To partner and pursue
One key feature of the Cantor Center is the collaborative nature of its efforts. "We work with many different disciplines and departments around Dana-Farber and beyond," says Bauer-Wu. "Currently, our researchers team up with nurses, medical oncologists, psychologists, social workers, and thoracic surgeons — and with units including the Breast Oncology, Zakim, and Kraft centers.
Cantor Center Director Susan Bauer-Wu, DNSc, RN, (right) counts on colleague Martha Healey, RN, MSN, FNP, to help keep research projects moving forward.
"In addition," she continues, "we collaborate with researchers around the city, state, and country. To do what we do well, we need to partner with colleagues in academia and other clinical settings."
Along with hosting its own research, the Cantor Center supports nurses throughout the Institute as they pursue their own investigative interests. Cooley, for example, is mentoring four nurses (Kecia Boyd, Christine Coakley, Kathleen McDermott, and Kristin Roper) who are examining the needs of young people as they end treatment for Hodgkin's disease. "These nurses are worried that this transition is not smooth enough," says Cooley. "They want to assure patients that help is available as they resume their normal lives."
The center has added a layer of support through its clinical scholar award, which promotes professional growth among Dana-Farber nurses and other caregiving staff. "The award is geared to those who have specific clinical questions to pursue, but little experience putting together research proposals," says Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc. "This offers recipients and their research teams the guidance and monetary support needed to carry out pilot projects."
The first awardee, Mary Jane Ott, RN, MS, PNP, is investigating the impact of mindfulness meditation on parents of children undergoing bone marrow transplants at Children's Hospital Boston. "This is at the heart of my clinical interests and expertise," says Ott, who is involved with another study probing the effects of this relaxation technique on adult patients (see related story, Making the most of the moment).
Ott discovered mindfulness meditation years ago, when her husband was trying to overcome debilitating pain from an accident. The couple now practices it everywhere from grocery lines to red lights, and Ott continues to use it with patients of different ages and cultures. "It is a powerful healing intervention across the entire continuum of care," she says, "and we're eager to see results from this study."
"Instead of looking at a particular disease, [nursing research] would consider its impact on the whole person."
—Martha Healey, RN, MSN, FNP
Like other work sponsored by the Cantor Center, Bauer-Wu explains, this project investigates the day-to-day aspects of living with cancer — or the consequences of having had it. "Nursing as a profession has always had a holistic philosophy," she says. "Patients are saying, 'We want care that looks at the whole person, and not just the cancer.' Our response is research aimed at improving both the quality of life and quality of care for cancer patients and their families."
