News

Two Beebe Medical Center Nurses Earn Oncology Certification

05/04/07

Colleen Dean, RN, OCN, and Kathy Dillon, RN, OCN, two registered nurses in the Beebe Medical Center's Tunnell Cancer Center, recently earned the Oncology Nursing Certification. Ms. Dean has been a nurse at Beebe Medical Center for 10 years and Tunnell Cancer Center for the past two, and is a graduate of Delaware Technical and Community College. Ms. Dillon has nearly 28 years experience working with cancer patients, the last 2 1/2 years of which have been with Tunnell Cancer Center.

To retain commendation status of accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, a percentage of nurses at the Tunnell Cancer Center must achieve and maintain certification through The Oncology Nursing Society, which verifies that nurses with specialized oncology knowledge and skills are available to patients. Eight of the Center's eighteen nurses hold this specialized certification and several more are preparing to take the exam in 2008.

"Certification demonstrates in-depth oncology knowledge, which enhances the quality of care we can provide to our patients," said Cherrie Rich, Director of Oncology Services for Beebe Medical Center. "Our goal is for all of our nurses to attain OCN certification, and we are very proud of those who are taking on the rigorous training and education to earn this certification."

Tunnell Cancer Center was established in 1995. It has received the Commission on Cancer's highest accreditation with commendation as a comprehensive community cancer center. Its clinical specialties are Medical oncology/hematology and radiation oncology. Nearly 200 patients visit the center each day.

Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health with the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebemed.org.