Developing Oncology Partnerships Around the World
ONS News

Developing Oncology Partnerships Around the World

By 2035, it’s expected that 22 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed annually around the world. The global burden of cancer care and treatment is something that affects all nations and cultures. Through collaboration, understanding, and a dedication to forging new relationships, oncology professionals from around the world are coming together to fight for their patients and colleagues on February 4, 2017, for World Cancer Day.

February 02, 2017
ONS News

How ONS Is Improving Membership Experience

Albert Einstein once said, “Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.” This is symbolic of how the ONS Board of Directors and staff are always looking for ways to improve your membership experience and to be of value to our members. One of the ways we do this is by engaging local chapters at the regional chapter office program (RCOP). We want to know your chapters’ best practices and challenges so that we can share this information with other chapters and ascertain how ONS can serve as a resource at the local level.
December 06, 2016
Healthcare safety standards

ONS Connects You to Cutting-Edge Standards to Support Your Practice

Although it’s hard to find the time to do so during a busy shift, there are times when you need to consult the best practice standards to support your work for a particular process. Whether you’re considering the best procedure for a central line dressing change or accessing an implanted port, or you’re considering the verification process and the best way to administer an IV chemotherapy agent, you need to know that your policies—and the competencies which you've engrained into your memory—are evidence-based and supported by your institution and professional organizations. Quality outcomes and measurements have never been more central to health care than they are now, and ONS-developed standards go a long way to supporting your practice.
November 21, 2016
ONS News

NAM Elects ONS Member Bruner to 2016 Class of Leading Health Scientists

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine, has elected ONS member Deborah W. Bruner, RN, PhD, FAAN, to its 2016 class of leading health scientists and international members. Bruner, professor in the department of radiation oncology at Emory University and associate director of faculty membership, training, and education at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, has long been recognized for her work in clinical trials and her research of sexuality after cancer therapy.
November 08, 2016
ONS board of directors

How the Strategic Plan Drives the ONS Board’s Work

One of the ONS Board of Directors’ goals is to increase your familiarity with us and what we are currently working on for the Society. In July we met with more than 400 other ONS leaders in Pittsburgh for Leadership Weekend. Board members from the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, ONS Foundation, and Leadership Development Council were included, as well as community and chapter leaders. It was an exciting weekend with a lot of enthusiastic and energized leaders.
September 06, 2016
ONS News

Celebrate Outstanding Work in Cancer with ONS Awards

Do you know a fellow ONS member who deserves recognition for his or her outstanding work and dedication? Perhaps you know a nurse who continuously goes above and beyond, or an employer who takes care of its employees.ONS recognizes oncology nurses, researchers, and employees each year who go above and beyond the call of duty. These awards celebrate individuals and teams in a variety of specialties. Learn more about each award and how it may apply to you, your institution, or someone you know.
July 12, 2016
ONS Congress

Big Change Started in San Antonio

In an amazing four days in Texas during the ONS 41st Annual Congress, I had the opportunity to learn from experts in oncology care. Four session tracks (Clinical Practice, Leadership/Management/Education, Advanced Practice, and Research) allowed attendees to tailor learning and skill building to their specific needs. We heard from many of you about how much you appreciated the advanced learning level of presentations during interactive sessions that allowed you get the information you needed.
July 05, 2016
ONS Members Talking at OVAC Advocacy Day
Cancer healthcare advocacy

ONS Member Speaks to U.S. Congress at OVAC Advocacy Day

I was honored and thrilled to represent the Oncology Nursing Society at this year’s One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) lobby day during National Nurses Week on May 10th 2016. For those unfamiliar with OVAC, it “is a collaboration of national non-profit organizations representing millions of Americans, delivering a unified message to Congress and the White House on the need for increased cancer-related appropriations.”
June 15, 2016
Oncology nurse influence

ONS Punches Ticket for Delegation to Cuba

In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge arrived in Cuba on the deck of a battleship. In 2016, President Obama landed in the capital city of Havana. In the 88 years between their presidencies, no sitting U.S. president set foot on Cuban soil. With recent political discussions and leadership changes, relations have warmed between the United States and Cuba, reestablishing the exchange of business, commerce, communication, and tourism.
May 25, 2016
Breast cancer

ONS Members Deliver Presentation at Breast Cancer Conference in Singapore

Through its international work, ONS has become known for providing quality care information and content to oncology nurses around the globe. One recent example is the Asia-Pacific Breast Cancer Summit, held in Singapore from February 26–28, 2016, where ONS was invited to create a session specific to oncology nursing for February 27. ONS members Nancy Houlihan, RN, MA, AOCN®, and Jean Rosiak, DNP, RN, AOCNP®, CBCN®, traveled to Singapore to present on a number of topics affecting oncology nursing in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. While there, they noted the similarities and differences between treatment and healthcare practices in the region.
April 13, 2016
ONS president-elect, Susan Schneider, PhD, RN, AOCN®
ONS Leadership

ONS President-Elect Presents to Senate Members on Nursing Workforce

As one of the largest professions in the United States, nursing encompasses many different avenues of study and patient care. From bedside to research to education and beyond, this workforce accounts for more than 3 million RNs. On March 15, ONS president-elect, Susan Schneider, PhD, RN, AOCN®, FAAN, presented at the Nursing Community Senate Caucus in Washington, DC. The caucus provided nursing advocates a forum to relay the importance of the field of nursing to senators.
April 12, 2016
A picture of the Capitol Building
Cancer moonshot

