Congratulations to Sara Grigery on Nursing Accolades!
We are thrilled to celebrate Sara Grigery (RN, BSN, CPN), Proton Therapy Nurse Navigator on being recognized as the University of Kansas Health System Magnet Nurse of the Year, as well as being awarded as the first recipient of the Patient Care Award, presented by the National Association for Proton Therapy.
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With 17 years of experience as a pediatric oncology nurse, Sara serves as the nurse navigator for Cancer Navigation and Intake. Her role focuses on supporting the patient from the first referral, throughout the follow-up process. “Oncology treatment has so many variables and providers, so navigators are there to help a family and patient understand and feel empowered during this process”, she says. Sara is the guiding point of contact for patients and families undergoing cancer treatment.
“I work behind the scenes to gather patient information and medical records, provide reassurance and comfort to the patient and their family, and help the physicians understand the patient’s needs. I help connect patients to their treatment teams and link them with appropriate support services, such as social work and financial counselors, to help resolve barriers to care. Above all, my goal is to provide highly personalized and compassionate care to our patients and their families”.
No two days are the same in Sara’s world of nurse navigation. From coordinating plans of care with the oncologists and surgeons for each patient to building relationships with the pediatric patients while playing Legos or Barbies with them, Sara is there for the many needs of her patients throughout their cancer journey.
Sara also emphasizes that the goal of their care team is to provide the best level of care that is personalized and focused on the patient as a whole. “For example,” she says, “We are always asking things like, ‘Is there a routine we can create to give a small child independence to get some confidence back? If school is really important to a child, how can we adjust the treatment schedule?’”. For Sara and the Proton Therapy department team, it is about valuing the patient for more than just their diagnosis.
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When Sara is not with patients, she is kept busy with her three kids and husband. She spends a lot of time watching her kids’ sports and activities watching them grow up so fast. She also tries to make time for running, reading, coaxing her husband to ride bikes to the local pizza place, or go on walks with their dog, Dolly Popcorn!
Sara even makes room in her personal time to paint and decorate mesh masks for patients to wear during radiation treatments. She paints these masks with the individual patient and their interests in mind. Her radiation mask designs have ranged from Chiefs-themed to Disney characters, to patients’ pets! Sara truly practices what it means to deliver patient-centric care. Congratulations, on this well-deserved honor, Sara!
Children’s Miracle Network is proud to have provided assistance to the Proton Therapy department to fund supplies for radiation masks, comfort items, and incentive prizes for patients during treatments.