Oncology Nurse from East Freedom Earns Doctorate

Some of Carla Schaefer's earliest memories of growing up in East Freedom was wanting to be a nurse.

Schaefer was inspired early on by her aunts who were nurses, something she didn't see a lot of.

"Growing up in the late '70s/early '80s, there weren't a whole lot of professional females," Schaefer said.

Now, after 24 years as a nurse, Schaefer has earned her DNP (Doctorate of Nursing Practice-Leadership).

Schaefer has been working in the oncology field since 1998, when she worked in an inpatient oncology/medical-surgical unit in Wilkes-Barre. Though oncology is her passion now, Schaefer initially had no special interest in the subject. She simply applied for an open job.

"I fell into oncology, but then I fell in love with it," Schaefer said. "I did not choose oncology nursing. It chose me."

When Schaefer and her husband Jeremy – a fellow Central High School grad who Schaefer has been with since they were 14 – left Wilkes-Barre and moved to New Jersey, she was looking for oncology jobs. Soon after, Schaefer found Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Rutgers Cancer Institute resided on one floor with a door separating the departments when Schaefer began her work there. Today, the institute is housed in a five-story building, and ground has been broken for a 14-story building that will be for inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Schaefer's career has taken a similar route. She began as a registered nurse at Rutgers and is now the Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Solid Tumors. Schaefer has held managing and directorial positions on her way to her current position.

"I have grown with the cancer institute and become more proud of what we have accomplished as well as what we can and will accomplish for the patients that walk through our doors each day," Schaefer said.

True reward

Though Schaefer's success can easily be measured by one look at her CV, the relationship she has built with patients is most rewarding to her.

In 2015, Schaefer was nominated for Cure Magazine's Extraordinary Healer. Her nomination was submitted by a patient who had ovarian cancer. Schaefer administered the patient's first treatment ever. When the patient went into remission, she came back periodically to visit Schaefer. The patient had a recurrence and had to return for treatment. By chance, Schaefer was her nurse again.

"To have the familiar face who knows your history and background, it's comforting," said Schaefer.

"Listening to her account of the story and her thoughts on me and my caring, that's the most rewarding thing," said Schaefer.

While working with patients and furthering her career, Schaefer decided to pursue her MSN (Masters of Science Nursing-Leadership).

"As I moved through the ranks as a nurse, I knew I needed to further my education to further my career." Schaefer said.

Schaefer she achieved her MSN 20 years after receiving her bachelor's degree at Rutgers. The online program was appealing to her as a full-time working mother.

"It took me a long time – four years – to get my masters," Schaefer said. "I did it one class at a time."

Earning a doctorate

After getting her MSN, Schaefer's nursing instructors urged her to continue on to get her DNP. Though Schaefer was burnt out from school and work, she decided to pursue it.

"I looked at my career goals and realized that the doctorate was a necessary piece," Schaefer said.

Schaefer knew more schooling would be a sacrifice for her family – Jeremy and her daughter, Jaden – but she realized she only needed about five more classes in addition to the 500 hours of practicum.

Schaefer saw the DNP as a necessary step in her career – not to climb up the professional ladder, but for those she mentors.

"Getting the DNP would give me professional growth that would put me in the position to mentor other nurses in a better way," Schaefer said.

Schaefer's DNP project focused on health literacy.

"Everybody equates literacy with being able to read and write," Schaefer said. "This is one component of health literacy."

According to Schaefer, health literacy expands to how to access and obtain information in order to make health decisions. This means that patients can't just be able to read health materials; they have to be able to understand them.

Patient education has been one of Schaefer's main interests throughout her career. She has served on the patient education committee, designed to review materials given to patients to educate them. The committee focuses on the vocabulary and organization of materials to make sure patients will be able to understand.

"Currently, one of the driving forces in oncology is oral medication," Schaefer said. "While nurses and doctors have a lot of control over the timing and programming of patients' IVs, patients have to be independent for oral medication."

Schaefer explained that if patients don't understand how to take oral medications or their side effects, they risk having negative outcomes.

Schaefer graduated from Rutgers University on Sunday, May 16, 2021, with her DNP.

Giving credit

Schaefer credits her success to the support of her family.

Schaefer's parents, Ronald and Margerey Zimmerman, who still live in East Freedom, provided her with constant encouragement and motivation.

"I'd call my mom on my way to work in the morning, on my way home from class at night," said Schaefer.

At her graduation party, Schaefer gave her husband and daughter t-shirts that said "I survived my wife's/mom's doctoral degree."

"I couldn't have done it without the support of my husband," said Schaefer.

Schaefer's daughter graduates from high school this year as well, so they are able to celebrate graduation together, which they did with a special trip to Florida.

Schaefer will continue her work at Rutgers Cancer Institute post graduation.

"Many people enter our lives for just a little while – others pause and plant flowers in our hearts that continue to bloom forever," said Schaefer. "The people of the Cancer Institute do that. We plant flowers with our care and hope."