A leader in cancer care in the Mid-South, Baptist's affiliation with the MD Anderson Physicians Network provides our staff and physicians access to the latest education and guidelines developed by the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
At Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, oncology nursing is delivered in three specialized areas: the medical oncology unit, the surgical oncology unit, and the myelosuppression unit.
In addition to those at Baptist Memphis, skilled and compassionate nurses provide care to patients with a wide variety of cancers at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County and Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women.
Medical Oncology
Medical oncology nursing encompasses many aspects of the care of the cancer patient. From early diagnosis to end-stage care, the medical oncology nurse plays a pivotal role in the quality of life for the cancer patient. The nurses on the medical oncology unit are specially trained in such areas as administration of antineoplastics, brachytherapy, pain management, nutritional needs, symptom management and oncological emergencies.
Patient and family education is an important part of the nurse’s daily routine. Nurses teach a variety of subjects including nutrition, skin care, mouth care, signs and symptoms of infections, how to talk to your doctor, treatment modalities and many others. They often assist patients and families in finding information from the Baptist Centers for Cancer Care, the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. The nursing staff also serves as a resource for other patient care areas related to cancer and its treatment, venous access devices and chemotherapy.
Another function of the medical oncology nurse is working with the patient and family in coping with the disease process. The team works closely with social workers, case managers, dietitians and pastoral care in meeting patients’ needs.
Surgical Oncology
The surgical oncology unit is the most recent addition to Baptist Memphis’ inpatient oncology services. For patients, the post-operative period is an uncertain, sometimes frightening time, especially if they are facing body image changes or a very recent diagnosis of cancer. The nurses’ skills are tested during the post-operative period to provide for the quickly changing health status of the patient, as well as to assist the patient and family with adjusting to body image changes and a cancer diagnosis. The nurses are all specially trained to provide cancer care including chemotherapy medications, disease process teaching, emotional support and post-operative assessment and care.
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Myelosuppression Unit
The myelosuppression unit is a specialized oncology unit for high-risk patients, especially those patients who are undergoing high-dose chemotherapy for leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, or for those who have received a stem cell transplant or are receiving any high-risk therapies for cancer. Many features of the myelosuppression unit protect patients from infection. Each room has positive pressure airflow to help ensure no bacteria from the hallway enters the patient room simply by traveling on air particles.
"Myelo" is Latin for "marrow." All chemotherapy patients and most radiation patients experience some form of immunosupppression (decrease in the white blood count) for a short period of time. The patients on the myelosuppression unit have a decrease in all blood counts for a prolonged period of time. They are simultaneously neutropenic (low white blood count), thrombocytopenic (low platelets) and anemic (low red blood count).
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