Donna Edmondson, MSN, CRNP, OCN

In 1988, my nursing career began at Fox Chase Cancer Center. As a nurse extern, I had the unique opportunity to work with patients who had undergone complex surgical procedures. The following year, I received a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing at Holy Family College. At that time I decided to stay at Fox Chase Cancer Center because I appreciated how each patient and their family were cared for globally.

Once an individual is diagnosed with cancer it not only affects the patient, but also involves the family as a whole. At Fox Chase, a knowledgeable and caring team of professionals work closely with each patient and their family.

I strongly believe in the importance of education, which is why I continued my nursing education to receive my Masters in Nursing from Gwynedd Mercy College in 2007. I am now a Certified Nurse Practitioner for the department of thoracic surgery. My clinical specialty is thoracic surgery, which involves lung and esophageal cancers

As a nurse practitioner, I meet with patients pre-operatively, which allows me to develop a trusting relationship with the patients and their families. I work closely with our talented thoracic surgeons to develop a comprehensive plan of care. My training allows me to understand the disease process, symptom management and post-operative issues.

As I look to the future, I would like to be involved with the development of exciting and innovative advances in thoracic surgical oncology.