Nurses Discuss the Value of the ONS Annual Congress

Five nurses discuss the value of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Annual Congress, which is the largest meeting held specifically for oncology nurses. The meeting offers many ancillary events, as well as satellite symposia and cutting-edge sessions.

The new editor of the Oncology Nursing Forum, Anne Katz, RN, PhD, from Manitoba Prostate Centre at the University of Manitoba, believes the meeting is important because it offers the opportunity to learn new things while networking with peers. Through learning new items and networking nurses can improve their practice.

The ability to network and share ideas at the ONS Congress is of extreme important to Jami DeNigris, RN, BA, OCN®, a Hematology Oncology nurse from Hahnemann University Hospital. She notes it is important to see what other hospitals are doing and how they are treating their patients. The ability to learn new items from another nurse is an important aspect of the congress.

Patient navigator Carol J. Bush, BS, RN, from the Midwest Cancer Alliance at The University of Kansas Cancer Center believes the ONS Congress is the single most important investment a nurse or a health system can make. The information gleamed at the conference elevates a nurse's performance. She believes there is no replacement for a strong network and nurse-to-nurse education.

The ONS Congress provides an opportunity for the oncology nurse to refresh and catch up on research and information they may have missed, states Erin McMenamin, MSN, a radiation oncology nurse from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, the meeting allows an opportunity to network with other nurses and learn about new products.

As the incoming president of ONS, Mary Gullatte, PhD, RN, APRN, BC, AOCN®, FAAN, an associate chief nursing officer at Emory University Hospital Midtown, believes the congress offers opportunities to renew and reconnect with old friends. Additionally, the ONS congress provides nurses with an opportunity to learn about the latest and greatest in oncology.

The next installment of the ONS Annual Congress will take place April 25 - 28, 2013, in Washington, DC. For more information visit http://www.ons.org/

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