Faculty and students in the Regis College Young School of Nursing are bringing new insight and compassion to the field of oncology nursing through the development of a groundbreaking textbook, Demystifying Imposter Phenomenon in Oncology Nursing: Providing DEI Strategies to Maintain Self-Care Balance While Providing Person-Centered Care.
The textbook was collaborative effort between Regis faculty and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students to confront one of the profession’s most pressing emotional and professional challenges: imposter phenomenon. Led by Celeste M. Baldwin, Ph.D., M.S., APRN-CNS, SGAHN, Assistant Professor of Graduate Nursing, she describes the project as both an academic contribution and a deeply personal reflection on what it means to be a nurse today.
“Oncology nurses carry extraordinary responsibility, not only for the lives of their patients but also for their own professional and emotional well-being,” said Dr. Baldwin. “This textbook helps nurses recognize their value, sustain their confidence, and maintain balance while navigating the complex realities of providing compassionate care for those with cancer.”
Oncology nursing demands a unique combination of technical precision, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Nurses in this specialty often manage the dual weight of patient care and their own professional development, while also confronting challenges such as heavy workloads, low staffing ratios, and emotionally charged work environments. Many, Dr. Baldwin notes, also face systemic challenges including workplace incivility, lack of inclusivity, and inequities that can lead to feelings of isolation or self-doubt.
The textbook offers strategies for addressing those realities through the lenses of self-care, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). By integrating Modeling and Role-Modeling Nursing Theory, the book emphasizes that nurses, like their patients, require holistic support, empathy, and understanding to thrive. The approach encourages practitioners to “step into the patient’s world” while also honoring their own humanity and professional growth.
A hallmark of the project is the involvement of Regis DNP students and recent graduates, who each contributed chapters drawn from their scholarly projects and lived experiences. Their research explores creative and evidence-based approaches to enhancing care and professional resilience across diverse healthcare settings.
Among the student authors are Ovigwe Olumide, whose chapter explores the role of functional medicine in cancer care; Chizoba Egunetugo, who examines the use of music relaxation techniques to support self-care among psychiatric nurses; and Oluchukwu Ifele, who investigates complementary and alternative therapies for pain relief in oncology patients. Other contributors include Ayoola Ogedengbe, who focuses on improving cultural humility and confidence among nurses; Keiandra Vinson, who studies the use of the AHRQ Toolkit for fall prevention in long-term care; and Gladys Ongori, who explores educational interventions in palliative care.
“This project is deeply student-driven,” said Dr. Baldwin. “Our graduate students and alumni are not just learning about resilience, they are advancing the science behind it. Their chapters give voice to real-world challenges and solutions that can empower nurses everywhere.”
Through its themes of confidence, equity, and compassion, Demystifying Imposter Phenomenon in Oncology Nursing captures the spirit of Regis College’s mission to educate professionals who lead with skill and empathy. The book reflects the Young School of Nursing’s commitment to shaping nurse leaders who are grounded in scholarship, reflective in practice, and unwavering in their care for others, and themselves.