Bethany Crowe, McGrath Foundation Metastatic Breast Cancer Nurse at PA Hospital is paving the way for the next generation of breast cancer nurses.
Between investing her life’s work into clinical commitments, research, managing specialist teams, and mentoring junior nurses, Bethany’s work has contributed to hospitals and cancer clinics across the country. With more than three decades dedicated to furthering the field of cancer nursing and research Bethany says it’s her passion for empowering her patients and peers through education that brings her the most satisfaction.
“What I love most about this role is the relationships I’ve developed with patients and their families. My primary focus is making sure patients get all the education they need about their disease and treatment, and then making sure their symptoms are managed well, and linking them with the appropriate healthcare professionals,” she said.
“I try to be person-centred in my care delivery and I absolutely love helping others reach their potential in their career. It’s one of my favourite things about managing a team. I love the performance development process and I love seeing junior nurses come into the team and develop to the point where they move into senior nursing roles or present at conferences.”
Bethany’s unique approach, coupled with her compassionate nature, ensures patients’ needs are heard at every step of the long journey through treatment.
“As the primary point of contact, I have a really big psychosocial focus in my work, because as well as the clinical information that we provide, we also screen people for distress and any external barriers to them coming in for treatment. For patients, just having someone who hears what they're feeling distressed about can make a real difference.”
With an illustrious career path including forays into fields like infection control and care coordination, Bethany says her passion has always brought her back to breast cancer care. Discovering her calling early in her career has empowered Bethany to work to the top of her scope, and she looks forward to a future where more nurses can do the same.
“I would love to see nurses being given more opportunities to work at the full scope of their practice, as it benefits patients and the health system. I'd like to see nurses really embraced and recognised to be able to perform in these top-of-license sort of roles,” she said.
Reflecting on three decades of advancements in technology and medicine, Bethany holds great hope and optimism for the future of cancer nursing and treatment.
“There are people living with metastatic breast cancer like a chronic illness instead of a death sentence now. Recent statistics showed there was a huge percentage of women living greater than five years with metastatic breast cancer, and some living up to 15 years. So while it’s an incurable disease, it’s very treatable, and we have access to many different lines of therapy. That will only keep growing with time.”
Cited for her exemplary patient-centred care, excellent mentorship and leadership skills, and for consistently delivering compassionate and comprehensive care, Bethany has been awarded the December 2023 PAH Staff Excellence Award.
Congratulations on many inspiring achievements, Bethany, and thank you for your continued commitment to your specialty.