RE:Connect

Socially Networked Congress

Hello, Everyone! I'm brand new to the RE:Connect blog, and I couldn't be more excited to contribute. The time since Congress has been super busy, but I'm still thrilled about all I learned at Congress and all the new people I met. I always look forward to networking at Congress, but this year was different. Better. Thanks to social media. Congress was everywhere in social media - YouTube, Twitter, Crowdvine, Facebook and more. My Congress experience was definitely enriched through the use of these tools.

Crowdvine really served as a central location for all social networking activities, as it aggregated all the YouTube and Twitter streams. If you missed Congress, you can still get a glimpse of the fun by viewing several Congress videos on Crowdvine or YouTube. Yep, YouTube. It's not just for skateboarding dog videos anymore. Through Crowdvine, I was able to reconnect with friends and colleagues before traveling to San Antonio and even set up times to meet other nurses that I had never met before. That's how I met Brenda Nevidjon, current ONS President, the very first day of Congress. Who knows - I may have never introduced myself to her otherwise. 

During Congress, I was able to upload mobile pictures to my Facebook page for friends and family to see, and I even received instant emotional support from my Facebook network right before I spoke at my podium presentation. It was a tremendous source of encouragement for me. I also happen to use Twitter a lot, and I was able to view other Congress attendees' Twitter feeds on Crowdvine. I subsequently followed many of them and even meet a few of them in person at Congress (@guiniga & @sandyrn) and got insights into their Congress experiences when they used the #ONS_Congress hashtag. (A hashtag is a keyword that allows searches of the information.) There were just as many Congress exhibitors using Twitter as there were attendees. I was able to meet and have Twitter conversations - real conversations - throughout Congress with ONS, Cancer and Careers, Planet Cancer, CURE Magazine, Imerman Angels, Fertile Hope, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the American Cancer Society and numerous cancer survivors across the nation. Several Congress tweets were retweeted (which is like a forwarded email) to literally thousands of others around the world. How cool is that? Seriously, when do you get to talk to so many amazing organizations and people in such a short amount of time? That's the power of Congress. That's the power of social media.  

More and more nurses are joining social networks everyday. Are you a part of one? If so, which ones do you like best? If not, what's keeping you from joining? I look forward to connecting with you all here on Re:Connect and who knows where else in the social media world!

Chemo in the Non-Oncology Setting

Among the many valuable sessions at Congress last week was one that asked whether or not nurses in non-oncology settings should be trained to administer chemotherapy agents.  This is a sensitive subject that illicits very strong opinions on both sides.  The session was very informative and attendees offered many positive comments at the session conclusion. 

The bottom line is this: Oncology nurses are considered the "chemo experts" who are oftentimes summoned to non-oncology areas to administer "chemo" to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ectopic pregnancy, etc.  Although we are "chemo experts", we are not RA, lupus, or ectopic pregnancy experts.  So, do we train oncology nurses to be RA, lupus, etc. experts or do we train those who are RA, lupus, etc. experts how to safely administer select chemo agents to their patients. 

I will step out there and offer my humble opinion with which you are welcome to disagree.  I love point - counterpoint, so please feel free to post your thoughts!  Frankly, I am an oncology nurse and don't have the desire to be an RA, lupus, etc. expert.  My plate is quite full already!  These medications are already being given by untrained nurses in many settings.  As oncology nurses, we have the opportunity to lead the educational efforts for our nursing colleagues, ensuring that they receive appropriate information.  The need for education regarding safe chemo administration in non-oncology settings is one that is not going to decrease in the future.  As a leader in the oncology nursing community, ONS has developed a course for this purpose.  The course was offered at Congress for the first time as was the trainer course.  I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend both and, as usual, ONS has developed a high quality course that should help many nurses.

Keep your eyes open for this course to be offered over the next several months.  Recommend it to your organizations for their non-oncology nurses.  This 4 hour course is appropriate for those who give chemo agents for reasons other than cancer.  ONS recommends the 16 hour Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Guidelines for Administration course for those nurses who will administer chemo agents for cancer diagnoses.

Please post your opinion on this highly-debated topic:  Pros and cons?  For or against?

Pictures from ONS Congress

 

The pictures above are my favorite, they were all taken at the Opening Ceremony.  The first picture is of me in the front of the stage with the Alamo in the rear which I visited by the way and it was very fascinating.  The second represents all the countries where nurses traveled from to be represented at Congress.  And the third is a photo of the stage prior to the ceremony began.  Similar to Kimberly my experience has been amazing.  I learned so much and I had so much fun networking with other nurses and bonding with my colleagues from home.  I literally can't wait to go to San Diego next year. Hope to see you there as well!!!!!!

Congress Update

I'm back!

