Making a Connection: the Best Part of the Job

For Jana Chavous, APRN-CNP, RN, MHA, really getting to know her patients and their families is truly the best part of her job.
In a typical health care setting, the role of a nurse practitioner is to work directly with patients, aided by advanced education and clinical training, to provide physical exams, help diagnose and treat many common acute and chronic problems, prescribe and manage medications and other therapies, as well as many other responsibilities.
As a member of the pain management team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Tulsa, Chavous is entrusted with these responsibilities and in doing so, has many opportunities to communicate with family members while serving her patients. In her role, she conducts full medical histories on adult individuals with all types of cancers, reviewing past pain medicine usage and success. She then works with the patient and his or her caregivers to make pain management recommendations, provide drug education and provide the best possible care for their unique circumstances and needs.
“My goal for each patient is the best possible quality of life,” says Chavous, who recently received her APRN-CNP. “To do that, I explore and share medication options, with a focus on the optimal pain management using non-addictive drugs as often as possible.”
To her, this is a special and meaningful kind of connection.
Prior to her latest role, Chavous gained more than eight years of nursing experience at the Tulsa specialty cancer center. She joined CTCA in the spring of 2010 as a registered nurse working as a care manager and as a clinical resource nurse. And, prior to arriving at the Tulsa hospital, she gained over a decade of experience with another northeastern Oklahoma hospital.
Working toward her APRN-CNP while employed full-time at CTCA was not an easy task, but one her family and friends supported her through and her colleagues encouraged her in. “I would work a full day, have classes two to three days per week and study every day,” says Chavous, who has been married for 10 years and has two children. “My husband was definitely my rock through it all and I could not have accomplished what I did without him. He took care of our two kids, one who has special needs.
“I was inspired by my Aunt Janet whom is also a nurse,” adds Chavous. “As a small child I loved wearing her nursing hat and I pretend played with her stethoscope. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse.”
With the exception of her final degree, Oklahoma institutions have been the backbone of Chavous’ education. She attended Connors State College for her associate’s degree in nursing, earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the Northeastern State University in Muskogee, and went on to earn a master of science degree in healthcare administration from Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. Chavous completed a second master’s of science degree, with a focus in Family Nurse Practitioner, from Simmons College for Graduate Studies. After graduating she then took her board certification and became certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
She is an active member of several organizations, including the Oklahoma Nurse Practitioner Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Oncology Nursing Society and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
A native of Stigler, OK, Chavous enjoys spending time with her family and friends, shopping, watching Oklahoma State University football and gardening.