Clinical Nurse Specialist
Ochsner Health
Hello! My name is Randi Kihnel, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, and I am a clinical nurse specialist with GI/GU oncology at Ochsner Health. I received my MSN from the University of South Alabama in 2021. My goal as an APP is to continuously evaluate and improve my patients' experiences and available resources while they navigate through a life-altering diagnosis. My journey within oncology began as my grandpa was diagnosed with kidney cancer when I was 6 years old. After witnessing his challenges throughout chemo, I strayed from oncology and began my career in critical care medicine. I then discovered my passion for working in oncology during my last semester of clinicals, where I took a chance and was able to dive into oncologic patient care, clinical trials, research, and the numerous resources available to help patients through their journey. I have since been involved with numerous projects within our department and am working to enroll as a sub-investigator for several clinical trials. I have also been chosen as one of the APP leads as our department builds an undiagnosed clinic to manage patients with abnormal imaging to provide an accurate diagnosis and plan. The frequency of new clinical findings and potential treatments gives me hope for the future, and I am excited about the options that await in the pipeline.
In my spare time, I love spending time with my husband, children, and our 2 year old German Shephard, Bellatrix. I am a huge Disney and Harry Potter fan and try to go to Orlando as much as possible. We enjoy traveling, crafts, Mario Kart, and experimenting with new foods and cultures.
