Kristen Mitchell, RN, who serves at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, is among the nominees for CURE magazine’s 2023 Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing.
Each year, CURE gives readers the opportunity to honor an oncology nurse by submitting essays describing their compassion, expertise and helpfulness. Nominations are collected from colleagues, patients, friends and family of nurses throughout the country.
Mitchell’s nomination was submitted by her coworker and fellow Oncology nurse Marcus Yoakam, RN.
“Kristen is the epitome of what every oncology nurse should strive to be,” Yoakam wrote. “I have met and interacted with a countless number of nurses, but Kristen stands out a head above the rest.
“She is always there to help and actively goes out of her way to help everyone. In addition to being incredibly helpful, her clinical skills are second to none. It’s a great comfort to know that we have such a reliable and competent colleague like Kristen.”
Mitchell, who has been with the hospital since 2008, spends her days caring for patients in the Cancer Center. She starts by getting everything ready for that day’s chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood transfusion, IVIG and iron treatments. She says her favorite part of the job is making her patients smile and being able to spoil them while in her care by being a listening ear, bringing a warm blanket, providing nutrition, or bringing a warm cup of coffee.
“I do this type of work because I honestly believe it was my calling, especially when it comes to oncology,” says Mitchell. “I’m truly honored to have been nominated for this award.”
The winner will be announced on Apr. 6 in San Antonio during the Oncology Nursing Society’s annual Congress. For more information on the award, visit event.curetoday.com.
To learn more about cancer services at Ascension Via Christi, visit ascension.org/pittsburgKS.
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About Ascension Via Christi
In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and 75 other sites of care and employs nearly 6,400 associates. Across the state, Ascension Via Christi provided nearly $89 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2021. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia