The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is a nonprofit membership organization of more than 35,000 members committed to promoting excellence in

oncology nursing An oncology nurse is a specialized nurse who cares for cancer patients. These nurses require advanced certifications and clinical experiences in oncology further than the typical baccalaureate nursing program provides. Oncology nursing care can be ...

and the transformation of cancer care. ONS traces its origin to the first National Cancer Nursing Research Conference, supported by the

American Nurses Association The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a 501(c)(6) professional organization to advance and protect the profession of nursing. It started in 1896 as the Nurses Associated Alumnae and was renamed the American Nurses Association in 1911. It is ba ...

and the

American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more than ...

in 1973. Following this conference, a small group of oncology nurses met to discuss the need for a national organization to support their profession. Since its official incorporation in 1975, it has grown to include 215 chapters. It provides information and education to nurses around the world. In addition, the society plays an active role in

advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...

activities at the local, state, national, and international levels. ONS produces the largest conference dedicated to oncology nursing, Congress, held annually. ONS members represent a variety of professional roles, practice settings, and subspecialty practice areas.

Registered nurses A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized licensing body to o ...

, including staff nurses, advanced practice nurses, case managers, educators, researchers, consultants, and other healthcare professionals, are eligible for membership. The society offers information and resources for nurses at all levels, in all practice settings, and in all subspecialties.

Nursing education

ONS is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. ONS is also accredited as a provider of continuing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #2850. ONS offers online and in-person education for oncology nurses to stay current on the latest cancer treatments and symptom management techniques. The society also holds both in-person and e-conferences.

Publications

ONS publishes two scholarly journals: the ''

Oncology Nursing Forum ''Oncology Nursing Forum'' is a bimonthly peer-reviewed nursing journal covering oncology nursing. It was established in 1977 and is published by the Oncology Nursing Society. The editor-in-chief is Debra Lyon. According to the ''Journal Citation ...

'' and the '' Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing''. The Society's news magazine, ''ONS Voice'', is published both in print and online. ONS also publishes books, guidelines, and standards for the cancer care community.

Advocacy

ONS participates in a variety of

activities. It lobbies Congress on behalf of nursing and especially oncology nursing. For example, ONS signed on to the nursing consensus statement to improve patients’ access to, cost, and quality of treatment as part of the 2010 healthcare reform. It also advocated with the nursing community for nursing provisions to be included as part of the healthcare reform bills.

Cancer Patient Treatment Education Bill

With Representative

Steve Israel Steven J. Israel (born May 30, 1958) is an American political commentator, lobbyist, author, bookseller and former politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 2001 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected ...

as the bill sponsor, ONS reintroduced the Assuring and Improving Cancer Treatment Education and Cancer Symptom Act (H.R. 1661) to the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

in 2013. The legislation would provide for Medicare reimbursement of the time that registered nurses spend educating people diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers about their disease and the effects of treatment.

ONSEdge

ONSEdge was a former healthcare intelligence company and the former for-profit subsidiary of the Oncology Nursing Society. It specialized in a core group of services: healthcare

advisory boards An advisory board is a body that provides non-binding strategic advice to the management of a corporation, organization, or foundation. The informal nature of an advisory board gives greater flexibility in structure and management compared to th ...

, ancillary events at oncology

nursing Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...

conferences, speaker bureau programs, strategic planning and marketing support, market research, and communications and awareness campaign development and support.

References

External links

ONS website

ONS:Edge
{{Authority control Nursing organizations in the United States Medical and health organizations based in Pennsylvania