Claudia Thomas-Nembhard
February 2023
Claudia
Thomas-Nembhard
,
MSN, RN
TJUH Oncology Infusion Center
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States
Claudia is dedicated to providing high-quality, consistent, patient-centered care and improving workflows.
She has been one of the best and most supportive managers I have had working in my career here at Jefferson. She goes above and beyond for the staff and patients to make sure they are well taken care of with compassion while being very respectful and professional. She encourages us to strive to improve and helps us work on our goals.
***
To be an effective nurse leader, you need someone who is accountable, reliable and has the ability to think, actively listen, and communicate clearly, concisely, and critically. This individual also needs to be emotionally intelligent, motivated, flexible, and adaptable. Claudia exhibits all of these qualities and traits and many more.
Claudia began her career in the medical field as a Medical assistant and office manager. In 2010 Claudia attended the Abington Dixon School of Nursing and obtained her diploma. Claudia then continued her schooling and earned her BSN from Drexel in 2013. In 2015 Claudia was awarded her MSN in Leadership and Health Systems Management from Drexel. Throughout her career, Claudia worked in various areas and roles. She worked as a clinical instructor, a public health nurse, an oncology infusion nurse, and a supervisor. Claudia was hired several years ago to serve as the outpatient oncology infusion center nurse manager. After entering this role, her scope expanded to include the outpatient oncology clinic located at 925. Claudia worked very hard to merge these two areas and worked closely with a peer to advocate for the staff and patients in these areas. Her advocacy and dedication led to a more competitive salary, access to the clinical ladder for the infusion nurses, additional staff and resources, standardization of the orientation process, and access to learning and cross-training experiences. These things have been crucial because, over the last several years, we have seen many of our inpatient oncology patients move from inpatient to outpatient settings.
Over the last two years, Claudia was an integral part of the nursing team that worked diligently to start the outpatient BMT stem cell transplant and CAR-T program at TJUH. Previously all stem cell transplants and CAR-T infusions were administered in the inpatient setting. To safely complete this transition to the outpatient setting, Claudia worked with the inpatient nurse leaders and outpatient staff nurses to develop workflows, processes, procedures, staff education, and patient education. From this collaboration and focus on delivering high-quality, consistent patient care, the BMT nurse leaders were highlighted at the National 2022 ONS congress with their poster presentation and the upcoming 2023 National ONS congress.
In addition to managing these areas, Claudia has also helped to manage the outpatient oncology infusion center at Methodist for several months. She has helped to manage the outpatient oncology infusion center and clinic at Asplundh. When Claudia started to cover Asplundh, they recently moved from Abington’s license to TJUH’s. This transition was complicated, but Claudia worked to provide the staff and patients with what they needed. During this time, Claudia assisted with the EPIC implementation at Asplundh, hiring new staff and orienting the new staff and new nursing leaders (manager, charge RNs). Once the nurse manager was hired for Asplundh, Claudia acted as a preceptor and mentor and assisted whenever she could. Her peers and staff see Claudia as a team player and easy to approach.
Claudia is also always available when someone is in need, whether it is a staff member, one of her peers, a member of the interdisciplinary team, a patient, or even a caregiver. Claudia is dedicated to providing high-quality, consistent, patient-centered care and improving workflows. Claudia worked with her nursing team and physician leaders this past year to purchase a gong that patients can choose to hit at the end of their treatment regimen or during other significant events. I could watch the first patient use the gong, and it was a very emotional experience as this patient was able to hit the gong at the end of their cancer therapy treatment. This may seem small to some, but what it represents is huge and makes a lasting impact. Claudia empowers her staff to come up with solutions, work together, and have fun.
A few weeks ago, Claudia worked with her staff to have a snowman competition. During this, the different areas worked together to create their best snowman. Staff could vote on their favorites, and a trophy was given to the best one. Having events like this helps to foster an environment of mutual respect, care, and compassion. Claudia also works with her staff and helps them develop professionally. Claudia’s staff are very involved. They participate in/on the unit council and working groups, have participated in research studies, and have received advanced certifications. This is just a glimpse as to why Claudia deserves this award. Claudia is a true leader; she works with her staff and the nursing leaders to achieve better outcomes and achieve our shared mission and vision, and it is such a pleasure to work alongside her.
