Oncology Nurse Influence

Stepping Up to the Podium: From Abstract Submission to Podium Presentation

Congress is full of opportunities to learn, explore new advancements in oncology, listen to experts in the field, and meet with numerous like-minded colleagues from across the country. For some oncology nurses, Congress is a place to teach as well. This was the case with ONS member Yvette Rosa, BS, OCN®, of St. Anne’s Regional Cancer Center Fall River, MA, when her group’s abstract submission was selected to become a podium presentation. In the blink of an eye, Rosa found herself and her group members preparing to take the stage.
August 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
Oncology Nurse Influence

Why We Need to Look Back to Move Forward

As I start this amazing adventure as your new ONS president, I can’t help but pause and reflect on how I got here. Those of you who know me say that I am an organized, motivated, dedicated oncology nurse who is proud to be involved in ONS. What I’ve never had was a specific five-year plan. Instead, I’ve had role models: individuals who inspired me, recognized my potential, and often channeled my energy in the right direction.
May 03, 2016
Oncology Nurse Influence

My Unexpected Journey to Oncology Nursing

I never anticipated that I would be an oncology nurse. In fact, I’m not exactly sure what led me to the path of nursing. My paternal grandmother was a nurse and worked for a few short years before she married. She lived to see me graduate from Saint Louis University in 1983 and take my first job on an oncology floor. I am not sure how much influence she carried. I do know that she was always proud that she had become a nurse.

March 03, 2016
Cancer Health Policy

What Political Issues Will Affect Oncology Nursing in the 2016 Election?

There are three important issues that I’m following in this election year. The first is what political candidates—including in gubernatorial races—propose for continuing to improve healthcare coverage for people in the United States. Nurses need to hold electoral candidates and public officials accountable. If a presidential candidate promises to repeal the Affordable Care Act, we should be asking, “What will you replace it with?” At the state level, not all states adopted Medicaid expansion, but now some governors and gubernatorial candidates of states that did not opt into the expansion are considering it.
March 01, 2016
Care Coordination

It Started With an Intake Form: Promoting a Culture of Safety Through Accurate Documentation

During a patients’ initial visit, they’re asked to fill out a screening tool that helps provide a clearer picture as to what their home life is like. This tool addresses important information that helps to dictate our care. Though patients may feel like this is “just another piece of paperwork,” it is crucial to helping us understand their needs and to begin planning for special precautions we many need to take going forward.
February 05, 2016