The smile of a sick child gives a lot of energy

A few years ago, Eline had already been spending time at the Princess Máxima Center. During her nursing degree program, she conducted her graduation research there on patient information. ‘At that time, the brochures were often too difficult, with lots of medical language. The information is now much more accessible.’ Eline immediately knew that working with children with cancer was what she wanted to do. But she felt she was still too young for highly complex pediatric oncology care for both child and family. She first gained experience at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek. After five years, she came to the Máxima Center for a specialized training program in pediatric oncology nursing. She is now almost finished with that program.

‘As a nurse, you play an important role in the treatment process,’ says Eline. ‘At the Máxima Center, we want to cure every child with cancer, and fortunately more and more children survive. At least as important is achieving the best possible quality of life. Our team does everything it can to let children be children as much as possible. There are all kinds of things here for them to play with.’ According to Eline, it is important as a nurse to regularly take the time to sit down with a child, or to walk through the building together and have fun. ‘What continues to move me is the resilience of children. No matter how sick they may be, as soon as they start to feel better, they immediately begin to play again. There is always room for a smile. That gives me so much energy.’

Eline is proud to be part of a close-knit team in which everyone responds to what a child needs. ‘Every patient is different, so you have to keep adjusting your approach. Together with colleagues, including the child life specialists, you make sure a child is as comfortable as possible.’ Another important task is welcoming parents who have just arrived at the Máxima Center with their child. ‘They come here from all over the Netherlands because their family doctor or a specialist suspects that something oncological may be going on. That naturally creates a great deal of uncertainty for parents. As a nurse, you are their first point of contact. That is incredibly valuable for them, and for the rest of the family as well.’

The work can sometimes be demanding. Eline explains: ‘That is why it is especially important that we create a positive and safe work environment together. So that we support one another and can be open if something is on our minds.’ The Máxima Center is an innovative center where, as a nurse, you constantly encounter new developments, Eline concludes. ‘There are many opportunities for professional growth here. So if you are looking for a challenging work environment, this is truly the place for you.’