May 2, 2025 — Nurses are the backbone of health care institutions across the world.
This year, the nursing staff at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo were honored by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) with a prestigious distinction: Magnet® Recognition for nursing excellence. (Watch the nursing teams get the news!)
Magnet designation is a results-driven recognition that highlights the role nurses play as part of an interprofessional team focused on improving patient outcomes. Research shows that Magnet-recognized organizations demonstrate better patient outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
During National Nurses Month and Oncology Nursing Month, we asked nurses at Roswell why they chose to become nurses at the cancer center. They all agreed – they do this to help patients during some of their darkest days.
“We choose this path because we have a drive to help and support our patients through some of the most difficult times of their lives, providing both the medical care they need and emotional comfort as well,” said Christina Haidar, an inpatient oncology nurse, whose role includes administering medications such as chemotherapy, and guiding patients and their families with information and support.
On the stem cell transplant unit, registered nurse Julia May goes home each day feeling fulfilled and is proud of the work being done at Roswell.
“Roswell Park’s transplant unit is continuously evolving with new medical advancements, and it is a privilege to be able to witness the positive effects it has on our patients’ outcomes firsthand,” she said. “Since Roswell is a comprehensive center, I love when I run into a former patient somewhere in the hospital and see how far they’ve come since receiving their transplant and hear about the life they are living, cancer-free.”
On the Bone Marrow Transplant floor at Roswell, Alex Augustine loves working at Roswell.
“We have a special population of patients who are very grateful to be receiving care here,” Augustine said. “I savor every interaction I have with my patients, and the best part of my job is being able to care for our patients through one of the hardest times of their lives.”
In addition to being one of only about 10 percent of U.S. hospitals that have ever achieved Magnet recognition, Roswell’s Intensive Care Unit earned the prestigious Beacon Award for Excellence from AACN, a recognition that underscores the hospital’s commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
