May 2024
Cancer Care Nurse Navigators
at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston
,
SC
United States
Elizabeth Lee, MSN, RN
Merline Dessalines, MSN/MHA, RN
Sonya Wright, MSN, RN
Brigitte Kettering, MSN, RN, OCN
Mary "Heather" Levy, BSN, RN
Merline Dessalines, MSN/MHA, RN
Sonya Wright, MSN, RN
Brigitte Kettering, MSN, RN, OCN
Mary "Heather" Levy, BSN, RN
The CCNN team demonstrated each one of the ICARE principles when they worked as a team to serve an oncology patient who was struggling financially to get to his numerous appointments. The veteran lives in Hinesville, GA and travels several miles many times a week for care. He was told that he did not qualify for beneficiary travel based on his rating. His spouse recently had surgery and was attending her own appointment. This left the veteran to rely on rides from family members and friends if they were available. At times, they were not, and he missed important appointments related to his cancer treatment. The CCNNs were familiar with a grant from the American Cancer Society from an in-service they attended that provides gas cards to veterans to get to their appointments. The CCNNs worked diligently as a team to get this veteran's information submitted for the grant, with each taking a piece of the process, and he was finally awarded the grant. The veteran and his spouse were extremely grateful and appreciative of the CCNNs for going the extra mile to get him assistance. He was not aware of being eligible for a benefit like this and said this grant will lessen some of the financial hardship as he is being treated for his cancer. The CCNNs went another step and assisted him with finding an eligibility office near him to speak with someone about other VA benefits he may be eligible for. Many times, nurses who don't work bedside are not recognized for the extraordinary care and teamwork they provide to our patients/veterans, especially in the community. Despite each CCNN having its own responsibilities, they went the extra mile to help get this veteran some assistance that will allow him to focus on treatment and healing. With this grant, the CCNNs have been able to assist an additional 50 veterans with gas cards for travel to and from appointments, which resulted in removing barriers to receiving their cancer treatments.