This year's guest lecturer was Vicki Hess. An experienced nurse and motivational speaker, Ms. Hess has been involved in workforce and leadership development for more than two decades. She believes that nurses can achieve their own "professional paradise" and improve their productivity and patient satisfaction by making changes in their way of thinking and long-term behavior.
"Opportunities for our nurses to learn new strategies in managing the daily challenges in our profession are vital to helping deliver the best patient care possible," noted Event Committee Chair Carla Schaefer, BSN, RN, OCN, CINJ's adult treatment area nurse manager. "Because nursing education and professional development are very important to us, we welcome the shared expertise of others who have walked a mile in our shoes."
Along with the lectureship, the other highlight to this year's celebration was the awarding of CINJ’s annual Oncology Nursing Excellence Awards. Tracy Krimmel, RN, AOCN, APRN-BC, was selected by her peers as this year's award recipient in the category of Advanced Practice Nurse. Stephanie Grospe, MSN, RN, OCN, NP-C, was also a nominee in this category. Terry Capanna, BSN, RN, OCN, was chosen for the award in the Generalist Nurse category. All three women were regarded for their collaborative efforts with fellow nurses, doctors and other team members, and were heralded as champions for promoting oncology nursing as a profession.
The lectureship and Nursing Excellence Awards are underwritten in part by the Elizabeth Gibby Osborne Lecture and Scholarship Fund. The fund bearing Osborne's name was established immediately following her death from cancer in 2004. "Liz" -- as she was affectionately known by the nurses at CINJ who treated her -- was a long-time resident of central New Jersey. Because of Liz's strong belief in education, her husband Bill created the fund in an effort to give oncology nurses at CINJ an opportunity to learn more about their profession from experts across the nation.
About The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (www.cinj.org) is the state's first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated to improving the detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer, and serving as an education resource for cancer prevention. CINJ’s physician-scientists engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, quite literally bringing research to life. To make a tax-deductible gift to support CINJ, call 732-235-8614 or visit www.cinjfoundation.org. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheCINJ.
The CINJ Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides the highest quality cancer care and rapid dissemination of important discoveries into the community. Flagship Hospital: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. System Partner: Meridian Health (Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Southern Ocean Medical Center, and Bayshore Community Hospital). Major Clinical Research Affiliate Hospitals: Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Medical Center, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Medical Center, and Cooper University Hospital. Affiliate Hospitals: CentraState Healthcare System, JFK Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (CINJ Hamilton), Somerset Medical Center, The University Hospital/UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School*, and University Medical Center at Princeton. *Academic Affiliate