Carmela Hoefling

I have been at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey since 2003, having earned a Master of Science in Nursing from The University of Medicine and Dentistry and an Adult Nurse Practitioner certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. My personal philosophy is that knowledge is power. Through my certification as an Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner, I am better able to educate patients and their families about their disease and what they should expect through the trajectory of their treatment here at Rutgers Cancer Institute.  

As a member of the Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Program, I am part of a multi-disciplinary team that also includes medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, social workers, and nutritionists. We work collaboratively – all under one roof – to find the best care regimen for patients and to educate them and their families about their disease.

In my role as an APN, I work collaboratively alongside a surgical oncologist. Together, we identify the best treatment plan for the patient using evidence based medicine. I provide routine and acute care follow up and am readily available to assist patients in managing their pre or postoperative questions.

Through my membership in the Oncology Nursing Society, I keep abreast in current oncology topics and literature. In order to better prepare my patients for surgery, I developed an audiovisual, preoperative surgical orientation video and multiple educational pamphlets. I have presented locally and nationally at oncology nursing conferences and have published in peer reviewed journals. I frequently act as a mentor for new nurse practitioners and students interested in the field.
 

Our Advanced Practice Providers work in collaboration with the physicians in their respective oncology programs and may not always be scheduled directly.