Clare Swan, RN, MSN, a talented nurse in the MGH Infusion Unit, has been caring for oncology patients at the Mass General Cancer Center for more than 45 years. Her vast experience has made her a role model for many oncology nurses in the Cancer Center.
Clare is also an expert member of the hospital’s IV team. Says one nurse manager, “Clare could find a vein in a rock.”
But Clare doesn’t just provide incredible clinical care to her infusion patients. She sees past their medical conditions to their personal experiences, and makes every effort to put them at ease during stressful illnesses. Beyond her daily duties, she lights up patients’ days with her warmth and outreach.
One patient, who always arrived alone to the unit for her daily infusions and seemed particularly sad, was a special recipient of Clare’s kindness and compassion. For the patient’s birthday, Clare surprised her with tickets to see a comedy show at a local theater, and Clare and a colleague attended the show with the patient. Says her colleague, “I believe Clare made a difference to this patient, and to all of her other patients. They adore her and admire her for her professionalism, her kindness and her dedication to them.”
