On September 7, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert for women about the risks involved with ovarian cancer screening tests. According to the FDA, no current screening test is sensitive enough to identify ovarian cancer without inaccurate results. As such, the FDA is concerned that patients and physicians might be misled by these results and make unnecessary treatment decisions.
On September 7, 2016, the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) and the director of the National Cancer Institute released a report outlining the recommendations provided by the intensive work done by the National Cancer Moonshot’s Blue Ribbon Panel. ONS member and past president Deborah K. Mayer, PhD, RN, AOCN®, FAAN, was part of the Blue Ribbon Panel working on the recommendations and knows that nurses will play an integral role in implementing these changes.
The number of new U.S. cases of metastatic prostate cancer increased by 72% from 2004–2013, according to a new study published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.
At the end of July, Pittsburgh was full of energy and excitement as more than 400 oncology nurses attended Leadership Weekend. The experience is designed for ONS Chapter and Community leaders, as well as Board members of all three corporations and our Leadership Development Committee, to share ideas and learn leadership skills.
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.
ONS has committed to creating and fostering a culture of safety in oncology nursing, and we know our members are doing amazing work to keep themselves and their patients safe in practices throughout the country. Now, we want to hear your stories.
The deck frequently seems stacked against oncology nurses who are striving to avoid central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Consider the potential for immunosuppression, the need for prolonged central access, and the potential for poor nutritional status among our patient population, and it can seem nearly impossible to be CLABSI-free.
The care of patients with cancer is fraught with ethical situations and dilemmas that begin with a patient’s initial diagnosis. Chaplains are often involved with patients with cancer and their families throughout their illness. This is especially true as their disease progresses and they must begin discussions on treatment options, withdrawal of treatment, and end-of-life care.
Oncology nurses are often called on to act as mediators through difficult moments, advocating for their patients while connecting caregivers with the resources that will help them during a challenging time.
