A Voice

Being a patient advocate is one of my favorite roles as a nurse. The current medical system can resemble an assembly line. Patients get passed from one doctor to another. They often hear and retain just a portion of what the provider says to them. In many cases, they feel intimidated and don't ask questions. They don't understand that they always have options. Speaking up for patients can be a slippery slope to navigate. I don't want to bring distrust and confusion into the patient's relationship with their care provider, but I do want to empower people to be a partner in their care. I want them to know they have a right to be treated in ways that match the values and goals they have for their life.

Pam, RN

Hi, I'm Pam, RN. I've been a Registered Nurse for 27 years. The first 17 years were spent in various Med/Surg Units in a hospital setting. I also did a short stint in home health, and 2 years as a Medical Social Worker (I have a bachelor's degree in Social Work besides an Associate Degree in Nursing). For the past 10 years I've been an Oncology Nurse administering chemotherapy to cancer patients in an outpatient setting. I've also done some work in Radiation Oncology and Clinical Trials. I'm OCN Certified. That's my background. I intend this blog to be my reflections on my job and career as a nurse. The entries will be short, and I won't use any patient, doctor, or nurse stories except in generalities. No HIPPA violations!

That's it, in a nutshell. Let's see where this goes........