When Barbara Given was a master’s student in the nursing program at Ohio State University more than 40 years ago, she noticed one of the cleaning ladies spent more time with cancer patients and their families when they were being discharged than the rest of the staff.
The woman was one of the most knowledgeable at the hospital about the patients’ families, Given said.
Since then, Given has devoted her 44-year career at MSU to try to improve the relationship between doctors, patients and their families.
“The thing I’m most proud of is keeping the theme of family caregiving alive,” Given said.
Given, a distinguished professor and associate dean for research for the doctoral program in the MSU College of Nursing, was honored as the first researcher selected for a new feature called “Living Legacy” in the journal Cancer Nursing.
The journal features more than just traditional articles and reviews and showcases individuals who have had a long career in cancer nursing, Given said.
Since coming to East Lansing in 1966, Given has worked to find out how family caregivers can help cancer patients with symptom management, she said.
“I think generally we have had a lot of breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, but few breakthroughs in helping the family members to do what they do for patients,” she said.
“As a country, we do not give them the credit for the work they do.”
Paula Sherwood, an associate professor of nursing and medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, had the opportunity to conduct research with Given as a doctoral student at MSU in 2000.
She has continued to study family caregiving since then because of Given’s influence, focusing primarily on brain cancer, she said.
Sherwood said she continues to seek Given’s advice on her projects.
“We maintain active collaborations to this day,” she said. “She demands a level of confidence in her work and in the work of others that continually pushes nursing science forward.”
Sherwood said she most admires the work Given has done to help create local, state and national policies to provide resources for family members of cancer patients.
“She’s trained family members to problem solve and feel more confident about their ability to find care,” Sherwood said.
Working with thousands of cancer patients, Given has received funding from the National Institute of Health since 1976 and has researched with students from all levels at MSU, including undergraduates and doctoral students, she said. Her husband, a medical sociologist, also has collaborated with her on several projects.
“We’ve had pretty big teams over the years,” Given said. “At one point we had one study where we had 65 people we kept track of every week.”
Next week, she’ll be one of 15 researchers to present at the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C., about the state of cancer research, she said.
Mary Mundt, dean of the College of Nursing, said she is not surprised that the journal selected Given as the first researcher to feature.
Given is one of the most well-respected nursing researchers in the country and having her as a faculty member is an honor for the college, she said.
“When we talk to alumni, they all remember Dr. Given,” Mundt said.
“She’s had quite an impact on the students in the college.”
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