***
To be an effective nurse leader, you need someone who is accountable, reliable and has the ability to think, actively listen, and communicate clearly, concisely, and critically. This individual also needs to be emotionally intelligent, motivated, flexible, and adaptable. Claudia exhibits all of these qualities and traits and many more.
Claudia began her career in the medical field as a Medical assistant and office manager. In 2010 Claudia attended the Abington Dixon School of Nursing and obtained her diploma. Claudia then continued her schooling and earned her BSN from Drexel in 2013. In 2015 Claudia was awarded her MSN in Leadership and Health Systems Management from Drexel. Throughout her career, Claudia worked in various areas and roles. She worked as a clinical instructor, a public health nurse, an oncology infusion nurse, and a supervisor. Claudia was hired several years ago to serve as the outpatient oncology infusion center nurse manager. After entering this role, her scope expanded to include the outpatient oncology clinic located at 925. Claudia worked very hard to merge these two areas and worked closely with a peer to advocate for the staff and patients in these areas. Her advocacy and dedication led to a more competitive salary, access to the clinical ladder for the infusion nurses, additional staff and resources, standardization of the orientation process, and access to learning and cross-training experiences. These things have been crucial because, over the last several years, we have seen many of our inpatient oncology patients move from inpatient to outpatient settings.
Over the last two years, Claudia was an integral part of the nursing team that worked diligently to start the outpatient BMT stem cell transplant and CAR-T program at TJUH. Previously all stem cell transplants and CAR-T infusions were administered in the inpatient setting. To safely complete this transition to the outpatient setting, Claudia worked with the inpatient nurse leaders and outpatient staff nurses to develop workflows, processes, procedures, staff education, and patient education. From this collaboration and focus on delivering high-quality, consistent patient care, the BMT nurse leaders were highlighted at the National 2022 ONS congress with their poster presentation and the upcoming 2023 National ONS congress.
In addition to managing these areas, Claudia has also helped to manage the outpatient oncology infusion center at Methodist for several months. She has helped to manage the outpatient oncology infusion center and clinic at Asplundh. When Claudia started to cover Asplundh, they recently moved from Abington’s license to TJUH’s. This transition was complicated, but Claudia worked to provide the staff and patients with what they needed. During this time, Claudia assisted with the EPIC implementation at Asplundh, hiring new staff and orienting the new staff and new nursing leaders (manager, charge RNs). Once the nurse manager was hired for Asplundh, Claudia acted as a preceptor and mentor and assisted whenever she could. Her peers and staff see Claudia as a team player and easy to approach.
Claudia is also always available when someone is in need, whether it is a staff member, one of her peers, a member of the interdisciplinary team, a patient, or even a caregiver. Claudia is dedicated to providing high-quality, consistent, patient-centered care and improving workflows. Claudia worked with her nursing team and physician leaders this past year to purchase a gong that patients can choose to hit at the end of their treatment regimen or during other significant events. I could watch the first patient use the gong, and it was a very emotional experience as this patient was able to hit the gong at the end of their cancer therapy treatment. This may seem small to some, but what it represents is huge and makes a lasting impact. Claudia empowers her staff to come up with solutions, work together, and have fun.
A few weeks ago, Claudia worked with her staff to have a snowman competition. During this, the different areas worked together to create their best snowman. Staff could vote on their favorites, and a trophy was given to the best one. Having events like this helps to foster an environment of mutual respect, care, and compassion. Claudia also works with her staff and helps them develop professionally. Claudia’s staff are very involved. They participate in/on the unit council and working groups, have participated in research studies, and have received advanced certifications. This is just a glimpse as to why Claudia deserves this award. Claudia is a true leader; she works with her staff and the nursing leaders to achieve better outcomes and achieve our shared mission and vision, and it is such a pleasure to work alongside her.