These are but a few of the ways those who have been touched by Debi Boyle describe their experience with this rare motivator of the human spirit. A veteran registered nurse, today Debi is devoting her career to the human side of health care inspiring nurses, their professional colleagues, patients and families alike to face and overcome the numbing toll illness and disease assume on their lives.
As Debi notes in her trailblazing inspirational work, Nurturance for Nurses, “the daily reality of being a nurse frequently involves bearing witness to illness, loss, disability and death. Hence, to be a nurse requires mastery of many skills – clinical competence, compassion, communication and composure.”
Debi Boyle, RN, MSN, FAAN, is a long-tenured visionary nurse leader, clinical specialist, educator, speaker, writer and consultant. She has seen the ravages of disease on the body and spirit from both sides of the bed – as a nurse who devoted herself to the care of others and as a patient who won her own battle against cancer.
Advocating for Patients and Caregivers
An oncology nurse for four decades, Debi has held roles as staff, clinic and research nurse, nurse educator, program coordinator, and clinical nurse specialist. She also has held the position of Magnet Coordinator. She co-authored the first text on chemotherapy for nurses published in 1980.
Debi is recognized for her contributions in advancing the specialty of oncology nursing, inclusive of her advocacy of the special needs of cancer survivors and the elderly. Additionally, she is recognized for her early work in promoting the clinical nurse specialist role, and the integration of psychosocial skill competencies into nursing practice. Debi has more than 175 publications. She has lectured in 45 states as well as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Korea and Israel.
Recent Publications:
- Quoted in the April 6, 2010 (7/7) issue of the National Cancer Institute Bulletin in ‘Focusing On Older Cancer Patients: A Clinical Need and a Research Necessity; http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/040610/page8
- Boyle DA. Countering compassion fatigue: A requisite nursing agenda. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, in press 2010, www.nursingworld.org/ojin.
- Boyle DA. Cancer care comes of age (Editorial). COPING, in press 2010.
- Boyle DA. The invisibility of nursing: Implications from an analysis of National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center websites. Oncology Nursing Forum, 37(2): E75-E83, 2010.
- Boyle D. Nurse Jackie Soprano RN (Editorial). Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 13(4): 368-369, 2009.
- Aycock N & Boyle DA. Interventions to manage compassion fatigue in oncology nursing. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 13(2): 183-191, 2009.
- Boyle DA, Fink R. Palliative care and end of life care. In: Advanced Oncology Nursing Certification Review and Resource Manual. Gobel B, Triest-Robertson S & Vogel W (Eds.). Oncology Nursing Press: Pittsburgh, pp. 707-735, 2009.
- Boyle DA. 2025: Oncology nursing reality shock. Oncology Nurses Edition, September 2008, www.mdnglive.com.
Awards and Recognitions:
From the Oncology Nursing Society –
- Mara Mogensen Flaherty Memorial Lecture in Psychosocial Nursing – 2000
- Quality of Life Award – 1999
- Excellence of Scholarship and Consistency of Contribution to the Oncology Nursing Literature Award – 1995
- Schering Excellence in Clinical Practice Award – 1986
From the March of Dimes
- Distinguished Nurse of the Year, 2010
From Yale University –
- Distinguished Alumna Award – 1994
Inducted into the American Academy of Nursing – 1999
Participation in the President’s Cancer Panel addressing cancer survivorship – 2004
Visiting Oncology Nurse Professor in Ireland, Australia and Singapore