November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and empower those impacted by the disease.
Jane Maiden, NP, is the lung cancer coordinator and navigator for Bon Secours – Richmond, where she has worked with lung cancer patients for more than 20 years. Prior to her current role, Jane served as a nurse practitioner in thoracic surgery, which helped her gain extensive knowledge on both the pre- and post-op questions and concerns that most patients have.
“My role at the ministry is one of support,” Jane shares. “Support for lung cancer patients and their family. Support through listening to their concerns, answering their questions, providing education and being a resource person for them.”
Some of Jane’s main responsibilities include tracking lung cancer pathology results, monitoring lung scan orders and results as well as tracking lung cancer screening and reporting patient results. She also makes follow up calls to patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and attends various cancer conferences via video chat. And finally, Jane provides smoking cession education programs for patients.
Jane’s favorite thing about her job is “being able to interact and talk with patients as well as their families.”
She adds, “the faith-based aspect of our ministry is shown in so many aspects of our work here at Bon Secours. Through the kindness shown from the top level to the bottom. Providing a patient or family member a prayer of hope can be a spiritual lift for me, as well.”
Each day, Jane brings love and support to her patients while carrying out our compassionate healing mission for them and their loved ones. After all she has experienced during her tenure with our ministry, it has impacted the way she looks at life.
“Going through the loss of a loved one gives you a different perspective on life,” Jane reveals. “I have lost several over the course of my life, as have many others. First, you change the way you look at time because you know it’s not forever. Second, you appreciate the little things, such as a rainbow after a thunderstorm, because you know it is God’s gift. Lastly is patience – this was a hard one, but I finally got it, I think. Having experienced the things I have has better prepared me to relate to my patients as well as coworkers going through difficult situations.”
We’re so grateful to Jane and our other nurses who are dedicated to caring for lung cancer patients at Bon Secours, where nurses mean the world!
Learn more about lung cancer as well as the cancer care services we offer at Bon Secours.
