Patients Recognize Nurses' Dedication

As the year 2020 comes to a close, health care providers around the globe may be looking back at the challenges they have faced and the struggles they continue to withstand as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues.

Cancer survivors are reflecting, too, and many of them are eternally grateful for the care that they received from their oncology nurses. Our sister publication, CURE^®, asked its readers of patients, survivors, and caregivers about special nurses who made the difficulties of cancer treatment more manageable. The responses were overwhelming, and we featured a selection of them in this issue’s Social Hour column.

Our cover story addresses another global epidemic of decades ago: the spread of HIV and AIDS. Although effective medications allow patients with HIV to live long lives, the disease still poses some challenges in the cancer space, from stigma to drug-drug interactions. Oncology nurses can be instrumental in providing better care for patients with cancer who also have HIV or AIDS.

Also, in this issue, you’ll hear from nurse practitioners on the optimal management of HER2-positive breast cancer as the space continues to change and more patients and clinicians opt for oral therapies over a trip to the clinic. These nurse practitioners are experts in their field, and those who work in California can now do so without a physician’s oversight. This new legislation brought controversy for some and celebrations for others. Read about it in our Medical Economics article.

Finally, after reading our continuing education section that features updates from the 2020 ONS Bridge Virtual Conference, don’t forget to head online and take the online quiz, worth 1 credit hour.

Oncology nurses rose to the challenges that 2020 brought, and I know that they will continue to strive for the best patient care in 2021 and beyond. Thank you for reading.

Mike Hennessy Sr

Chairman and Founder