Leadership
Brenda Nevidjon, influencer in oncology
Clinical editor,
As a part of National Nurses Week, I had the chance to interview Brenda Nevidjon, MSN, RN, FAAN. Brenda is the present Chief Executive of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). Prior to becoming CEO of ONS, she was an instructor at Duke University School of Nursing in Durham, North Carolina. For over twenty years, she has been an influential voice in oncology nursing through her writing and leadership. He has quite a few publications, including 4 books, twenty book chapters, and over 20 journal articles. Throughout her profession, she mentored nurses who desired to have a voice in leadership, their work, and their publications.
Like many others, Brenda’s nursing journey didn’t go based on plan. With a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing, she thought she would eventually turn out to be a clinical psychologist. However, the chance to work in one among only three bone marrow transplant centers in Europe modified her plans for oncology. When she returned to the United States, this experience allowed her to turn out to be the lead nurse within the cancer research unit at Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. Throughout her profession, leadership has also been an integral a part of her nursing journey. She was the primary nurse and woman appointed chief operating officer of Duke University Hospital.
Brenda has served on quite a few cancer boards, including the Board of the Institute of Medicine’s National Cancer Policy Forum, the Association of Community Cancer Centers, and the International Society of Cancer Care Nurses. When the Cancer Moonshot campaign was launched in January 2016 under the leadership of US Vice President Joe Biden, she attended meetings to be sure that the voice of oncology nursing was present. She was also a passionate speaker on the “Putting the Patient at the Center of Access and Care” breakout session on the Cancer Moonshot Summit.
Brenda personally influenced my beginnings as an oncology nurse and helped me in my beginnings as an oncology nurse by editing a book titled. In her introduction, she mentioned how necessary it’s for nurses to inform our stories and that editing this book was a “gift.” When I became editor, I re-read her foreword and reflected on the concept of the gift of stories (our words) and their necessary impact on nursing.
In keeping with our 2018 theme, “Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Impact,” I made a decision to ask Brenda the next questions:
“The Oncology Nursing Society’s vision since the 1990s has been to lead the transformation of oncology care. It’s my north star when things get tough. I believe that oncology nurses must be equal partners in the oncology care environment, clinical practice, research and education. By integrating our voices and expertise across the cancer care continuum, I am able to work for our members and the patients they care for.”
“Sometimes the simplest things can be innovative. As more immuno-oncology agents are approved, concerns about managing side effects are coming into focus. Some of these side effects are similar to those seen after chemotherapy, but the treatment is not the same. Recognizing that patients may go to walk-in clinics or emergency rooms, staff developed wallet cards that nurses could give to patients so they could inform caregivers in these facilities about their medication. Proper treatment of the side effect will help avoid complications that may be life-threatening. To date, we have distributed over 60,000 of these free wallet cards.”
“No one has any influence on my career, but as a young ward manager, the hospital’s head nurse saw my potential and gave me the courage to leave and pursue opportunities across the country. I always advise my mentees to remain open to opportunities that can take you to amazing places and experiences.”
Brenda’s responses are consistent with the best way she leads and influences. She sees innovation in every little thing we do, is inspired by the concept that nurses have the ability to rework care, and sees possibilities in all of us if we’re open to them.
Bibliography
Chief Executive Officer. (2016, March 16). Retrieved April 13, 2018, from https://www.ons.org/about/leadership/ceo
Pirschel, C. (2016, February 26). Brenda Nevidjon attends the Cancer Moonshot Roundtable with Vice President Biden. Retrieved April 13, 2018, from https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/brenda-nevidjon-attends-cancer-moonshot-roundtable-with-vice-president-biden
Western Pennsylvania Health Care News Team. (2014, July 14). The Oncology Nursing Society names Brenda Nevidjon as its latest CEO. Western Pennsylvania Health Care News. Retrieved April 14, 2018, from https://www.wphealthcarenews.com/oncology-nursing-society-names-brenda-nevidjon-as-new-ceo/
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