- With Mayo Clinic nurse educator
Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
Sheryl M. Ness
Sheryl Ness, R.N., O.C.N., is a nurse educator for the Cancer Education Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She helps inform patients, families and caregivers about services and resources to help them through the cancer journey.
She has a master's degree in nursing from Augsburg College. In addition, she is an assistant professor of oncology at the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and is certified as a specialist in oncology nursing. Sheryl has worked for more than 20 years at Mayo Clinic as an educator. She has a keen interest in the importance of the quality of life and concerns of people living with cancer.
Latest entries
- Preventive mastectomy — a personal choice
May 25, 2013
- Share your story about living with cancer
May 18, 2013
- Gratitude for a mother's care and love
May 10, 2013
- Celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day
May 3, 2013
- Practice mindful eating during, after cancer treatment
April 27, 2013
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Living with cancer blog
-
Nov. 29, 2011
Oncology social workers offer resources and support
By Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
This week's blog post will introduce you to Patrice F. Al-Shatti, L.M.S.W., an oncology social worker at Mayo Clinic.
Patrice works with individuals going through radiation oncology treatment. She visits with them and their family members, working together to identify goals and strategies for support and resources.
She helps discover sources of financial support, tap into benefits, and identify changes in lifestyle that might reduce stress and accommodate current circumstances. She serves as an advocate for the individual's needs, focusing the attention on the specific concern.
When counseling is the identified need, she might share communication strategies to keep a marriage healthy under the intense pressures of illness or offer ways for parents to talk to children so that they're informed, included, yet guided toward normalcy.
She also can help address other important quality of life issues, such as depression, sleep, fatigue and other treatment-related effects.
A diagnosis of cancer can make you feel as if your entire life has been turned upside down. As you and your family struggle to deal with all of the aspects of this major change in your life, get in touch with an oncology social worker.
A surprising fact is that in most cases the services are free of charge. In healthcare settings, social workers are members of the multidisciplinary team. Ask your physician if a social worker is available to you.
If your treatment center does not offer the service, check to see if your community has a Gilda's Club, a Wellness Community — known as the Cancer Support Community in some areas — or call your American Cancer Society (800-227-2345) for resources and support.
You can also explore the website of the Association of Oncology Social Workers to find a provider and learn more about this role. The cancer journey is a challenging road and it's our great desire to walk it with you. Please share any thoughts or experiences with Patrice through this blog discussion.
17 comments posted
Share on:
17 comments posted