For Immediate Release
April 24, 2007

BUFFALO, NY – Nurses from Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) have been selected to describe their roles in administrative, clinical, research and patient education projects at the 32^nd Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), April 24-27, in Las Vegas.

“The selection of these nurses to share their knowledge at this prestigious national congress is testimony to the commitment of our nurses to provide the best care for our patients, and to help advance the specialty of oncology nursing through research and evaluation of new approaches to clinical care and education,” according to Maureen Kelly, RN, MS, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, RPCI.

Marcia Gruber, MS, Vice President of Therapeutic Services and Patient Access, will describe the integral role of nurses on the multidisciplinary team that assessed patient preferences, patient demographics, regulatory and safety issues, and the financial and operational impact of creating an off-campus, hospital-based chemotherapy satellite that would maintain quality and improve service delivery. As a result, the Center opened to enthusiastic reviews in October 2006, and patient satisfaction surveys have been highly positive.

Katherine L. Rogala-Scherer, RN, Director of Case Management, will discuss case management of newly diagnosed leukemia patients, and describe the development and implementation of a communication/education program that has resulted in fewer denials of reimbursement for inpatient days by insurance payers; has facilitated the preparation of a safe discharge plan with patients/families; and that has maximized the insurance coverage available to patients. 

Rose Kumpf, RN, BSN, OCN, will describe the medical, emotional and educational benefits of a pre-admission workup of bone marrow transplant patients for the patient and family and the medical/nursing team, by ensuring that patients understand the physical, emotional and financial aspects of the treatment; all pre-admission diagnostic tests and procedures are performed; all prescriptions have been checked and verified by nursing and pharmacy in advance; patient process and flow at admission are improved; all investigational protocol requirements have been met; and no reversed admissions occur on the day of admittance.

Elizabeth Owens, RN, MS, OCN, Director of Nursing Education, will review a new Oncology Orientation for Nursing Faculty and describe methods used to encourage faculty to consider clinical placement on an inpatient oncology unit at a comprehensive cancer center, preparation of nursing staff who precept students and feedback from nursing students and faculty who participate in clinical rotations at Roswell Park. This program will provide a recruitment opportunity, as well as a valuable learning experience for new graduates in an oncology setting.

Deborah Sendlak, RN, will outline the process of involving surgeons, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists and physical therapists in the development of a comprehensive Craniotomy Post-Operative Discharge Instruction Sheet for patients and their families. The educational tool can be replicated in other settings and for other types of surgical procedures to improve how patients are prepared for self-care following surgery.

Merima Nokic, RN, will delineate the intervention protocol developed for patients who develop retinoic acid syndrome (RAS), a side effect experienced by some patients treated with all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for acute promyelocytic leukemia. RAS is associated with significant morbidity and a mortality rate reported to be as high as nine percent. However, a majority of patients recover completely when the syndrome is identified and treated early and ATRA therapy is stopped.

Lisa Privitere, RN, BSN, OCN and Margaret Syta, ANP, will present the results of a study that demonstrates that a low Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of bone marrow transplant patients pre-transplant was the only significant predictor of overall survival of these patients following transplant. As a result of this finding, the intensity of the conditioning regimen has been reduced, using re-induction strategies that do not compromise the KPS level, and standard nursing orders have been revised to address the potential acuity of a patient with a low KPS to ensure early detection of status changes.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center headquartered in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania and in China. For more information, visit RPCI's website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org

 

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