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The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is a professional organization of more than 37,000 registered nurses and other healthcare professionals. ONS is committed to excellence in oncology nursing and to leading the transformation of cancer care by initiating and actively supporting educational, legislative, and public-awareness efforts to improve the care of people with cancer. ONS provides nurses and healthcare professionals with access to the highest quality educational programs, cancer-care resources, research opportunities, and networks for peer support.

ONS is committed to raising the profile of nursing in the media. Oncology nurses can be a valuable resource when writing about patients with cancer. Our Public Relations Department can arrange interviews for you with key thought leaders in cancer nursing, including: nurse educators, nurse researchers, and skilled oncology nurses providing direct care to patients.

ONS Responds to ACOS Commission on Cancer (CoC) Revised Standards

ONS has sent a letter to the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) in response to its proposed 2011 Cancer Program Standards, which will be applicable to all CoC-credited cancer programs in 2011-2012.

Earlier this year, CoC had made a draft of its comments available to the public for comment via a wiki. ONS member and ACoS CoC Liaison Member Diane Otte, RN, MS, OCN®, had worked closely with an ONS advisory panel of experts to provide formal feedback to the CoC Standards Steering Committee and workgroups that developed the standards. When the draft revision was posted, Otte again led the ONS advisory panel to review the changes and provide formal feedback. Although the guidelines incorporate many of the original revisions that Otte’s team submitted, changes to select wording in relation to nursing training and expertise, nursing leadership, and the definition of specialized oncology nursing care was recommended.

Otte represents ONS as a member of the CoC Executive Education and Accreditation committees, as well as a number of subcommittees and project groups. She also has served on the Standards Revision Steering Committee and the Clinical Management and Outcomes workgroups for the standards revision work over the past year and a half.

“A great deal of work was done by many dedicated individuals, which included all key disciplines,” Otte said. She encouraged ONS members to contact her directly with any questions or comments.

A copy of the actual letter sent to the CoC is provided here.

ONS Hosts Successful 35th Annual Congress

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ONS’s 35th Annual Congress, held May 13–16 in San Diego, CA, attracted nearly 4,000 healthcare professionals who enjoyed more than 55 sessions as well as exhibits and ancillary events covering the latest in oncology nursing content.

Legislative Update
 

Read more about ONS's legislative action news and events.

Latest News From ONS


Oncology Nursing Society Sponsors the Institute of Medicine’s National Cancer Policy Forum
PITTSBURGH, PA – July 30, 2010 – The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) National Cancer Policy Forum. The Forum explores emerging policy issues in the nation’s effort to combat cancer and enables all members to be full participants in identifying and debating critical issues and examining potential actions.
ONS President Addresses FDA
PITTSBURGH, PA – July 26, 2010 – Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) President Carlton Brown, RN, PhD, AOCN®, testified before a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committee in Washington, DC, regarding the proposed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) for Extended-Release and Long-Acting Opioid Analgesics, which seeks to address the issue of opioid misuse and abuse. The CoC has replied to the letter, indicating that it intends to take some of ONS’s suggestions.
ONS Celebrates Milestone
PITTSBURGH, PA – July 2, 2010 – The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is celebrating its 35th anniversary as a professional association providing membership benefits to more than 36,000 registered nurses who specialize in caring for patients with cancer.
ONS Awarded for Publishing Excellence
PITTSBURGH, PA – June 15, 2010 – The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) was honored by the Association Media and Publishing as a winner of the esteemed EXCEL Award in two categories at its recent 30th Annual EXCEL Awards Gala in Washington, DC.
ONS Announces 2010–2011 Board of Directors
SAN DIEGO, CA – May 15, 2010 – The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) announced its 2010–2011 Board of Directors at its 35th Annual Congress in San Diego, CA.
ONS Provides Key Nursing Resources to Support Cancer Clinical Trials Recommendations
The Oncology Nursing Society’s (ONS’s) long-standing efforts to support clinical trials funding and access to participation are in line with recommendations offered in the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) recent report on the Cooperative Group Program and the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO’s) response to the report.
Oncology Nursing and Social Work Professional Associations Release Position on Patient Navigation  
PITTSBURGH, PA – April 13, 2010 – The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) worked together to develop a joint position statement on the role of oncology nursing and oncology social work in patient navigation.
Donna O. McCarthy, PhD, RN, FAAN, Receives ONS Foundation Research Grant Award
PITTSBURGH, PA – April 8, 2010 – Donna O. McCarthy, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Mildred E. Newton Professor of Nursing at The Ohio State University, is a recipient of a research grant supported by The National Lung Cancer Partnership and the ONS Foundation.
ONS Names Distinguished Publishing Award for Editor
PITTSBURGH, PA – April 8, 2010 – The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is pleased to announce the renaming of its distinguished publishing award in honor of long-time editor Rose Mary Carroll-Johnson, MN, RN. The ONS Distinguished Award for Scholarship and Consistency of Contributions to the Oncology Nursing Literature is now known as the Rose Mary Carroll-Johnson ONS Distinguished Award for Consistent Contributions to the Nursing Literature
Where Does Our Future Lie?
The Board wanted to know your thoughts on that question as they prepared for their January Board meeting, so we asked and you answered. The rising costs of cancer care and the need for evidence-based practice guidelines and standards topped the list of concerns that oncology nurses have about the future based on a survey that ONS conducted this January. Get a full summary of the findings, including a podcast featuring ONS President Brenda Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN, to find out more.
ONS Addresses Need to Expand Role of Advanced Practice Nurses to Ensure continued Delivery of Quality Cancer Care
PITTSBURGH, PA - January 29, 2010 - Advanced practice nurses are essential in managing the increased demand for quality cancer care. Expanded cancer treatment options, increased survivorship, and an aging population call for expanding the role of advanced practice nurses to help bridge the gap between patient needs and physicians.
ONS Foundation Receives Funding for Breast Cancer Quality Initiative
PITTSBURGH, PA-November 24, 2009-A three-year project that will develop, test, and evaluate quality-of-care measures for patient- and survivor-centered experiences of diverse populations of women with breast cancer can be launched thanks to a $1.54 million grant that will be distributed to the ONS Foundation over three years from the Breast Cancer Fund of National Philanthropic Trust (NPT).
Oncology Nursing Society Responds to Update on Breast Cancer Screening
PITTSBURGH, PA - November 18, 2009 - Evidence regarding the benefits of mammography screening and breast self-examination has been conflicting, and recently announced guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force further add to the dialogue about this important issue. The task force's update recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40-49 and teaching breast self-examinations. This is a change from the previous recommendation developed in 2002 that recommended routine screening mammography in women aged 40-49 every one to two years and stated that insufficient evidence existed at that time to recommend or not recommend breast self-examination instruction.
ONS Hosts Successful 35th Annual Congress