities.
Specifically, they learn the basics of how cancer cells come into existence, discussing the impact of genetics, environmental and behavioral factors, followed by end-of-life care. Students also learn about how to address burnout and compassion fatigue, known as the cost of caring for others or for their emotional pain, resulting from the desire to help relieve their suffering.
This class truly had such an impact on me, and I don't think I would be pursuing a career in oncology without it,” said Mimi Reidy ’24. “I didn't even know what BMT (bone marrow transplant)/stem cell transplant was until Claire came and talked to our class for the end-of-life simulation.”
The nursing senior is referencing the course’s end-of-life simulation, modeled after a patient Claire Flores, RN, lost, whom Flores played the role of. Reidy accepted a position in the Myelosuppression/Stem Cell Transplant Unit at Vanderbilt in Nashville.
“It makes me so happy when I see other students are getting to take the class, just because I know how important it was for me,” said Reidy.
Lockwood wanted to provide a space for learning around the specialty to better equip nursing students to provide care, while also caring for themselves, and ideated the course they experience today.
Interspersed in that are three clinical experiences at oncology outpatient clinics, events that bring in guest speakers who are oncology survivors and nurses and a field trip to a radiation clinic where students learn hands-on about radiation.
I’m blessed with the opportunity to continue expanding that vision, adding a few things here and there that I hope will continue to enrich the experience, and help our students feel equipped as future nurses with an understanding of what caring for a patient with cancer looks like, whether they’re on an oncology floor or not,” said Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Nursing Libby Rosonet, DNP, RN, CNL.