Certified Super Nurse

Elderly person holding hands with a medical professional

Roswell Park nurse, Kathleen Killion, RN, OCN, is a pioneer in the field of nursing.

She was among the first to take the Oncology Certified Nurse Examination when it was established in 1986. With encouragement from her physician colleagues, Kathleen traveled to San Diego, California to advance her career.

Now with credentials under her belt, Kathleen explains what being an Oncology Certified Nurse means to her:

I was excited, but also a little nervous. Having a certification represented validation of the rigorous requirements, experience and knowledge needed in oncology nursing. Having my certification means I am able to stay current on the ever-growing advances in cancer nursing and treatment. Recently, exams are offered locally making recertification an easier task. I feel any nurse working in a cancer institute owes it to their patients and caregivers, as well as their co-workers, to perform at the top of their game and should become certified.When patients and caregivers learn what the OCN credential means, I hope that it gives them added confidence that their nursing staff is very knowledgeable in their care. Kathleen Killion

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) celebrates Certified Nurses Day annually on March 19 to honor and recognize nurses like Kathleen who go above and beyond in their training after becoming a registered nurse.