A Nursing First for London
London, Ontario – London Health Sciences Centre Nurse Practitioner Adrienne Fulford is the first nurse in London and the South West Local Health Integration Network (South West LHIN) to receive the prestigious de Souza Advance Practice Nurse (APN) Designation. She becomes only the fifth nurse in all of Ontario to receive this honour.
The de Souza Institute is an innovative learning centre dedicated to cancer care excellence and since 2008 has provided ongoing educational support and professional development to approximately 9,000 clinicians. In order to obtain the de Souza APN Designation Adrienne completed extensive course work as well as a 150 hour clinical fellowship.
“Adrienne is a true leader and being the first de Souza APN from the London area is an extraordinary accomplishment. She travelled great distances and committed hundreds of hours to obtain this designation,” said Dr. Mary Jane Esplen, Executive Director of de Souza Institute. “Her fellowship focused on exploring the treatment decision making process in cancer care, which is often complex and making it better. She brings this profound knowledge and expertise to London Health Sciences Centre to the benefit of patients and staff.”
“The designation from the de Souza Institute offered me the opportunity to combine my two great professional passions – continued learning and making a difference in the lives of patients,” says Adrienne Fulford, Nurse Practitioner, Hematology Oncology, at London Health Sciences Centre. “I am now able to better support our older adult acute leukemia patients and families with information, clarification and guidance through a decision making process that connects the information we provide with their values and expectations.”
The demand for nurses with specialized skills in cancer care is continuing to grow. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, 2 in 5 Canadians will develop cancer within their lifetime and 1 in 4 Canadians will die of cancer. The de Souza Institute and London Health Sciences Centre are two outstanding organizations focused on improving the cancer care experience for patients and families by ensuring they have access to quality information and the best cancer care nurses.
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About de Souza Institute
Established in 2008, de Souza Institute, in partnership with University Health Network, Cancer Care Ontario and funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, provides ongoing educational support, professional development and career counseling to nurses caring for cancer patients and families. To learn more about de Souza Institute visit www.desouzainstitute.com
Contact Information:
de Souza Institute
Deyan Kostovski
416-417-8566
deyan.kostovski@desouzainstitute.com