Wow, what an experience!  What have I done today?  Well, I began my morning at the ONCC Recognition Breakfast.  This is always a great event and I must say, I needed that!  Our speaker, Barb, was a riot!  She is a pediatric NP and has worked oncology as well.  Oh what stories she had to tell.  I love it when you learn and laugh hysterically at the same time.  If anyone is ever in need of a speaker, she was absolutely unforgettable!  The Bench to Bedside was enlightening, covering changes in care due to new radiation technology.  Again, this is not my specialty and it is fantastic when you are able to "connect the dots".  Next, I attended a session about preceptor programs in the oncology specialty.  This was really a discussion session, with our speaker giving insight and suggestions.  The group then had the opportunity to provide feedback to peers regarding practices that have or have not worked for them.  No sense in recreating the wheel!  My lunch session covered NHL and I am very impressed with the speakers' abilities - how do they cover that much information and have it make sense?! The three speakers were experts - incredibly knowledgeable. I had been fortunate enough to hear one of the speakers previously (Chris Friese) and he never disappoints!  My next session addressed the issue of chemotherapy in the non-oncology setting.  As this is an event that continues to increase in frequency, we need to be prepared.  Again, the speakers were incredible and have offered all of their resources for a successful implementation project to anyone who requests them. I adore my specialty and the unequaled sincerity and camaraderie displayed by my colleagues!

Kudos to ONS and all oncology nurses!  You rock!!

ONS Congress in Sunny San Antonio, TX

I'm here at the internet cafe at the convention center and I'm having a good time.  Opening ceremony this morning was great and the keynote speaker Geralyn Lucus author of "Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy" was absolutely amazing.  Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so because there is a really long line of nurses behind me waiting to have their books signed.  I'm taking lots of pics and will post some later when I get back to my hotel room.  I hope you will write and let us know if your at Congress and what you're doing.

Education Workshops

Today our local chapter held our 6th Annual Education Workshop. As president it is one of my responsibilities to plan and execute this day every year with our executive group. It always a lot of work and in the days leading up to the event I am always overwhelmed with the task at hand and filled with doubt that it will be a successful event and serve the learning needs of our membership.

This years theme was Ignite the Passion and what better way to energize our chapter than to bring a nurse leader in to serve as keynote speaker. Our local chapter was able to bring in the President -elect of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO) to deliver the keynote address. Her talk titled "Examining Cancer through the Ages: A Timeline Perspective Ignites Excitement for the Future of Oncology Nurses" reminded us how quickly cancer care and oncology have evolved in the past 50 years despite the first recorded case of cancer in 1600BC. This frenetic pace of research and discovery helps to explain the feelings we have as nurses of being overwhelmed, over-extended and surrounded by endless new information, new treatments, and different ways to practice. In those moments it is hard tomake sense of our surroundings let alone forge out a path for the future. She reminded us of what an exciting time it is to be an oncology nurse. As we look forward the future is bright and the opportunities available for nurses are countless.

As I sit back and reflect on our most successful workshop I am proud to be an oncology nurse. I am proud to have put forth the effort with my colleagues to provide this opportunity for local nurses to come together and share their ideas with one another. As the ONS Congress approaches I encourage nurses to attend if possible. Education opportunities should be embraced and the ONS Congress is an excellent way for oncology nurses to keep current and learn from each other. The exchange of ideas and knowledge is one way to ignite the passion in all of us.

ONS Congress 2009: Was your Abstract Accepted for a Poster or Podium?

Everyone here is excited because yesterday we started to hear if our abstracts were accepted for posters, podiums or sadly not accepted at all.  I am happy to announce that several of my colleagues had their abstracts accepted including one that I personally mentored who submitted an abstract for the very first time and was accepted for a podium. Not only is the staff ecstatic that they will soon be headed to sunny San Antonio, but they are eager to share their knowledge and expertise of their selected topics with oncology nurses all around the world.  It's nice to know that something you do everyday could be used by another institution, practice or oncology nurse to improve patient care, satisfaction, outcome, safety, quality..........the possibilities are endless.  

Once the excitement is over everyone will indeed settle down to create their posters and podium presentations. Graphics will print several revisions of posters, slides will be edited up until the final moment for podiums and presenters will have rehearsed their presentation a million times prior to Congress. Although it's a lot of work, in the end it will all be worth it.  The sense of pride and accomplishment an oncology nurse feels after attending Congress is indescribable and every oncology nurse should experience it at least once in their career.

CONGRATS to those that were accepted and I'll see you all in San Antonio!!!!!    

Video of the Hands-On Portion of the APN Diagnostic Sessions

Sights from the 2008 APN and IOL Conferences

The following photos are from the photo shoot we had at the wonderful Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The shoot went very well, and we would like to thank the staff and patients for being so supportive. 

Here are some photos of the APN Diagnostic Sessions.

APN Opening:

Chemo Bio Course:

Poster Sessions:

All of these photos were taken Thursday, and we will have video of the APN Diagnostic Sessions soon. 

Kimberly George LIVE from IOL

Hello to everyone and welcome to day 1 of Re:Connect! I am "reporting to you LIVE" from IOL - Seattle. It is amazing to watch so many people at work to organize a conference like IOL.

I am one of the planning team members this year. Our team met earlier today and took a tour of the convention center. It is beautiful - lots of windows/natural sunlight. Our team is made up of members from around the country. Karyl, our team leader, is from Billings, Montana; Martha, our home city leader, lives about 20 minutes from the convention center; Ellen and Donna live in Hershey and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; Katen hails from North Plainfield, New Jersey; and me, from Wichita Falls, Texas. 

The wonderful ladies from ONS get to organize our activities and get us back on track! They are fantastic!

So, after our morning planning meeting and tour, several of us went to Virginia Mason where Martha will be starting in a new position bright and early Monday morning. We are extremely impressed with their processes and outcomes management endeavors. I will sign-off for now and hopefully, I can post a few pics later on......