Maureen O Hara Chosen OCN Nurse of the Year!

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1 Inside SFBAONS The Official Newsletter of the San Francisco Chapter Volume 30, Issue 2, September 2011 sfbaons.vc.ons.org September 2011 Inside SFBAONS Maureen O Hara Chosen OCN Nurse of the Year! by Sherry Hu, RN, OCN The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) has selected Maureen O Hara, RN, BSN, OCN as the 2011 Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year, an award presented annually to one of the more than 30,000 nurses certified either as an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN ), Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON ), Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse (AOCN ), Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP ), Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS ), Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN ), or Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON ). O Hara was selected for the award for her contributions to oncology nursing and oncology nursing service and for supporting and promoting certification in oncology nursing. The award was presented during the ONCC Recognition Breakfast for Oncology Certified Nurses on April 29, 2011 in Boston, MA. O Hara is presently a Staff Nurse in F Ground at Stanford Hospitals and Clinics in Stanford, CA where she has worked for 39 years. She has been OCN certified since 1989 and was among the first oncology certified nurses at Stanford Hospitals. When asked how she felt about receiving the award, she said that she was, deeply humbled given the thousands of certified oncology nurses there are across the nation. Of course, added O Hara, I was really excited and surprised, at being chosen. Having her family, friends, and colleagues from across the country at the breakfast meeting in Boston to watch the presentation was really special. But despite all the accolades, O Hara feels that her greatest achievements have been at the bedside, especially with newly diagnosed patients. They were healthy two weeks before and now they are petrified; they are sick. She feels that this is the point at which a nurse can make a huge difference. You don t know whether they are going to be the one that will be cured (Continued on page 2) Inside Events October 1, 2011 Oncology Care Update South San Francisco Conference Center November 4-6, 2011 ONS 12th Annual Institutes of Learning Salt Lake City, Utah November 17 Cognitive Effects of Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy Shelli R. Kesler, PhD May 3-6, th ONS Annual Congress New Orleans, LA Page President s Letter 3 Board Information 4 Legislative Update 5 OCN Funding 5 SFBAONS Application 6 Sue Zahl Grant 7 Certification Grant 9 Announcements 11 1

2 or not. But regardless of the outcome, you still have a profound impact on the process, on their journey, different than medicine, different than physicians not better, but different. O Hara considers this a special place to be in someone s life. I think it is privilege to enter somebody s life when they are so vulnerable and so in need of support and education and good clinical care. You re treating the whole person; the physical, the psychological, and the spiritual. It is a continuum. She compares how different it is from treating a broken leg where a patient receives care and goes home. Usually, a nurse will not see them again. But here in F ground, a particular chemo regimen can t be done as an outpatient. You usually see sarcoma or lymphoma patients who have relapsed and are heading to transplant but need chemo, or newly diagnosed lymphoma with a high risk for tumor lyses syndrome. These patients will be here for 3 to 6 weeks during which time doctors, fellows and attendings will be constantly changing. But the nurses are always the same. We are the consistent piece. Even when the patient returns for consolidation chemo or bounces back with fever or neutropenia, the same nurses are there. We are the ones that patients know and trust. Then oncology nurse is able to make that connection with the patient. We know their likes and dislikes and their family members. In oncology nursing you re able to establish those relationships. That s just a privilege. And to me that s the heart of it. As a newly certified oncology nurse, I was interested to find out what advice O Hara would give to best help our patients deal with, as she calls it, the cancer continuum. Well, I think that certification makes a difference, she told me. A lot of people ask Why get certified? She thinks that it shows personally and professionally to both your peers and to patients that this is what you really want to do; that you want to learn as much as you can learn about your chosen specialty. Maur een O Har a and Sherr y H u s har e a s mile during dinner at the Sept 15 SFBAON S pres entation of The Burden of Lung Canc er Stigma by Janine C atalano, PhD, APRN-BC 2 September 2011 Inside SFBAONS Getting certified just shows commitment and passion for excellence! So, if a patient asks me, What does OCN mean after your name? I tell them with pride that it s a national certification for which you have to take a national test that encompasses a wide body of knowledge. I think it makes a difference for them to know that they have a nationally certified nurse. And, O Hara points out, that every four years you have to take 100 continuing education units. That process really keeps you up to date on what s going on in your field and keeps you focused on professional excellence. From a family point of view, O Hara says that she was inspired by her parents to always strive for excellence, doing things right and to the best of your ability. And she adds that this was a principle that she learned in her education at USF the Jesuit philosophy of always going for the greater. On her nursing pin there are the letters, AMDG, To the greater glory of God. She said that she remembers at graduation, that the emphasis was always on the greater. We were taught always to strive for excellence in whatever we did: in our nursing careers, in our families, and in our personal lives. And I think certification is part of that, it shows your commitment and that passion towards excellence. And in that way, because you know the newer drugs, the newer symptom managements, and the latest techniques, you become a better nurse, and you are better able to care for your patients. It s obvious that for her commitment, her skills and her dedication, Maureen O Hara deserves to be called the 2011 Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year this year, but probably her patients think of her that way every year as well. References: Maureen O Hara, RN, MSN, OCN, Named 2011 Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year. (2011), Retrieved September 10, 2011, from

