Kathleen Stakes, RN, MS, CPON, oncology clinical nurse specialist at MassGeneral Hospital for Children Cancer Center, is a trusted resource for all nurses caring for pediatric patients hospitalized with cancer.
“Kate devotes endless hours to teaching and ensuring that patients get the best and safest care,” writes Brenda Miller, RN. “She conducts brown-bag lunch sessions and tutorials with unparalleled zest for continuous improvement. Kate works long, hard hours reviewing chemo orders to be sure treatment of her young charges goes smoothly, and develops special relationships with their families. She also gives us room to grow our own practice and relationships. Everyone admires Kate.”
Howard Weinstein, MD, chief of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at MGHfC, writes, “Kate is the key staff person responsible for our oncology nursing practice and coordinates care of our inpatients with cancer. She mentors and trains pediatric nurses in oncology care and practice; certifies nurses in administration of chemotherapy; facilitates patient admissions; helps us develop electronic chemotherapy order entry and educates our patients and their families.
“Such a job might consume three clinicians. Amazingly, Kate does it all — with expertise, compassion, and a wonderful way of teaching patients and families as well as her nursing colleagues. It is an honor to work alongside Kate.”
