The nurses help to allay patients' fears. Gamma Knife procedures can also be intimidating. The Gamma Knife emits radiation beams that pass through the stereotactic collimator helmet and converge on a precisely defined target. Sally Coffman, RN, and Kathryn Peyton, RN, counsel Gamma Knife patients and assist during procedures. They meet with patients in advance, show them a video about the procedure, give them a tour of the treatment room and discuss their questions and fears.
Education helps tame the wild imagination with accurate information.
Verdun-McKinney points out that the Department treats a wide age range of patients, from pediatric to geriatric, as well as a wide range of cancers. The nurses have to be comfortable in different roles. All of the patients have been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease. We deal with many people who have reexamined their values and reassessed their priorities and who appreciate little things. That makes our work especially rewarding.