How one doctor’s encouraging words helped Rachel set a course for an oncology nursing career.
[2 MIN READ]
Being a nurse wasn’t originally on Rachel Bry’s radar.
For several years she had enjoyed her role as a patient care coordinator (PCC) at Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment at Swedish Medical Center. Even though she was considering a career change within the medical field, she still wasn’t sure nursing was the way to go.
Then one day John Henson, M.D., a neuro-oncologist at the Ivy Center, stopped by Rachel’s office. During their conversation, he encouraged her to think about all she was capable of doing — and being.
Then one day John Henson, M.D., a neuro-oncologist at the Ivy Center, stopped by Rachel’s office. During their conversation, he encouraged her to think about all she was capable of doing — and being. He felt Rachel had potential for increasing the level of her professional contribution, especially in the challenging field of oncology.
That was just the motivation Rachel needed to think more seriously about nursing as a career. She’d certainly observed the wonderful care the nurses around her had provided to patients undergoing treatment. And as a PCC, the most enjoyable part of her job was working with oncology patients. “I was glad I could be there to help patients navigate an awful time in their lives,” Rachel says. “It was the part of the PCC job I liked the most.”
“I was glad I could be there to help patients navigate an awful time in their lives,” Rachel says. “It was the part of the PCC job I liked the most.”
As the spark created by her conversation with Dr. Henson grew stronger, Rachel decided nursing was the right choice for her after all. As if to confirm she was on the right path, for her senior practicum she applied to the University of Washington Medical Center for one of only three spots in the oncology department, and was chosen for the challenging and prestigious position.
During her practicum, Rachel assessed and implemented treatment interventions for patients who had bone marrow transplants, administered complex medication regimens and worked within a collaborative team environment to provide timely care for all patients in the unit. The experience cemented her desire to be an inpatient nurse.
“As an inpatient nurse, I can get to know the patients and their families and form relationships over time. These patients are exceptional in that they want to keep going in the face of enormous physical and emotional stress — I can be there to help during this process.”
Rachel sees being a nurse on First Hill’s 12th floor oncology unit as her opportunity to make a huge difference in patients’ lives. “As an inpatient nurse, I can get to know the patients and their families and form relationships over time. These patients are exceptional in that they want to keep going in the face of enormous physical and emotional stress — I can be there to help during this process.”
Her unwavering commitment to each patient’s journey is what Dr. Henson saw in Rachel. “It’s a unique calling to work with oncology patients,” he says. “I observed Rachel engaging with them when she was a patient care coordinator … I saw her dedication and potential and wanted to encourage her to set her expectations high for the next step in her career.”
Along with caring for this special group of patients, Rachel also enjoys working with her nursing colleagues and the doctors. Their team environment is very important to her and makes a challenging job that much easier.
“There are many different types of nursing jobs, so there’s bound to be a good fit for everyone," says Rachel.
Rachel’s advice for those considering a nursing career
“If you’re thinking about a career in nursing, try talking with nurses you know or work with to get an idea if it’s a good career fit,” advises Rachel. “There are many different types of nursing jobs, so there’s bound to be a good fit for everyone. I also suggest finding a strong support team to help you through nursing school — whether that's friends, family, coworkers or your fellow nursing students. It will help keep you grounded through school and your first job as a nurse. Moving into the first nursing job can be a stressful transition for some people, so having others around that you can trust and lean on makes a big difference.”
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Related resources
Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment
Coping with Anxiety during Treatment
Emotional Healing After Cancer
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