Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

TON - April 2012, Vol 5, No 3 — April 27, 2012

The Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center, located in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest medical centers in the country. As the only academic medical center in central Ohio, it includes the College of Medicine, more than a dozen research centers, and 20 core laboratories, as well as 6 hospitals. 

The OSU Wexner Medical Center identifies 6 signature programs—Cancer, Critical Care, Heart, Imaging, Neurosciences, and Transplantation—as key elements in its provision of science-based and individually tailored patient care. Since the 2006 opening of the Biomedical Research Tower, the OSU Wexner Medical Center has become a national leader in the developing field of personalized healthcare, focusing on each individual’s unique biology, behavior, and environment. 

Carli Greenfield, ACNP, is part of the oncology program at the OSU Wexner Medical Center. She answered our questions about research and patient care.

What are you excited about right now in the cancer field?
Carli Greenfield (CG): One of the best aspects of working at a research institution such as the Ohio State University Medical Center is being on the forefront of clinical trials and working with investigative pharmacological agents that could potentially change the face of medicine. Proudly, up to 10% of the
patient population that we manage on a daily basis is actively taking part in a phase 1 or 2 clinical trial at any given time.

What approach does your institution take in treating people with cancer?
CG: We believe that mental health is just as important as a patient’s physical health, and an accessible support system plays a vital part in this. We encourage patients to include family members and/or friends in all appointments and decision making in order to improve the overall comfort level with
their plan of care. 

How does that translate to better outcomes for your patients?
CG: This allows patients to have a better understanding of their treatment plan as well as to develop realistic expectations and goals regarding their care.

How has the role of the oncology nurse changed over the past 5 years?
CG: As medicine evolves, so does the disease itself. Patients are being diagnosed with cancer earlier and living longer than they were 5 years ago. I’m fortunate enough to work with physicians who are passionate about understanding the latest treatments that allow us to stay up-to-date with how we approach our patients’ care.

What inspired you to enter the field of oncology nursing?
CG: To be honest, I kind of fell into this specialty by accident, but I am thankful I did. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. And every day when I leave work, I am thankful to be working alongside some of the best healthcare providers in the country toward one goal: a cure.

Any advice for nurses just entering the field?
CG: There is an extremely high rate of turnover in the world of oncology, and anyone who has worked in the field can understand why. At times you feel that no matter what you do, it’s not enough. But you have to remember that you are playing an active part in prolonging your patients’ lives another day, week, month, or year to spend time with their loved ones.  

If you weren’t working in this field, what would you be doing?
CG: Orthopedic surgery. There’s always been something about the “glorified carpentry” that gets my adrenaline going. 

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