Gail Wakefield of Springfield, Tenn., and Susan Taplin of Nashville, spent the first week in March observing at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore through UAH s self-directed clinical program for registered nurses seeking a bachelor's of science degree in nursing. Wakefield and Taplin are registered nurses and clinical research specialists in Vanderbilt Hospital's cancer center. It was natural they were interested in cancer research at Hopkins. The types of cancer screening are based on cases prevalent in that community, for example, breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Funds are also available through grants to do follow-up treatments and surgeries, if needed.
Wakefield and Taplin had the advantage, through UAH s self-directed clinical program, to learn about community programs and see them in operation. Time was also spent in laboratory settings, learning about Hopkins' genetic research. Both students plan to receive their bachelor's degrees in nursing this spring, and continue their education at UAH in the College of Nursing's graduate program for nurse practitioners. It s going to be the nurse who has an important say in the both prevention and care.