Audrey Waechter, BSN, RN, serves as a nurse on the 9 Pavilion West mdash; Oncology Unit at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC).

Audrey chose health care as a career following her childhood in the rural areas of Jamaica, where she witnessed the long-term suffering and needs of poverty-stricken individuals lacking health care. Audrey grew up always wanting to make a difference and desired to serve the most vulnerable among us.

Audrey migrated to the US in her late 30s, completed her GED, and enrolled in a nursing program at the local community College.

Audrey worked full-time as a nursing assistant at HUMC while earning her Associates Degree in nursing. She then went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Thomas Edison State College.

Today, Audrey serves as an oncology unit nurse who fulfills various roles — from Charge Nurse, to Preceptor, to Council Leader.

– Deb

Audrey’s story:

The nursing staff on the 9 Pavilion West oncology unit at Hackensack University Medical Center know that hair loss can be one of the most difficult side effects of cancer treatment for patients to come to terms with, especially for female patients who express feelings of sadness and loss of identity.

Audrey Waechter, BSN, RN, created the Bare It or Wear It initiative to address this. She created an easy-to-follow pamphlet for patients teaching them how to wrap head scarves to achieve different looks.

Audrey also purchased new scarves to donate to patients to be given out with the pamphlet. She will be training team members on the unit who are interested in learning how to wrap scarves to expand the initiative further. Those team members will in turn be able to personally teach patients.

Audrey shared, “It is rewarding to care for such a special population of patients where I am able to show my compassionate side. Being in Oncology also allows me to develop lasting relationships with my patients. I have created an avenue to help ease the emotional and physical frustrations experienced particularly by my female patients who are experiencing hair loss.”

Audrey Waechter, BSN, RN, serves as a nurse on the 9 Pavilion West mdash; Oncology Unit at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC).

Audrey chose health care as a career following her childhood in the rural areas of Jamaica, where she witnessed the long-term suffering and needs of poverty-stricken individuals lacking health care. Audrey grew up always wanting to make a difference and desired to serve the most vulnerable among us.

Audrey migrated to the US in her late 30s, completed her GED, and enrolled in a nursing program at the local community College. Audrey worked full-time as a nursing assistant at HUMC while earning her Associates Degree in nursing. She then went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Thomas Edison State College.

Today, Audrey serves as an oncology unit nurse who fulfills various roles — from Charge Nurse, to Preceptor, to Council Leader.

– Deb

Audrey’s story:

The nursing staff on the 9 Pavilion West oncology unit at Hackensack University Medical Center know that hair loss can be one of the most difficult side effects of cancer treatment for patients to come to terms with, especially for female patients who express feelings of sadness and loss of identity.

Audrey Waechter, BSN, RN, created the Bare It or Wear It initiative to address this. She created an easy-to-follow pamphlet for patients teaching them how to wrap head scarves to achieve different looks.

Audrey also purchased new scarves to donate to patients to be given out with the pamphlet. She will be training team members on the unit who are interested in learning how to wrap scarves to expand the initiative further. Those team members will in turn be able to personally teach patients.

Audrey shared, “It is rewarding to care for such a special population of patients where I am able to show my compassionate side. Being in Oncology also allows me to develop lasting relationships with my patients. I have created an avenue to help ease the emotional and physical frustrations experienced particularly by my female patients who are experiencing hair loss.”