Rinda
Hamilton
June 2012
Rinda
Hamilton
,
RN, OCN, ONN
Cancer Life Center
Medical Center
Macon
,
GA
United States
Rinda Hamilton embodies all of the characteristics of a DAISY nominee. When I reviewed the criteria for this prestigious award, she was the first person to come to mind.
When I first met her, I remember being impressed with her professional demeanor and her willingness to serve others. She began her nursing career on 9Main where she faithfully administered loving care to patients and to families. There was one particular patient with whom she really established a connection. This patient and his family demonstrated an extremely high level of anxiety, as many cancer patients do when first diagnosed. It was such an honor to witness this nurse and patient relationship - but also very difficult because despite what the patient and his wife thought, we had to allow her time off to recuperate (they wanted her with them all of the time)!! Her approach truly was Patient First. The entire staff would joke because they all knew that if she was on duty, her initials were sure to be beside the patients name as the assigned nurse. She spent hours and hours with them, from administering chemotherapy, managing the harsh side effects, encouraging, holding hands, praying and instilling hope during a trying time. This type of patient/Nurse connection is a primary reason that oncology nurses feel so honored to do what they do.
Not only has Rinda served in the oncology nurse role whole heartedly, she has a unique perspective into this role because her life story was impacted by cancer in a very personal way. In what was expected to be the prime of their lives, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. In a moment’s notice, her life was turned upside down. Her journey as a cancer navigator really started then – even before she was a nurse. It was a time of uncertainty and she found herself with so many questions and no one person to turn to. She found that she had to "Navigate" the system alone, and it was extremely hard and frustrating. Sadly, her husband succumbed to his Lymphoma due to adverse reactions from his chemotherapy treatments. She knew then what she had to do--Rinda Hamilton began her new journey as a nurse, an oncology nurse, and eventually as our first oncology nurse navigator.
This new role was not well defined and took a lot of creativity and dedication on Rinda’s part to evolve. She has successfully managed to do this and so much more. What she does for our cancer patients is simply amazing. She meets our patients at one of the most challenging and terrifying times in their lives and hand in hand ensures that their needs are met. She has been instrumental in starting not only the GI Tumor Conference Board, but has also helped to establish the Thoracic Tumor Board and the Prostate Tumor Board. In addition to those achievements, she has managed to become nationally certified as an ONS instructor and teaches other nurses about chemotherapy and biotherapy. She also takes part in teaching our community Chemotherapy 101 and Prostate 101 classes. Rinda goes every Wednesday to our indigent Oncology clinic and see's each and every patient to see if any resources are needed and to help patients apply for financial assistance. She regularly volunteers to work at local health fairs to get education out to our local citizens regarding screening and follow-up. Rinda is a huge patient advocate and goes the extra mile to make sure her patients are taken care of - even calling the physicians for the patients to ask questions that need to be clarified. Rinda makes herself available to our outpatient infusion center by coming over to teach new patients and their family members regarding chemotherapy and their diagnosis. She helped to create a free "Chemotherapy 101" course that is available to everyone in the community regardless to where they get their treatment and has been recognized in Advance Healthcare Magazine.
The navigation role is more than a job to Rinda, it is a lifelong calling. She selflessly gives each and every day all that she has. She views each patient as a unique individual and formulates plans of care that are specific to the patient needs. She has also greatly impacted the role of the bedside nurses, partnering with them to serve as a resource. I have been able to witness firsthand her growth into the profession of nursing and what a privilege this has been.
I am honored to be her colleague. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award. I consider myself privileged to be able to work alongside her. Patients with cancer and cancer care are much better because of Rinda and her contributions! MCCG is fortunate to have Nurse Rinda Hamilton.
When I first met her, I remember being impressed with her professional demeanor and her willingness to serve others. She began her nursing career on 9Main where she faithfully administered loving care to patients and to families. There was one particular patient with whom she really established a connection. This patient and his family demonstrated an extremely high level of anxiety, as many cancer patients do when first diagnosed. It was such an honor to witness this nurse and patient relationship - but also very difficult because despite what the patient and his wife thought, we had to allow her time off to recuperate (they wanted her with them all of the time)!! Her approach truly was Patient First. The entire staff would joke because they all knew that if she was on duty, her initials were sure to be beside the patients name as the assigned nurse. She spent hours and hours with them, from administering chemotherapy, managing the harsh side effects, encouraging, holding hands, praying and instilling hope during a trying time. This type of patient/Nurse connection is a primary reason that oncology nurses feel so honored to do what they do.
Not only has Rinda served in the oncology nurse role whole heartedly, she has a unique perspective into this role because her life story was impacted by cancer in a very personal way. In what was expected to be the prime of their lives, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. In a moment’s notice, her life was turned upside down. Her journey as a cancer navigator really started then – even before she was a nurse. It was a time of uncertainty and she found herself with so many questions and no one person to turn to. She found that she had to "Navigate" the system alone, and it was extremely hard and frustrating. Sadly, her husband succumbed to his Lymphoma due to adverse reactions from his chemotherapy treatments. She knew then what she had to do--Rinda Hamilton began her new journey as a nurse, an oncology nurse, and eventually as our first oncology nurse navigator.
This new role was not well defined and took a lot of creativity and dedication on Rinda’s part to evolve. She has successfully managed to do this and so much more. What she does for our cancer patients is simply amazing. She meets our patients at one of the most challenging and terrifying times in their lives and hand in hand ensures that their needs are met. She has been instrumental in starting not only the GI Tumor Conference Board, but has also helped to establish the Thoracic Tumor Board and the Prostate Tumor Board. In addition to those achievements, she has managed to become nationally certified as an ONS instructor and teaches other nurses about chemotherapy and biotherapy. She also takes part in teaching our community Chemotherapy 101 and Prostate 101 classes. Rinda goes every Wednesday to our indigent Oncology clinic and see's each and every patient to see if any resources are needed and to help patients apply for financial assistance. She regularly volunteers to work at local health fairs to get education out to our local citizens regarding screening and follow-up. Rinda is a huge patient advocate and goes the extra mile to make sure her patients are taken care of - even calling the physicians for the patients to ask questions that need to be clarified. Rinda makes herself available to our outpatient infusion center by coming over to teach new patients and their family members regarding chemotherapy and their diagnosis. She helped to create a free "Chemotherapy 101" course that is available to everyone in the community regardless to where they get their treatment and has been recognized in Advance Healthcare Magazine.
The navigation role is more than a job to Rinda, it is a lifelong calling. She selflessly gives each and every day all that she has. She views each patient as a unique individual and formulates plans of care that are specific to the patient needs. She has also greatly impacted the role of the bedside nurses, partnering with them to serve as a resource. I have been able to witness firsthand her growth into the profession of nursing and what a privilege this has been.
I am honored to be her colleague. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award. I consider myself privileged to be able to work alongside her. Patients with cancer and cancer care are much better because of Rinda and her contributions! MCCG is fortunate to have Nurse Rinda Hamilton.