by Julie Eggert, PhD, GNP-BC, AOCN®, Secretary, ONS Board of Directors
During a recent ONS Board of Directors meeting, we learned that ONS’s virtual communities (VCs) have been updated with new links that yield better information, faster. For a closer view, go to the ONS website’s membership tab and check the lower right-hand corner. You’ll find links to the SIGs, Leadership, and Chapters VCs.
The Chapters VC has been revised to focus on improvement of existing services. They now feature a buffet of chapter information to help new leaders learn more about their roles or not-so-new leaders looking for new information.
The SIGs VCs are also easier to use: check out several of the links to get a feel for what each SIG is doing and in which ones you’d like to become more active.
While you’re contemplating being more involved in ONS, look at the Leadership VC, which showcases great books for self-improvement of your internal leader plus past lectures from Leadership Development Institute. ONS has lots of participation opportunities for current, developing, and future leaders.
The new, old VCs are great! Remember, they’re not the ONS website but rather a communication portal for active members. Come, take a look, and connect to SIGs, chapters, and leadership information through the VCs.
Following are additional highlights of the actions and decisions the ONS Board of Directors made during its January–March 2013 meetings.
Governance
- Consultant Mary Byers led a generative discussion on repositioning ONS for the future based on her book, Race for Relevance.
- The Board also participated in a generative discussion on board governance based on the work of consultant Les Wallace.
Financial
- The treasurer’s reports were reviewed and approved.
- The Board approved a standard pro forma for reporting business items.
Membership and Component Relations
- A membership dues increase was approved. Effective July 1, 2013, ONS dues will increase to $120 per year. When the $10 universal chapter membership dues are added, the new total comes to $130 per year for regular membership.
Health Policy
- The Board approved persuing reintroducting the Improving Cancer Treatment Education bill.
- The 2013 Health Policy Agenda was approved. It focuses ONS’s health policy priorities on the topics of symptom management and pain control, advancing and ensuring access to quality care, and strengthening the nursing workforce to protect the health of the public.
Partnerships
- The Board conducted the annual review of all partnerships (strategic alliances, coalitions, and memberships).
Professional Practice
- The following external position statements and guidelines were endorsed.
- Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Position on Rehabilitation of People With Cancer
- Diagnosis and Management of Lung Cancer, Third Edition: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (third edition is in press; view second edition here).
- National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, Third Edition (third edition is in press; view second edition here)
- Graduate-Level QSEN Competencies: Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes
- The following ONS position statements were reviewed and approved.
- Access to Quality Cancer Care
- ONS, ONS Foundation, and ONCC Commercial Support
- Nursing Leadership in Global and Domestic Tobacco Control
- Cancer Pain Management
- Nurses’ Responsibility to Patients Requiring Assistance in Hastening Death
- The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in Oncology Care
- Oncology Certification for Nurses
- The Impact of Nursing Shortage on Quality Cancer Care
- Lifelong Learning for Professional Oncology Nurses
- Oncology Nursing Society, the Association of Oncology Social Work, and the National Association of Social Workers Joint Position on the Role of Oncology Nursing and Oncology Social Work in Patient Navigation
- Feedback from the 2012 Connections: Advancing Care Through Science conference attendees was reviewed. Plans are under way for 2013 Connections conference in Dallas, TX.
- The Board reviewed and approved the ONS 2013–2015 international business plan.
- The work to date on the ONS quality work funded by the ONS Foundation was reviewed. ONS is increasingly recognized externally (e.g., ASCO Collaborative Cancer Measurement Summit) for the thorough testing process of the ONS breast cancer quality measures – especially those measures that reflect patient-centered experiences. Continue moving forward with rapid outcome results.
- The Board discussed the feasibility, gaps, and recommendations from the PEP Project Team and will continue to monitor PEP’s progress.
- A significant change to the ONS Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Program was approved. The current face-to-face course model (two-day U.S. courses and three-day international programs) will cease as of December 31, 2013. It will be replaced by an interactive, comprehensive, online course in early 2014 that will offer a certificate indicating the learner possesses specific specialty knowledge (from ONCC) and a continuing education certificate and provider card (from ONS).
Affiliated Organizations
- The ONS:Edge financials were reviewed through February 2013, which indicate positive movement in the first quarter of the year.