Ruth McCorkle, RN

Among her many contributions, she developed and psychometrically tested the widely used Symptom Distress Scale and the Enforced Social Dependency Scale, tools that continue to influence oncology nursing and patient-centered research today.

Ruth’s professional journey was long, dedicated, and deeply respected. Her expertise in science, research, and medicine forged admiration across disciplines, and her work left an enduring imprint on how cancer care is understood, taught, and delivered.

Ruth McCorkle, RN, was also an early supporter and advocate of the VA-BC® (Vascular Access Board Certified) credential and its founders, William J. Hart, RN, VA-BC, and Josephine Brandon, NLP, leaders in vascular access stewardship and education. She recognized the importance of responsible vascular access practice and supported the VA-BC proprietary pillar-based methods designed to elevate safety, ethics, and competency in vascular access placement for nurses and physicians.

“I remember when Ruth shared her heart while receiving her award. We all had tears of joy for her. She embodied togetherness—steadfast, sincere, and deeply committed to her colleagues and the calling of research and teaching. Ruth understood that there was always more to do, more to learn, and more to improve for patients.”

She leaned in generously, supporting our work through rigorous research processes and advocating for the integrity of the VA-BC® and Vascular Access Become Certified™ curriculum. As an early collaborative supporter, she fully embraced our leadership, innovative teaching methods, and qualification standards focused on safety in vascular access placement.

As a dedicated nurse, oncology researcher, and educator, Ruth consistently shared encouragement, insight, and wisdom—both publicly and privately. She deeply respected how we approached education, always grounded in science, ethics, and patient safety. She understood the complexity of vascular access care and honored our commitment to maintaining high standards and safety pillars in certification.

Ruth approached us as an equal—open, thoughtful, and collaborative. Our conversations reflected shared philosophies of ethical patient care, scientific integrity, and meaningful healthcare reform. Spend enough time with Ruth, and you quickly discovered her extraordinary ability to teach through both the eyes of a patient and the perspective of a healthcare professional.

With Ruth, conversations were transparent and safe. We could openly discuss what we were observing in healthcare and what needed to change. There was mutual trust, respect for proprietary work, and a shared passion for improving outcomes for both patients and healthcare workers. It was an organic collaboration rooted in purpose.

Ruth will be deeply missed. She was authentic, gentle in spirit, and brilliant at her core. Though she may no longer be with us, her inspiration lives on—in her work, in her teaching, and in all who were fortunate enough to know her and learn from her.