Both patients and colleagues can count on Rebecca to be the nurse with a plan: She has never met a problem that she can’t solve. She provides care at the busy dermatology clinic, where urgent new cancer diagnoses sometimes mean a packed schedule and increased patient waits. When this happens, Rebecca is uniquely able to calmly step in and listen, ensuring everyone feels heard and de-escalating difficult situations. She brings empathy and professionalism to every encounter.
Rebecca thinks creatively about increasing access to care: When a physician at the clinic expressed interest in providing Mohs surgery—a complex procedure for removing skin cancer—Rebecca took the initiative to lead the effort in establishing this new service. She collaborated with leadership to develop a comprehensive implementation plan: She meticulously reviewed literature about the procedure, reached out to other healthcare facilities to understand best practices, and created an education program for the staff. Her program not only gave a thorough overview of the surgical process but also emphasized critical safety precautions. She incorporated a quiz at the end of the training to ensure comprehension and uploaded the materials to a system where current and future staff members could easily access the training.
Rebecca again demonstrated her problem-solving acumen during a critical drug shortage of a medication essential for dermatology procedures. She joined forces with pharmacy colleagues and looked at the published evidence to find safe and effective alternatives to the medication, making sure that patients got the care they needed.
Rebecca gives back to the community by advocating for prevention and early detection of skin cancer and has even developed a skin cancer awareness program. She is relentless in looking for creative ways to solve the problems of cancer, one patient and one procedure at a time.