Capitol Hill Roundup: ONS Opens Office in DC, Obama Addresses Opioid Epidemic, ONS Member Appointed to Blue Ribbon Panel

Political policies, especially those concerning health care and cancer care, are constantly changing. It’s hard to stay up to date with the constant evolution of events on Capitol Hill. ONS works to make certain that oncology nurses are represented during discussions that impact their practice, as well as the whole healthcare arena. Learn more about the happenings on the Hill that potentially could impact oncology nurses.
April 05, 2016
ONS members
ONS membership

ONS Moves Forward, Focusing on Member Benefits and Experience

The ONS budgeting cycle is not unlike what occurs annually at each of our healthcare settings. ONS staff and senior leadership work to develop a budget each year, which is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. The budget is monitored throughout the year, year-end results are presented to the Board, and an annual report is provided to the membership during the business meeting held at ONS Congress. The Board also works with staff and senior leadership to tie the budget to our mission and vision, while reviewing our membership feedback on what they feel is valuable, or could benefit their membership experience.
April 05, 2016
Outside of the Capitol Building
Cancer moonshot

Capitol Hill Roundup: ONS Member Speaks at Seattle National Moonshot Roundtable, IOM Changes Its Name, Experts Call for Cancer Moonshot to Focus on Screening and Prevention

Capitol Hill is a dynamic, fluid atmosphere, especially for oncology nursing advocacy. ONS is constantly working to provide nurses with a voice at a federal level by representing them in political arenas in Washington, DC, and around the country. Find out what ONS does to advocate for its members and oncology nurses across the United States.
March 23, 2016
ONS members with Senator Warren
Cancer healthcare advocacy

ONS Joins OVAC Advocacy Day to Share the Role of Oncology Nurses in Cancer Care

Last month it was my pleasure, as an ONS Capitol Gang member and an active member of the National Capitol Chapter, to represent oncology nurses at the annual Once Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) Hill Day. It was an incredible adventure. The first day was filled with training and networking with other cancer advocates. We then marched up to Capitol Hill to meet with our U.S. senators and representatives.
March 15, 2016
ONS News

How Oncology Nurses Can Help Patients Mitigate the Cost-Sharing Burden of Treament

Increasing healthcare expenses have become a major concern for patients with cancer, especially considering the cost of oncology medications and treatment plans. On Friday, February 26, ONS President-Elect Susan Schneider, PhD, RN, AOCN®, FAAN, participated in a discussion titled “Exploring Innovative Strategies to Mitigate Cost-Sharing Burdens for Patients” at the event Cost-Sharing Roundtable: Improving Patient Access to Critical Therapies hosted by the Patient Access Network (PAN) and the American Journal of Managed Care in Washington, DC.
March 04, 2016
Nurse self-care

ONS Member Recognized for Work in Self-Care, Symptom Management

For many, oncology isn’t just a profession. It’s a devotion and a passion. It becomes an encompassing enterprise through which one strives to make the lives of patients and nurses better. That’s ONS member Marylin J. Dodd, PhD, RN, FAAN. She’s been named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) for her groundbreaking work in self-care, along with her studies in symptom management.
March 02, 2016
The Capitol Building in nice weather
ONS News

Capitol Hill Roundup: President-Elect Speaks at Panel; ONS Members Attend Biden Roundtable

Big change often comes from small beginnings. That’s why our ONS members, staff, and representatives are working every day to bring the fight of the oncology nurse to the forefront of the political world. One of the most important services ONS provides to its members involves advocating for oncology nurses and their patients in the political arenas on Capitol Hill and throughout the country.
March 02, 2016
Cancer moonshot

Brenda Nevidjon Attends Cancer Moonshot Roundtable With Vice President Biden

Vice President Joe Biden is currently touring the country to meet with healthcare experts and research scientists to understand the challenges facing the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative announced by President Obama during his State of the Union Address. ONS Chief Executive Officer Brenda Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN, sat on the panel to address the important role of oncology nurses in the vice president’s Moonshot Initiative.
February 26, 2016
Cancer health disparities

ONS Member Travels to South Africa for Pediatric Oncology Conference

When young people are diagnosed with cancer, regardless of the type, it feels particularly heartbreaking. When they’re forced to face such a deadly disease, they deserve treatment that gives them the best chance at survival. Unfortunately, not all parts of the world are equal. On average, survival rates in low- and middle-income countries can be as low as 5%, compared to 80% in high-income countries.
February 25, 2016
ONS Advocates for Maryland Right to Try
Cancer healthcare advocacy

ONS Advocates for Maryland Right to Try Legislation

Late last year, I had the honor to represent ONS and meet with Maryland State Senator Bryan Simonaire (R-MD) to discuss his bill that seeks to provider greater access to experimental treatments for patients, particularly those with cancer, who otherwise might not have such options. It was an advocacy experience that, regardless of the bill’s passage, reminded me of how important it is for oncology nurses to do what we do best: educate others on planned treatments and symptom management.
February 12, 2016
ONS board of directors

Proposed Bylaw Changes for 2016 Affect Governance, Member Communities

To better position ONS as an organization in the future, the ONS Board of Directors recently consulted with the Whole Mind Strategy Group, an agency that examines organizations and reports on any potential improvements back to the organization with regards to structure, efficiency, and governance. After careful review, the ONS Board of Directors translated the findings into four proposed changes to ONS’s bylaws.
January 08, 2016