Her Story
About Patti
Patti Jo Carruth is a distinguished oncology nurse, educator, and clinical leader who devoted 46 years to the nursing profession before retiring in 2024. Throughout her career, she earned a reputation for delivering exceptional patient care while advancing nursing education, clinical research, and oncology services across a variety of healthcare settings. An Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) with national certifications in oncology and vascular access, Carruth has remained an active member of the Oncology Nursing Society for nearly four decades, reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence and lifelong professional development.
Most recently, Carruth served as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist with the inpatient clinical trials team at Stanford Health Care, where she developed educational resources and provided bedside support to nurses administering complex oncology treatments as part of clinical research protocols. Previously, she managed an oncology and orthopedics unit, successfully recruiting and mentoring highly skilled nursing staff, revitalizing the chemotherapy program, modernizing clinical policies and procedures, and supporting the expansion of the unit while achieving outstanding patient satisfaction scores. Earlier in her career, she established Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) programs at Washington Hospital in California and Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, further demonstrating her leadership in advancing specialized nursing practices. Her extensive expertise spans oncology nursing, infusion therapy, vascular access, orthopedics, clinical trials, nursing education, symptom management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Carruth earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from San José State University before completing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Education at Liberty University. She attributes her successful career to a strong work ethic, an enduring commitment to continuous learning, and a genuine passion for teaching and mentoring others. Her advice to new nurses is to be patient with both themselves and their patients, recognizing that professional growth comes through experience, perseverance, and a willingness to keep learning. Although retired, Carruth leaves behind a lasting legacy of clinical excellence, compassionate leadership, and meaningful contributions to oncology nursing, nursing education, and patient-centered care.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Patti
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think that probably would be part of my nature and my personality and my work ethic. I've always believed in hard work, I've always believed in learning, and I've always believed in teaching as well. So I think I was able to use both particular traits in my career in my different roles from the bedside to the management role to the clinical expert role over the years.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If there's one thing I could say to you is to be patient. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your patients and the situation that you're in because not every day is an easy day and you're learning every day even if you know a lot you're still learning every day. So just be patient with yourself and realize that you won't know everything ever and that you will be constantly learning and growing in your role.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The thing that I've seen the most in healthcare and in my nursing role has been the increase in complexity of the patients that are admitted to the hospital. Patients that are admitted to the hospital generally are sicker have multiple diagnoses. One of the biggest opportunities is developing teamwork and fostering a team approach with the staff.
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