Oncology Certified Nurses Celebrated

Nurses are important members of the health professions community—serving on the front lines, to provide care for patients, and being the conduit, in many cases, between those patients and their physicians.

Oncology nurses have a very special place in the field, as patients within this population often need additional care and attention for their individualized needs.

The University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Center realizes this and recognized nurses who see patients at the Barrett Cancer Center during a breakfast Thursday, Aug. 31. As an added token of appreciation, those who were recently certified in oncology nursing were celebrated.

The 18 nurses—all who completed certification through the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS)—were addressed by Nita Walker, MD, interim chief medical officer and senior vice president of ambulatory services at UC Health, and William Barrett, MD, chair of the department of radiation oncology and director of the UC Cancer Institute for their accomplishments during the event.

To apply for this certification, nurses must be active registered nurses who have a minimum of one year of experience and a minimum of 1,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice, as well as at least 10 hours of continuing education credits in oncology.

Then, they sit for the test which touches on topics such as early detection, scientific basis for practice, psychosocial dimensions of care and survivorship. 

Nurses who have received ONS certification include:

Robbin Blau; Valerie Eder; Dawn Grabill; Debbie Heim; Gail Johnson; Pam Johnson White; Scott Looney; Anndee Meyer; Laura Parker Jacob; Sandy Jones; Kathy Rice; Mary St. John; Lew Stoffel; Marsha Swango; Amy Voris; Kathy White; Frances Wolfe-Bertling; and Michelle Woodward.

Seeing the benefits of this certification, UC Health now offers the FreeTake Program, which will pay for any of the six oncology certification or renewals going forward.

Those who are ONS certified will also qualify for a free ONS membership. 

Nurses who are interested should contact their nurse manager or director for more information.