Huff quickly got on the phone with the infusion center. As the nurse presented her questions, Huff referenced the resources she had left with the staff during the live education program. Huff pointed out where the nurse could locate the information she needed and offered other materials and support. The information clarified the next steps to be taken, and the nurse was greatly appreciative.
“When I hang up the phone after troubleshooting calls like that, I think, ‘I really am making a difference in patients’ lives,’” says Huff. “Thanks to my team, we’re able to educate healthcare providers on product profiles and how to respond to adverse reactions, and more importantly, attempt to make sure providers can assist appropriate patients to stay on therapy that can positively impact lives.”
Huff is part of the company’s team of oncology clinical educators (OCE), and calls like the one she received are just one facet of a regular workday. This unique group of nurses offers on-label education, both in-person and virtually, to cancer healthcare professionals like nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists and oncology nurses, so they can guide patients successfully through receiving select Johnson & Johnson oncology/hematology therapies.
The OCE team launched five years ago with 12 licensed registered nurses. It’s since grown to 50 nurses, 97% of whom are oncology-certified. These nurses spend much of their time driving or flying to medical centers, infusion centers and nursing conferences across the U.S. to teach providers how specific cancer treatments work and address any concerns on the part of the provider and the patient. Collectively, the team brings 364 years of pharmacy experience and 1,562 years of nursing experience to the patients and providers they serve.
For National Nurses Week and Month, they share what their day-to-day routine looks like, how their specialized team impacts patient care and provider education, and the personal reasons behind their dedication.
Q:
Growing up, what made you decide to pursue nursing?
A:
Mellott: When I was 16, my best friend was in a car accident. She survived, but she endured a long, traumatic journey back to health. When I left the hospital after visiting her for the first time, I said to myself, “I need to be a nurse.”
Huff: I was in high school when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Just witnessing the way oncology nurses took care of her made an impression. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.
Q:
Did you have a specific interest in becoming a nurse educator?
A:
Huff: I started out as an infusion nurse administering IV therapies. But I realized the importance of equipping other nurses and their patients with knowledge. We’re able to provide them with the resources they need to educate their patients, and in that way we can support patients in their personal goals and align that to their treatment regimen.
Mellott: I was a bedside nurse at a Philadelphia hospital for over 20 years when I was asked to oversee the opening of a new oncology unit. I spent two years taking it from eight to 65 nurses and teaching the ones who didn’t have cancer experience how to be a cancer nurse. That’s where I recognized, “You know, I’m not too bad at this teaching thing.” I found myself passionate about that, which paved the way to an educator position.
Q:
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
A:
Mellott: My job involves teaching nurses, advanced practice providers, pharmacists and medical assistants about multiple myeloma and what that patient journey looks like. I inform them about the various therapies Johnson & Johnson offers patients with the disease. I reactively speak at in-person and virtual patient-support advocacy groups. I participate in community events. Basically, no two days are ever the same.
Huff: OCE team members, myself included, are constantly communicating with nurses and other advanced practice providers about how we can equip them with resources, for themselves as well as their patients. We’re always following up: “How is your staff doing with the education I provided? Do you have any questions?” Our job is about building those relationships so they know they can pick up the phone and call us if on-label questions arise.
Q:
What part of your work do you enjoy the most?
A:
Mellott: I pride myself in supporting nurses and teaching them what they need to know. I don’t like confused faces. If I see a confused face, I stay until we figure it out.
For instance, nurses who work in infusion centers don’t necessarily specialize in myeloma patients. They see a lot of different types of cancer every day. Explaining to them that multiple myeloma is a chronic type of cancer, and that patients go through periods of relapse and remission, can help them better understand what the journey looks like for those patients. Connecting those dots for them gives me a lot of satisfaction.
We’re all passionate about education, and we’re passionate about ultimately helping the patients by educating the staff caring for them.
Q:
What do you find most challenging?
A:
Mellott: Work is around us 24/7. We work from home. We work in the field hours away at hospitals, oncology sites, infusion centers. Emails are constantly coming in at all hours of the day. Making a conscious effort to have work-life balance isn’t always simple.
Q:
How do you and the other oncology clinical educators work as a team?
A:
Huff: Each team member is responsible for a specific territory, but we will help one another in any way, even if we have to travel to another territory. We’re all passionate about education, but most importantly, we’re passionate about ultimately helping the patients by educating the staff caring for them. And because we’re all nurses, we feel the emotional and physical strain of each and every one of the nurses we come in contact with.
Q:
What do you do in your spare time to relax and recharge?
A:
Mellott: I prioritize walking. When I’m traveling, I love to find a park and walk for miles with help from my Spotify playlist, which has everything from 1970s disco to current pop music. I’m not going to lie; some of the songs pump up my energy and mood.
Huff: Spending time with family is key for me. I’m blessed to still have my mom and dad. My husband and I have a blended family with five kids between us. We recently took a cruise to the Bahamas with our two youngest daughters for spring break. With the profession that we’re in, you really see the importance of prioritizing time together.
Q:
What advice would you give someone who’s just starting out in nursing?
A:
Mellott: I’m fortunate that I have a daughter who followed in my footsteps and became a nurse. The best advice I gave her is to be prepared for a hard job, and also, don’t be afraid to touch. So much of nursing is about the art of healing just by touch. Even though you’re not directly changing the disease course, a patient truly knows you’re listening to them when you touch their hand, when you have eye contact. If you’re skilled in that? That makes a great nurse.
Huff: My youngest is pursuing nursing as well. I told her, “Get your feet wet in everything.” Try to get some experience in all the different fields. You can be at the bedside, in education, in the business side of nursing. There are so many opportunities. And whatever nursing specialty you go into, you’re making a difference in patients’ lives.
Q:
Why are nurses so important when we think about care?
A:
Huff: Nurses are the link for all things in the medical field. We are the physician’s right hand, the patient’s go-to for support as well as supporters of the patient’s family and caregiver. Whether it is part of our normal daily routine or something we jump into where needed, nurses make an impact on many lives every day. I am proud to be a nurse!
Mellott: Nurses are the constant eyes and ears for patients and their loved ones. We assess, report and intervene, and every decision we make directly affects patient outcomes. Nurses have the ability to provide empathy, comfort and a sense of safety for patients and their loved ones during some of the most vulnerable moments in life. Nurses provide a presence that helps patients feel less alone. For all these reasons, I am proud to be a nurse as well.
