“Isn’t your job depressing?” Paula Svidron hears that question all the time. But Paula, senior professional staff nurse in patient oncology at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, says that isn’t true at all. “I get that question a lot and my answer is always no. My job is extremely rewarding.”
Paula knew that she wanted to be a nurse since she was a little girl. “I get my fix in life from helping other people. It’s just something I’ve always loved,” she says. She has worked as a nurse for 39 years and has spent her entire career at Magee. When she first started, she moved to different departments, but she really found her niche when she moved to the oncology floor. “You meet amazing people and it’s a privilege to know the patients. It is a sad situation but because of the people you meet, the good outweighs the bad,” Paula explains. She has worked as an oncology nurse for more than 25 years taking care of patients with breast, ovarian, cervical, endometrial, and other gynecologic cancers.
A typical 12 hour shift for Paula starts at 7a.m. She usually is assigned five to six patients and is responsible for getting them to testing, treatments, and appointments. Many of her patients are post-surgery and Paula walks them through eating and moving slowly, and preventing post-op complications like blood clots. “I focus on making sure the patients are comfortable and have the medications they need. I’m trying to get them home and discharged as soon as they are healthy enough,” she says.
Despite Paula’s positive attitude, she admits that some days can be tough. “The hardest times are during a new diagnosis and at the end-stage diagnosis. When someone first finds out they have cancer, it can be difficult to face the road ahead. And then when we have to explain that treatment isn’t working anymore and knowing it may be their final days, it’s always tough for the patient and their family. It’s also hard for the nurses because you really bond with the patients.”
That’s why being an oncology nurse isn’t for everyone. Paula explains, “All nurses have compassion. In oncology, I think you need to have the ability to deal with constant diffi cult news. You need to be able to react and communicate non-favorable results. And that is easier for some people than others. We do have some nurses who quickly find out it is not right for them. They see a 28 year old woman who is in the end stages of breast cancer and they, understandably, can’t deal with it. I don’t necessarily think there are specific qualities of an oncology nurse. It’s just something that is within you.”
So how does Paula deal with the hardships associated with her job? Her faith and her fellow nurses. “I believe things happen for a reason. I’ve seen things happen over the years and you really can’t explain anything else than it was the way it was supposed to be. I just pray that families and patients get the strength they need to cope,” she says. Paula also credits the support system within her unit. “I work in the 5800 unit and what we have is very special. We have created an atmosphere where we work together and are a team. Knowing that I have back-up and others who understand what I go through, that psychologically helps me get through. We look out for each other.” This support system not only helps the nurses, but comforts the patients as well. “The coolest thing I notice is the patients and families actually feel our teamwork. It creates a positive environment for them.”
Paula is currently working on a project to learn more about ‘compassion fatigue’, a common issue oncology nurses deal with. She explains, “You literally become exhausted from giving compassion to others and taking care of them. I’m working on a survey to see how we can address this issue.” To help combat compassion fatigue, the hospital offers counseling and employee assistance programs. But the main support is through the other nurses and staff. “Some patient cases are more overwhelming than others. You may not be able to handle the same patient two days in a row. So the nurses look out for that and step in and say, ‘take a few minutes’ or we assign them to a different patient.”
Paula says the small moments are the best parts of her job. “Just knowing that you make somebody feel better at that difficult moment in their life makes it all worth it. It’s as simple as fluffing a pillow, giving a bath, or managing their pain. Seeing them feel better for just a moment is the best part.” Paula also is inspired from watching her patients overcome their illnesses. “I had one patient who had complications and we didn’t know if she would make it, but she was so positive and has recovered and continues to visit our unit. Patients like her are an absolute inspiration.”
“Just knowing that you make somebody feel better at that difficult moment in their life makes it all worth it.” Paula Svidron
Paula credits her patients with changing her outlook on life. “This job puts my life in perspective. You need to appreciate what you have. I could be upset about some silly thing and then I talk to my patients and see what they’ve endured. When you’re fighting to stay alive, it doesn’t matter if you have the bigger house or material thing. You realize how tiny your issues are. This job and my patients have changed my outlook on life and make me appreciate everything more.”