Elizabeth

Base

First Name

Elizabeth

Last Name

Bettencourt MSN

City

Santa Clara

State/Province

California

Country

United States

Organization, Practice Name, University, or Government Agency

Palo Alto Medical Foundation/Sutter Health

Title

Nurse Navigator

What School of Pharmacy Did You Attend?

Unlisted

Credentials

RN

Work Phone

(408) 730-2815

Cell Phone

408-687-9513

Best way to reach you

Work Phone

Certifications

OCN

Years of Experience in Oncology Practice (clinically or operational)

20+ Years

How did you hear about us?

Colleague

Bio

I graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1996, became a licensed Registered Nurse in 1987.  I was a staff nurse on a medical floor and became an AIDS RN Specialist and also worked with Caremark Home Infusion with a specialty in HIV/Cancer care. I have been OCN certified since 1997 and in 2014 obtained a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Education.  I am an active participant in the ONS Communities, acting as one of two champions for the Oral Adherence Community.  I am co-chair of the NCODA Nursing Committee.

I have worked for the Oncology Department at Palo Alto Medical Foundation (now part of Sutter Health) for 27 years.  I have had many roles within the department including Infusion RN, Infusion Charge RN, and Practice (back office) RN.  For the last 10 years, I have been specialized as an Oral Chemotherapy Nurse Navigator, working with all patients on oral oncolytic medication.  I have developed an oral oncolytic program that incorporates prescription processing, patient and staff education, and continued adherence/toxicity monitoring for all patients during the course of treatment.

On a personal note, my husband was diagnosed in 2006 with GIST. He was treated with several oral oncolytic medications during the last 18 months of his life. Our experiences with the lack of education and support we received related to oral oncolytics had a great influence on me.  I have since endeavored to ensure that all patients on oral oncolytics receive the same quality care that patients who are treated with other types of cancer treatment receive.   I strive to provide education to nurses about the intricacies of oral oncolytic treatment to help them to continue providing quality care to patients on oral oncolytic treatment.

Subscribe to Oncolytics Today

Yes

Profession

Nurse

Security Group

Nurse