Nicole Abenes, MSN, APRN-BC, OCN, is an oncology-certified nurse practitioner who specializes in caring for adults with cancer and blood disorders. She sees patients age 18 and older and provides care throughout Southern Illinois.

Nicole helps patients with the evaluation and ongoing management of cancer, as well as blood-related conditions such as anemia, including iron deficiency, thrombocytopenia, and abnormal blood counts. She closely monitors treatment response and cancer recurrence, coordinates chemotherapy and cancer treatment plans with physicians, and supports patients through care coordination and pain management. Her special medical interests include lung, breast, and colon cancers, as well as hematology.

Nicole brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience to her practice and is known for her compassionate, patient- and family-centered approach. Her path into medicine was shaped early in life when, at age 15, she became a patient herself while hospitalized with a life-threatening ruptured appendix. The care she received from nurses during that time inspired her to pursue nursing and to become a meaningful presence in the lives of others facing serious illness. Her commitment to oncology deepened in 2011, when she became oncology certified during her mother's battle with pancreatic cancer. Guided by strong faith and devotion to family, Nicole relocated to Southern Illinois in 2015 to serve the community she has always considered home. Through empathy, clinical expertise, and genuine advocacy, she strives to make a positive difference in each patient's experience and overall well-being.