3 3 September 2011 Inside SFBAONS

4 2011 SFBAONS Board of Directors President John Merriman, RN, AOCNS President-Elect Vacant Secretary Huifang (Sherry) Hu, RN, OCN co-secretary Sandra Sweeney, RN, OCN Treasurer Malinda Law, RN, OCN Treasurer-elect Stephanie Stern, RN, OCN Directors-at-Large Samantha Shenoy, RN, NP Christina Van Onselen, PhD, RN, CNS Membership Chair Stephanie Gilbertson-White, PhD, RN, CNS Nominating Chair Ellen Smiley, RN, OCN Program Chair Julie Illi, RN, OCN co-program Chair Sigrid Schafmann, RN Legislative Liaison Miranda Kramer, RN, ACNP-BC, CNS, RNFA SFBAONS Needs Board Members. Please consider joining our board in any of the following open positions. Contact Ellen Smiley, Nominating Chair, for details. Open Positions for 2011/2012 President (one-year term): Arrange January business meeting Preside over four board meetings Submit annual report to ONS President-elect: In 2011, learn the position of President In 2012, assume the position of President Director-at-Large (two-year term): Arrange Oncology Care Update - Dues in the amount of $30 are payable each calendar year. Please remember that your national ONS membership must be current to join SFBAONS. If you have not already renewed your 2011 chapter membership, download our 2011 program calendar and membership brochure on our website: sfbaons.vc.ons.org - The San Francisco Bay Area Oncology Nursing Society (SFBAONS) Interest Group was formed in 1977 and in May 1981 became the seventh local chapter to receive an official charter from the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). The next board meeting is Tuesday, October 18, We welcome your attendance and encourage anyone interested in assuming a leadership role in 2012 to participate. Please contact any board member for details. 4

5 OCN Funding By Miranda Kramer, Legislative Liaison Thinking of getting your oncology certification in 2012? The time is right! The California Masons are sponsoring the By Your Side program to help oncology nurses get certified. The application for the program will be available soon with funding available in January The program is first-come, first serve while funding lasts...so get certified early in 2012! Applicants who are obtaining their first oncology certification will receive approximately $600 if not reimbursed directly from their employer for the direct cost of the exam. Those nurses who do receive reimbursement for the cost of the exam will be eligible for a prorated reimbursement. September 2011 Inside SFBAONS Ask Hall to Rethink His Position on Smoke-free Workplaces The American Cancer Society is cosponsoring SB 575 (DeSaulnier), a bill to close loopholes in the state's smoke-free workplace law, with the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and the Health Officers' Association of California. Closing these loopholes would protect thousands of employees from having to be exposed to secondhand smoke inside the workplace; but Assembly Member Isadore Hall, as chair of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee, has stopped the bill's progress by refusing to allow a hearing on the bill. Please send Assembly member Hall an asking him to reconsider his position: cmd=display&page=useraction&id=6864 5

6 The San Francisco Bay Area Oncology Nursing Society Welcomes you! Registration: 6:00 PM Dinner: 6:30-8:00 PM Members: FREE Non-Members: $20 To make adequate reservations, we request that participants register before the meeting by replying to announcements or by sending an RSVP to: SFBAONS is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing: CE provider number Local Chapter Membership Benefits: Educational opportunities Networking Peer support Sue Zahl scholarship awards Certification scholarship awards Newsletter National ONS Membership Benefits: Subscriptions to the Oncology Nursing Forum, the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, and ONS Connect Reduced rates for ONS conferences Unrestricted access to ONS Online Reduced fees for OCN and advanced practice certification exams Networking opportunities Educational resources Scholarship awards Questions: Please us at: New member Returning member Name RN # *ONS member # ONS expiration date (required) ONCC certification type (OCN, etc.) Address City State Zip Phone By prov iding your address, you w ill be enrolled in the SFBAONS group list to receive chapter announcements. Employer Position Please check box if you are interested in volunteer opportunities w ith SFBAONS. E l i g i b i l i t y f o r S F B A O N S *Current membership at any level in the Oncology Nursing Society ( is required. Make check payable to SFBAONS and send with this application to: SFBAONS P.O. Box San Jose, CA Dues: $30/calendar year 6

