There are times in life when individuals need professional help. From legal aid to medical help, there are things that we simply need from others. The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is a professional organization comprised of more than 30,000 registered nurses and other health care providers that are extremely dedicated to excellence with regard to patient care and education in oncology nursing. The ONS is unique because it is the largest professional oncology association in the entire world.
The Oncology Nursing Society is composed of members who represent a variety of professional roles, practice settings, and subspecialty practice areas. There are registered nurses, staff nurses, advanced practice nurses, case managers, educators, researchers, and consultants. Other healthcare providers benefit from their membership in ONS. The society offers helpful information and opportunities for nurses at all different levels and in all practice settings. The benefits that members receive are seen in a wide array of useful professional resources.
The ONS traces its origin to the first National Cancer Nursing Research Conference, sponsored by the American Nurses Association and the American Cancer Society (ACS) in 1973. After this conference a small group of oncology nurses then met to talk about the need for a national organization to support their profession. Since its official incorporation in 1975, ONS has grown to become a leader in cancer care. It now includes more than 218 entire chapters and 32 special interest groups.
The vision of the Oncology Nursing Society is to lead the transformation of cancer care and to promote excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care. The ONS abides by a set of strong, core values that serve as the organization's guiding principles. There are numerous affiliates, such as the ONS Foundation, Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, and Oncology Education Services, Inc that also abide by the core beliefs of the ONS.
The achievement of the Society's vision and mission is predicated on a firm belief in six distinguished core values that the Society embraces: integrity, innovation, stewardship, advocacy, excellence, and inclusiveness.
The Oncology Society has many educational constituents that help to make it such an effective organization. It presents a stimulating and informative annual Congress that features pre-Congress sessions, instructional and discussion sessions, invited lectures, and exhibits. In addition, every fall the ONS provides the annual Institutes of Learning, which offers comprehensive education that covers a span of topics. ONS also sponsors a cancer nursing research conference dedicated to scholarly exchanges about cancer nursing science and practice. The Society also participates in various professional lectures, workshops, and meetings at national and international levels.
There are many different members and affiliates connected to the Oncology Nursing Society . ONS memberships include the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, the American Nurses Association, the National Coalition for Cancer Research, the International Union Against Cancer, the Nursing Organizations Alliance, and the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care. Through its Publishing Division, the ONS has developed and created numerous resources that have been designed to help the professional nurse and other members of the healthcare team to develop a strong foundation of knowledge about cancer care.
By Kristin Lockwood