By Anna Mendes, RN, BSN, OCN 

I’ve been a Registered Nurse for 12 years now, and the last four years have been spent as an Infusion RN at New England Cancer Specialists. Born and raised in Maine, I spent time away in central New York, but the Maine coast brought me back home. When asked to write about my journey as a nurse, I thought about the call to public service. This is a little bit about how I got to where I am.

My call to nursing began in middle school, when I had the opportunity to job shadow with NECS, a place close to my heart before I was even born. My father received treatment at NECS, then known as Maine Center for Cancer Medicine, for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in November 1986, about three months after he and my mother found out they were expecting me, their first child. What a scary time to be sick with cancer: a young married couple with a new baby on the way. The staff at NECS treated them with kindness, warmth, and encouragement. They even threw a baby shower for unborn me. The folks at this cancer center touched my parents’ lives in such a way, that my father can still name all of his nurses. I wanted, someday, to provide the same care that my parents had so wonderfully received. Our family exists as it does today because of the care received at NECS.

I chose to attend nursing school in upstate New York and then spent a little over seven years working in Syracuse, NY on an inpatient oncology and bone marrow transplant unit. I was able to care for patients in all stages of their health journey, many of whom were dealing with cancer, but also some who were not. It was an opportunity to build my skills as a nurse and strengthen my confidence as a caregiver. My time in Syracuse helped me realize what a gift it is to be trusted in times of vulnerability. Nurses have the ability to bridge the gap between fear and safety, uncertainty and knowing, pain and comfort. I took my experiences in Syracuse and resolved to bring them forth wherever I landed next.

Many of my patients hear me say this— it’s something I share often—but I truly believe it is an honor to be working with anyone with a cancer diagnosis or blood disorder. To be trusted with doing the job right, in what could be a very intimate moment for someone, is not taken lightly. Working as an infusion nurse at NECS has provided me with the gift of human connection and the ability to make a difference in many people’s lives.

I understand that a cancer center is a place that most people never want to have to spent time at, but rest assured, I am here for you. My colleagues are here for you. My family and I are living proof that great care can stretch beyond “just getting treatment.” We are here to support you, whatever your journey may be. I am so proud to be a nurse, and to be a member of a team that truly recognizes the power of serving others.

 

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