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By Ellen M. Lavoie Smith, PhD, MSN, RN, AOCN®, FAAN 
ONS Scholar-in-Residence  

Stepping into a New Chapter

Like so many of us, I entered the field drawn by a desire to care for patients and families during some of the most difficult days of their lives. Oncology nursing quickly became a calling that anchored me in compassion, resilience, and the profound privilege of accompanying patients and families through their cancer journeys.  

When friends and colleagues would ask if my work was depressing, I often explained that it was, in fact, deeply fulfilling—almost like an antidote to despair 

Having the opportunity to support others during some of their most vulnerable moments gave me a clear sense of purpose, making the work both meaningful and uplifting.

Today, I am deeply honored to begin a new chapter as the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) scholar-in-residence. This role feels less like a new destination and more like a continuation of a journey that started at the bedside, shaped by patients, colleagues, mentors, and a persistent curiosity about how we can do better for those we serve.

Where It All Began

My early days in oncology nursing were filled with powerful learning experiences. I found myself feeling frustrated that I didn’t know how to help patients who were crying out in desperation and looking to me to relieve their suffering from neuropathy and neuropathic pain. And the fact is, I didn’t always know what to do.  

My lack of knowledge motivated me to want to learn more. Why do some patients experience more severe side effects than others? I wanted to do more to screen, measure, and anticipate complications that are often underreported and overlooked. Are there new treatment options that could be helpful? What can nurses do to improve quality of life so that patients can live better with their disease, not just longer? 

Over time, those questions naturally led me toward research. I didn’t initially see myself as a researcher, but I did see myself as a nurse driven to reduce suffering for my patients and their families. I started out as an oncology staff nurse and later trained and practiced as a nurse practitioner, before the doctor of nursing practice became the terminal clinical degree.  

Back then, the advanced practice provider role centered around managing the daily clinical work, giving academically focused physicians protected time away from clinical obligations to write papers and lead research.  

But I never accepted that nurses couldn’t do the same. I believed then—as I do now—that nurses have much to contribute to advancing science and scholarship. 

I eventually went back to school to earn a PhD degree, and with the encouragement and mentorship from multidisciplinary scientists, I began leading my own research teams and studies.

I didn’t ask for permission or wait for a perfect roadmap. That willingness and courage to step outside traditional expectations ultimately opened the door to a new and deeply fulfilling dimension of my career.

The Power of Oncology Nurses

One of the most transformative realizations in my career has been understanding the unique and indispensable role that oncology nurses play in generating new knowledge. We are often the clinicians who spend the most time with patients, observing patterns, noticing subtle changes, and hearing concerns that might otherwise go unspoken. Remember that nursing is the most trusted profession and patients and families tell us things that they tell no one else. 

Why This Role Matters to Me

A Message to Fellow Oncology Nurses

You don’t have to have all the answers to get started. You don’t need to follow a perfectly linear path. What you do need is curiosity, persistence, and the courage to engage in research perhaps in ways that you haven’t considered before.