Susan B. DeCristofaro, RN, MS, OCN, a Registered Nurse & an Oncology Certified Nurse with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Get to know Registered Nurse & Oncology Certified Nurse, Susan B. DeCristofaro, who serves patients in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Susan is a registered nurse & an oncology certified nurse with expertise in adult and pediatric nursing, cancer research and treatment, symptom management, integrative therapies, health literacy, special needs, as well as public health and safety. She works at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a comprehensive cancer treatment and research institution in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is the only hospital nationwide with a top 10 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care. Dana-Farber Founder, Sidney Farber, MD, pioneered the concept of patient-centered care, in which patients are seen not only by physicians and nurses, but also by specialists in other areas of cancer care such as social work, nutrition, integrative therapies, and many others. Today, Dana-Farber’s wide range of patient and family support services help patients to move through their cancer experiences. Likewise, involving patients and their families in care decisions is standard practice across the Institute.

Before embarking on her professional journey, Susan obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from Boston University in 1972 and 1977, respectively.

Continuously striving to improve healthcare delivery, she has pioneered new program development and institute growth, leading to national and international recognition; conceived and designed novel ways to teach health using creative art and drama; and targeted the underserved, initiated the vision and acquired funding to implement a mobile outreach program van offering preventative health screening and teaching to adults and children.

In order to stay up to date in her field, she remains a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, which is a nonprofit membership organization of more than 35,000 members committed to promoting excellence in oncology nursing and the transformation of cancer care.

A Registered Nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body to obtain a nursing license. RNs fulfill a variety of job duties. In addition to their primary role in treating and caring for patients, their responsibilities also include educating patients and the public about a variety of medical conditions, as well as providing emotional support and advice to the families of their patients. Other RN job functions include leadership, research, performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results, operating medical equipment, administering medications, recording patients’ symptoms and medical histories, and assisting with patient rehabilitation and follow-up.

The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) credential means a nurse has the knowledge to competently care for adult patients with cancer. Nurses who are certified as OCNs have wide knowledge of the many issues involved in providing care for patients with cancer. They work in hospitals, cancer treatment centers, doctor’s offices, and in home care.

Learn More About Susan B. DeCristofaro:

Through her online profile, https://todaysnurse.org/network/index.php?do=/4145807/info/