Background

As a clinical nurse specialist, my role is to support the coordination of care for children with cancer, provide clinical care to patients and families, and support staff providing clinical care.

My passion is patient safety and I especially enjoy educating staff, patients and families regarding patient safety practices, specifically the care and maintenance of central lines. I also enjoy facilitating patient safety rounds. It allows me to interact with the patients and families and enables me to identify areas of improvement we can make to enhance our practice as oncology nurses.

Over the nine years that I have worked in pediatric oncology, I have been most impressed by the teamwork that occurs amongst my peers on a daily basis as well as the opportunity to learn something new each and every day I come to work.

I have co-authored several posters that have focused on chemo safety, skin care and patient safety. 
 

Selected Publications, Honors and Professional Activities

Academic and Editorial Positions

Academic positions

2009-present, Co-chair, Quality Improvement Committee, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Awards and Honors

2008, Caroline Langstadter Nursing Excellence Award

Memberships in Professional Organizations

2000-present, Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)

  • 2007-2010, secretary, local chapter

Posters and Presentations 

2011

Powell S, Storey B, Gross K, Callahan C, Lewis S, Manek M, et al. Applying the sterile cockpit to chemotherapy and high risk medications: creation of safety zones [poster presentation]. National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI); 2011 Mar; Baltimore, MD.

2010

Sullivan J, Madonia L, Gross K. Set sail on the safety ship [presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses 34th Annual Conference; 2010 Oct 14-16; Minneapolis, MN.

Doell J, Powell S, Storey B, Hyman A, Simpson C, Gross K, et al. Safe things come in mini packages [presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses 34th Annual Conference; 2010 Oct 14-16; Minneapolis, MN.

Storey B, Schmierer A, Gingrish A, Ely B, Gross K, Storey B. Evaluation of the prevalence of diaper dermatitis in pediatric leukemia [presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses 34th Annual Conference; 2010 Oct 14-16; Minneapolis, MN.

Gross K, Storey B, Bish J, Reilly C, Danz P, Powell S, et al.. Chemotherapy safety initiative: solving the puzzle for safer administration [presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses 34th Annual Conference; 2010 Oct 14-16; Minneapolis, MN.

2009

Wohlschlaeger A, Gross K. Swabs and peridex and sterile water, oh my! Standardizing mouthcare in the BMT population [presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses 33rd Annual Conference; 2009 Sept 10-12; Orlando, FL.

2007

Gross K, Powell S, Brugger B, Spieker M. Implementing a shared-governance model on an inpatient oncology unit [presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses 31st Annual Conference; 2007 Oct 4-6; Milwaukee, WI.

Gross K. Standardizing the infusion of methotrexate [presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses 31st Annual Conference; 2007 Oct 4-6; Milwaukee, WI.

Education and Training

Board Certification

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON)

Graduate Degree

BA - Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
BSN - Holy Family University, Philadelphia, PA
MSN - The University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AA

Titles and Academic Titles

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Research Interests

Diaper dermatitis in pediatric leukemia population