7 SFBAONS Sue Zahl Education Fund Sue Zahl was one of the most kind and energetic members that SFBAONS has had the privilege of knowing. Sue was an excellent nurse educator, and she possessed a love of oncology nursing that most found contagious. Sue s untimely death in 1989 led to the establishment of the SFBAONS Sue Zahl Education Fund. The fund accepts gifts and donations throughout the year. The fund is to be used by members of SFBAONS to support their continuing oncology education. Criteria: Current membership in SFBAONS and ONS. Request must be for support of oncology nursing related educational offerings. Proven commitment to SFBAONS through committee participation, Board participation, newsletter contribution, etc. Preference will be given to first time fund applicants and actively involved members of SFBAONS. Applicants are allowed to apply for this grant once a year. Approved by at least three SFBAONS Board members, excluding applicants. Maximum grant amount is $500. Preference is given to applications submitted to the current SFBAONS President or Treasurer for review and approval before the event. However, applications should be received no later than 30 days post educational event. Complete documentation of attendance and expense receipts should be received within 30 days post educational event. SFBAONS will maintain in the bank account enough money to cover a minimum of ten Sue Zahl awards. A maximum of ten awards will be granted in each fiscal year. The SFBAONS Treasurer is responsible for maintaining an accurate account of the fund as well as the disbursement of all monies. The SFBAONS Board of Directors will review this policy annually. 7

8 San Francisco Bay Area Oncology Nursing Society Sue Zahl Education Fund Application Mail or deliver application to the current SFBAONS President or Treasurer. The application must be delivered/postmarked no later than 30 days after the event. Documentation of attendance (i.e., a continuing education form) and original receipts must be received no later than 30 days after the event. Preference will be given to applications received before the event. Name Address Phone (Home) (Work) Occupation/Place of employment Number of years in BAONS Number of years in ONS National ONS Membership Number Exp. Date Educational conference Date(s) of conference Amount requested (Maximum: $500.00) Please describe your contributions to SFBAONS (attach separate page, if necessary): I agree to write an article for the monthly newsletter or volunteer with another SFBAONS activity within the calendar year. I agree to provide SFBAONS with proof of attendance to this educational conference within 30 days after attending the stated event. I understand that application does not guarantee award. Signature of applicant: 8

9 SFBAONS Oncology Nursing Certification Education Fund Certification in oncology nursing makes a difference - to the patients whose care is provided by oncology certified nurses, to employers who must staff their facilities with skilled and experienced cancer nurses, and to the individual nurse who attains the credential. SFBAONS supports its members who are interested in becoming oncology nurse certified or who wish to continue certification with the renewal process. The Oncology Nursing Certification Fund will grant an SFBAONS member the exam testing fee or renewal fee for the OCN, CPON, AOCN, AOCNP or AOCNS credential. Criteria: Current membership in SFBAONS and ONS. Proven commitment to SFBAONS through committee participation, Board participation, newsletter contribution, roundtable speaker, etc. Preference will be given to first-time fund applicants, actively involved members of SFBAONS, and applicants who describe their contribution plans to SFBAONS. Applicants are allowed to apply for this grant for certification or renewal of the OCN, CPON, AOCN, AOCNP or AOCNS credential. Applicant must submit a receipt of the testing registration, proof of test completion, and proof of certification or renewal. Applicants who plan to test for certification or renewal can apply for grant at anytime, regardless of when he/she plans to take the certification exam (e.g., applicant plans to take exam in November but submits fund application in April). Written application must be submitted to the current SFBAONS President or Treasurer for review and approval during the calendar year of planned certification or renewal (e.g., if applicant plans to take test in November 2010, the applicant must apply in 2010). Each award must be approved by at least three SFBAONS Board members, excluding the applicant. Grant amount will match the testing fee. SFBAONS will grant a maximum of four awards from the Oncology Nursing Certification Education Fund per fiscal year. Applicants will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Applicant must specifically state how he/she will contribute to SFBAONS to be considered. SFBAONS will maintain in the bank account enough money to cover four awards. The SFBAONS Treasurer is responsible for maintaining an accurate accounting of the fund, as well as the disbursement of all monies. The SFBAONS Board of Directors will review this policy annually. 9

