‘It’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling’: Oncology nurse on the importance of care beyond physical treatments

We are Niagara Health is a series of stories that celebrates the incredible people working and volunteering in our organization and how they make a difference in the lives of patients and coworkers every day.

While in nursing school, Devan MacCulloch didn’t know what he wanted to specialize in, but cardiology could have been a fitting choice.

When MacCulloch was approximately 10 years old, he was diagnosed with a heart condition called supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which causes an irregular heartbeat. He spent years in and out of hospitals across Niagara and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where he eventually had corrective heart surgery so that his heart would beat at a normal rate for his age – approximately 70 beats per minute instead of 300.

“I loved animals and wanted to be a vet, but my own experiences morphed into my passion for healthcare and helping people,” he says.

As a registered nurse (RN) at Niagara Health’s Walker Family Cancer Centre (WFCC), MacCulloch provides treatments to patients with cancer, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other targeted therapies.

“Seeing cancer be prevalent in mine and my fiancé Hannah’s lives, and knowing that everyone knows someone affected by cancer, led me to oncology,” he says.

Being from Niagara, MacCulloch knew he wanted to stay local and give back to his community, following in his parents’ footsteps: his mom worked as an RN at Niagara Health, and his dad recently retired from his position as Niagara Regional Police Chief.

“Nurses are often the first person a patient sees,” says MacCulloch. “A big part of our job is providing emotional support and guidance. Patients and their loved ones who come to oncology are often scared and confused. Anything related to cancer can be a lot to absorb, and people tend to look online for answers, so it’s also our job to make sure they’re accurately informed about their unique case.”

Debunking myths about cancer and cancer treatment is one of the more challenging aspects of MacCulloch’s job. However, he says misinformation online isn’t the only area he’s needed to set the record straight when it comes to working in oncology.

“I’ve had people assume that it’s a really difficult area to work in,” he says. “It can be, but more than anything, it’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. I get to see firsthand the celebrations and success stories of people who get better. There’s patients who have been here longer than I’ve worked here – there’s so many opportunities to really get to know patients and make meaningful, lasting relationships.”

Some of those celebrations include patients banging a gong when they reach a milestone in their treatment, or simply celebrating both small and big wins with their loved ones and healthcare teams.

“Some people think that healthcare can be a negative environment – hospitals are where a lot of people are sick and unwell,” says MacCulloch. “Everywhere has its trials and tribulations. I always try to stay positive, keep learning and do what’s necessary for the greater good. It’s really rewarding to be able to make a difference in someone’s day or life.”

MacCulloch doesn’t regret becoming a nurse instead of a veterinarian, and gets his animal fix with his and his fiancé’s newest addition to their family – a friendly, bouncing golden retriever named Margot, who he hopes will join him on backcountry camping and canoeing trips (once she settles down a little).

Earlier this year, MacCulloch and another nurse in the WFCC, Karen Methven, were trained on inserting peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines on patients. PICC lines consist of a long, thin tube that gets inserted into a patient’s vein in their arm that gets passed through to the larger veins near their heart. They are typically pain-free for patients.

MacCulloch and Methven shadowed other nurses already trained on inserting PICC lines in the WFCC, which was done in an effort to improve patient care across the unit. Inserting PICC lines is a specialized skill typically done by physicians and interventional radiologists, and requires the ability to have razor-sharp focus and the ability to work under pressure.

“We use ultrasound technology and electrocardiogram (ECG) to insert the lines, which are used often in cancer care,” MacCulloch says. “Patients need a lifeline to get their treatment.”

In addition to the positive relationships with patients, he calls the team at the WFCC “fantastic,” and an integral part of patients’ care experiences beyond the physical treatment they’re provided.

“I’m a small piece of the puzzle but don’t want to overshadow how amazing my co-workers are,” MacCulloch says. “I came to Niagara Health right out of university, so I can only speak highly of myself because of my colleagues and what they teach me every day. The whole team is incredible, and the positive outcomes we can give to patients speaks to that.”

To learn more about the WFCC, visit niagarahealth.on.ca/site/cancer-care-oncology.