Oncology nurse aims for patient comfort

Making sure her patient was comfortable, Lisa Bertoglio, RN-OCN, fluttered around the room in brightly colored scrubs.

The oncology-certified registered nurse at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson was waiting for a breast cancer patient to stop by the third floor for a chat.

Settling in a large brown leather chair in one of the two empty oncology rooms, Bertoglio said that when a person comes in for treatment, Bertoglio said she strives to be aware of the patient and their comfort, but she also tries to introduce herself to the person that accompanies the patient as well.

“Cancer’s a scary thing and treatment is (often) miserable,” Bertoglio said.

Typically when patients first hear the word “cancer,” they feel fear, Bertoglio said.

“The thing is, cancer is just a normal cell that has now started to run amock. And every cell in our body has the potential to do that.”

Her way of explaining parts of the oncology profession have helped breast cancer patient Kathy Devlin-Collicott in ways.

“I know as a patient, to visit with (Bertoglio), to have questions… Often with Lisa, it’s, ‘this is off the record, but be sure to ask the doctor, but here is my observation,’” Devlin-Collicott said.

BERTOGLIO, WHO has been in nursing for 35 years, was working in hospice when she was referred to by colleagues to become certified for oncology.

Initially, she said she wondered why people would put themselves through extended treatment, but now that she works with patients fighting for their lives, she has a different perspective.

“I realized, now having worked in this world, treatment can be hard on people… But it is not necessarily a death sentence.”

Bertoglio hopes her works gives patients trust and confidence, reducing anxiety, with Devlin-Collicott adding that the nurse also brings comfort to her patients.

As she’s worked more with patients in treatment, Bertoglio said that she has learned how determined people are when diagnosed with cancer.

“This is something happening in my body; but I’m going to get on with things. Kathy’s like that,” she said, looking over to her friend next to her. “You take control.”

Bertoglio said that she considers it a gift that she can “shut off” after work, keeping her profession separate from homelife, taking each day one at a time.

“I really like what I do, but it’s my work,” she said, adding that there are times when she is more effected by work. Choosing to stay active helps, she noted.

Regardless of how her work effects her, Bertoglio said that she tries to look at “the big picture.”

“I think life is a journey, and I just happen to be a part of someone’s journey. I’m a character in a chapter of their life,” she said.

Next week, Devlin-Collicott shares her breast cancer journey with The Leader.