10 San Francisco Bay Area Oncology Nursing Society Oncology Nursing Certification Fund Application Mail or deliver application to the current SFBAONS President or Treasurer. Name Address Phones (Home) (Work) Occupation/Place of employment Number of years in BAONS National ONS Membership Number Type of Oncology Nurse Certification Date of test Certification Expiration Date Amount requested (Registration Fee) Number of years in ONS Exp. Date Please specifically describe your contributions to SFBAONS or your planned contributions. Possible contributions include writing an article for the SFBAONS newsletter, volunteering to help a board member with a project/event, or speaking at the ONS Congress Roundtable Dinner Meeting. I agree to contribute to SFBAONS as described above within the calendar year. I agree to provide SFBAONS with proof of test completion and proof of certification or renewal. I understand that application does not guarantee award. Signature of applicant: 10

11 An n oun cemen ts an d Op por tun ities Oncology Resource RN Sutter Delta Medical Center, part of the Sutter Health Network, is a n ationally ranked acute care facility located in East Contra Costa County. For over 40 years, we ve brought personalized, innovative healthcare to the Delta Gateway region, proudly serving the residents of the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Bryon, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg that m ake up East Contra Costa County. Known for its rural charm, popular destinations for outdoor recreation, and affordable, family-friendly neighborhoods, East Contra Costa County is within easy reach to all that Northern California has to offer. Residents here enjoy an easy lifestyle and the convenience of being ideally situated between the urban energy of the San Francisco Bay Area and the peaceful serenity of Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. The Oncology Resource Nurse(ORN) uses clinical expertise to provide a range of education and case management services to professionals and patients, and collaborates with hospital departments and community organizations to ensure a continuum of care for cancer patients. The ORN, in collaboration with Medical Directors and the Director of Ancillary Services, supports pre-treatment conferences involving a multi-disciplinary team of radiologists, surgeons, oncologists, nurses, and social workers. Acting as a Navigator, this nurse assists patients with decision making and coordination of care from time of first detection of cancer. This nurse helps educate the patient about diagnostic and treatment options, about the disease process of cancer and the effects of different treatments. The nurse serves as a resource to other nursing professional in the delivery of care to cancer patients. The nurse collaborates with the Community Benefits Manager to maintain and develop new support and counseling programs related to breast cancer. Requirements: Current CA RN license BSN; MSN highly desirable Certification by the Oncology Nursing Society Must possess a minimum of 5 years of experience as an oncology nurse Knowledge of the following: normal anatomy and physiology of cancer, including normal variation; current technologies and techniques for early detection of cancer; adult learning theory and the processes and stages of death and dying and of living with a life-threatening illness; group process and dynamics theory; process and progress of different types of cancer disease; current treatment options, complementary therapies, complications of both disease and of treatment, family dynamics and associated qu ality of life issues is preferred Must have the following skills: excellent verbal and written communications skills; must be proficient and comfortable with public speaking and presentation; must have skill and experience and patience with group dynamics and process and with facilitation of effective conferences; ability to present clinical information and program data to a variety of audiences; skill and experience with computer software such as windows, excel, access, word, power point is strongly preferred; ability to express and provide comfort and sympathy in stressful situations is required As one of the nation s leading, not-for-profit networks of community-based health care providers, Sutter Health East Bay Region offers all the benefits of a large network but finds its greatest strength in the many talents that our employees share with us and their patients. To learn more, contact Stacy Blanchard, Senior Nurse Recruiter, at shebrrecruiters@sutterhealth.org or visit Announcements and Opportunit ies Content Dis claim er The expressed opinions, informational content, and links displayed as part of the Inside SFBAONS Announcements and Opportunities pages do not necessarily reflect a position or policy of SFBAONS or its affiliates. No official endorsement by SFBAONS or it s affiliates of the viewpoints expressed in these pages should be inferred. The contents of these pages are provided as an information guide only. No legal liability or other responsibility is accepted by, or on behalf of, SFBAONS for any errors, omissions, or statements on these pages, or any site to which these pages connect. SFBAONS accepts no re sponsibility for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of reliance on such information. SFBAONS cannot control content or take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers. Where we provide links to sites, we do not by doing so endorse any information or opinions appearing in them. We accept no liability whatsoever o ver the availability of linked pages. SFBAONS reserves the right to refuse the provision of lin ks to any external content, for whatever reason deemed fit. 11