Helping patients through their breast care journey

When it comes to breast care, women often delay appointments out of fear, or uncertainty on how to navigate the process. To help ease those fears and uncertainties, is Gloria Contreras, the new nurse navigator at the Adventist Health Breast Care Center in Hanford.

As a nurse navigator, Contreras helps patients through every step of their breast care journey by ensuring they receive follow-up appointments and referrals to a surgeon or oncologist; accompanying patients to appointments, including with Dr. Ibironke Adelaja, breast surgeon, and other consultations, upon the request of the patient; tailoring treatment plans for each individual patient; providing information on assistance programs; and more!

“I love building relationships with patients and being there for them every step of the way,” says Contreras, who had a close friend and former co-worker pass away from breast cancer.

“She was about my age,” Contreras says. “That stayed in my heart and reaffirmed my decision to become a nurse.”

The Farmersville-native, whose parents were migrant workers, pursued her college education later in life because she didn’t want to burden her family with the extra expenses.

She has an Associate of Arts in Mathematics and Science from College of the Sequoias; an Associate of Science in Registered Nursing from San Joaquin Valley College; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University; and a Medical Surgical Nursing Certification.

Contreras has experience working in hospital Medical-Surgical and Labor and Delivery departments. She was a registered nurse in the Medical-Surgical department at Tulare Regional Medical Center in 2018, when Adventist Health reopened the hospital. She said she’s excited to continue to work for Adventist Health and looks forward to creating connections with patients in Hanford. Contreras is fluent in English and Spanish. She may be reached at the Breast Care Center, 125 Mall Drive, Suite 203 in Hanford. The phone number is 559-537-2300.