The Definition of an Extraordinary Cancer Nurse

It is hard to put into words what an extraordinary nurse Karen M. Reyes Benzi, M.S.N., RN, OCN, is. Karen was one of my preceptors in a specialty that I knew little about. She taught me everything she could about hematology, without the subject being overwhelming.

She is the nurse I would want for my family. She leaves no stone unturned when meeting and assessing patients. She realizes that sometimes the oncology nurse can be a patient’s only constant support, and she gives each patient 200%. She realizes how scary cancer can be and treats each patient with compassion, dignity and respect.

There are many extraordinary things she does. For example, Karen maintains a clothes cabinet for patients who have toileting accidents. Rather than the patient having to wear dirty clothes for multiple hours or being sent home in a hospital gown or paper pants, this allows the patient much more dignity. Also, Karen started a program that helps veterans facing cancer to access services. She greets each veteran with a token and salutes them to acknowledge their service to our nation.

Karen knows the importance of simple things such as placing her name near the patient’s chair. I can’t tell you how many times I ask a patient who their nurse is, and they don’t know. It seems like a silly thing, but it really makes the patient feel more comfortable and connected. As someone who watched her father battle cancer, I can tell you firsthand how much of a difference this can make in a patient’s journey.

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