Annette Schork BSN, RN, OCN
Area of specialty: Cancer Resource Nurse - Cancer AnswerLine
" When I talk to young adults who are considering the nursing field, I truly advocate the profession. There are so many types of nursing; and it is a job that you really do learn something everyday."
I began as a nursing assistant on unit 8A within The University of Michigan Hospital while I was finishing my nursing degree (RN, BSN), at Eastern Michigan University in 1986. Unit 8A was a Gynecology Surgery, Gynecology Oncology and Surgery Oncology floor. The nurses on the unit had just moved from "old main". The staff came from two different units in the old hospital, the facilities were new and it was very busy. During this time, 8A switched units with 8B. Unit 8B was the Bone Marrow Transplant and Hematology Oncology unit and needed to be located at the end of the hall (to decrease traffic since their patients were so immunocompromised).
Once I finished my degree, I remained on the same nursing unit. The patient population changed during that time too. The floor still treated gynecological surgery, gynecological oncology and surgical oncology patients in addition to hematology oncology patients and pre-bone marrow transplant patients. I became a Clinical Nurse II and assisted with new nurse orientation, staff in-services and was a charge nurse for many shifts.
I liked being an Oncology Nurse but thought I would like to expand my horizons. I worked part time on 8A and for a short period, worked for Acute Pain Service (1997-1998). During this time I learned about many types of patients and medical care: surgical, non-surgical, medicine, neurology, trauma, burn, rehabilitation -- basically, anyone who had pain issues. It was a great experience.
After working on 8A from 1987-1999, I accepted a new position in Breast Imaging. In this role I assisted with different breast diagnostic procedures. My main role was coordinating, assisting and following up with women who had stereotactic core breast biopsies. Providing breast cancer information, providing patient education and providing emotional support were also part of my nursing role.
In June of 2001, I began working as a Cancer Resource Nurse for the Cancer AnswerLine. In this role, I educate and empower health care consumers to be able to make informed choices and decisions regarding their oncology health care. This initiative involves daily staffing of the Cancer AnswerLine Teleservices and attending community outreach events such as Cancer Survivor's Day, Cancer Answer Night, health fairs and speaking engagements.
On November 29, 2007, I attended my 20 year celebration at the Michigan League. At this dinner I saw familiar faces from all my roles/jobs held at University of Michigan Health System. It is hard for me to believe that I have been at UMHS for 20 years. When I talk to young adults who are considering the nursing field, I truly advocate for the profession. There are so many types of nursing; it is a job that you really do learn something new everyday.
