Spring 2009 Volume 16 Number 4 Inside This Newsletter 1 Message from our President 2 Save These Dates!!! 2 April 23 rd Chapter Meeting 3 Member Profile: Terri Bentler 4 Chapter Announcement 5 Going to Congress? 5 RRV Chapter Online 5 Membership Application The Board would like to extend their thoughts and prayers to those who have been affected by the recent flooding in and around Fargo! Message from our President President s Message Hello, Red River Valley Chapter members. It sure has been an extraordinary spring with all the snowstorms and flooding. I really hope that everyone has been safe and are finding ways to cope during this stressful time. As we enter spring this is the time Red River Valley ONS starts getting in gear. We have a lot of fun meetings planned for the chapter this year. First of all we are providing our first ever OCN review class being held May 16 th in Fargo. We have an expert speaker form Bismarck that will be leading the review. CEU s will be provided!!! Our first general meeting will be held on April 23 rd in Grand Forks so I hope to see everyone there. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your input regarding the needs assessment formed mailed to you in December. The board has reviewed all of the input provided from the surveys. We have tried incorporating these responses into our planning 2009 chapter events I would like to summarize what the Red River Valley ONS chapter accomplished last year. Promoted Oncology Nurses Month/Day by getting proclamations from Governors of Minnesota and North Dakota and local Mayors. Along with the proclamations Nurses Day cards and candy were sent to RRV ONS chapter members at their work Held four educational for the members to attend. Programs that did not provide CEU s, other forms of CEU s were available such as publications, CD and websites. Offered membership opportunities throughout the year. Had members attend national ONS functions. Increased Membership. $1000.00 donations were given to Ronald McDonald House, Kamp KACE, and Women s Way. $250.00 was donated to ONS Foundation. Thank you to all the members that have attended meetings, given input and volunteered for the chapter. I would like to see this year be as successful as last year or even better. I can t wait to see everyone at the meeting. Sincerely, Joy Joy M Leppi RN, OCN
SAVE THESE DATES!! April 23 rd June 11 th Grand Forks (details below) Fargo Sept. 10 th Nov. 5 th Grand Forks Fargo SPRING RRV ONS CHAPTER MEETING COLORECTAL CANCER: Pathway to Survival Sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis Thank you! LOCATION Hilton Garden Inn James F. Buchli Banquet Room 4301 James Ray Drive Grand Forks, ND 58203 701-775-6000 DATE Registration: 6:00 pm Dinner: 6:30 pm SPEAKER Jane Van Deusen-Morrison RN, MS, AOCN, APRN-BC College of St. Catherine PLEASE RSVP BY APRIL 21 st!! EMAIL: CRCschedule@meniscus.com PHONE: 1-866-306-6006 WEBSITE: www.meniscus.com/crc2008/meetings/schedule.asp
PAGE 3 MEMBER PROFILE Meet Terri Bentler, RN, BSN, PHN, OCN Training: Graduated 1994 from St. Catherine s College, St. Paul, MN-RN associate degree. Graduated 2004 from Bethel College, St. Paul, MN-BSN, PHN. Number of years in Nursing/Oncology: 8 Work background: My early training was in accounting and bookkeeping. I worked for 15 years with UPS in dispatch, accounting and customer service. I came to nursing later in life. I received my associates degree in nursing through UPS s tuition reimbursement benefit. My first full time nursing position was in an acute care hospital caring for patients living with the aid of a ventilator. I was certified in Healing Touch for 5 years, 2000-2005. 2001 I worked for North Memorial Medical Center full time on the Med Surg/Oncology floor. The work was always challenging and full of learning opportunities. I worked with a superb staff and appreciated all the insights and advice I received. In 2004 I transferred to Hubert Humphrey Cancer Center and learned outpatient care. I felt this was my niche and again learned volumes from my coworkers. In May of 2005 I was hired by Meritcare Clinic, Bemidji in oncology as an infusion nurse. I now work in the office practice as RN lead. What attracted you to Oncology nursing? I think the most influential attraction to oncology nursing has been the example of my cohorts. I believe oncology nurses are a special breed. I have gained nursing and life skills from observing coworkers. Our patients come to us so vulnerable, so full of questions and fears. It is a gift to educate, care, provide hope, celebrate the successes, and mourn the losses with our patients. We have the opportunity to know our patients more wholly then many other nursing roles. Oncology care is constantly changing; there is never a dull moment. I like the challenge of continuous learning. Thank you, Terri!! What do you feel is important about ONS? ONS provides a wide range of learning opportunities and support to help the oncology nurse provide the best up to date care. I have completed online courses, attended Congress and Institutes of Learning and try to keep up with my journal reading. I appreciate RRV ONS as another resource supporting my skills as an oncology nurse. It is always great to visit at the meetings with other nurses in the region. Personal background: I am very proud of my two grown daughters. My older daughter is married with two children here in Bemidji and that is a most wonderful gift. My younger daughter works in cytology at Mayo clinic in Rochester. I was remarried in Nov. 08 and have been loving every minute. We will be doing much yard work this summer with a fair amount of golf. Bemidji is my hometown and I feel very fortunate to be here serving our oncology patients and working with yet another excellent staff.
JOIN THE ONS BOARD!! We are recruiting for the vacant Nominations Committee Chair position. Please contact Joy or any of our Board members if you are interested in the position. We would love to have you on the team!! The RRV Chapter Board Members are ready and willing to assist you with any questions/needs regarding ONS. Feel free to contact any one of us at any time! Email addresses of Board members: President Joy Leppi : joy.leppi@cancercenternd.com President-Elect Leanne Pladson: leanne.pladson@imclone.com Nomination Open Treasurer Diana Moon: diana.moon@meritcare.com Past President Wanda dekrey: wdekrey@altru.org Secretary LeRoyce Hagen: lhagen@abraxisbio.com Membership Tana Shereck: Tana.shereck@sanofi-aventis.com Membership Myrahy Huber: mhuber@dakcl.com Newsletter Dana Close: dclose@onyx-pharm.com Are you going to CONGRESS this year? Please let Joy know if you will be attending ONS Congress in San Antonio April 30-May 3! CHECK US OUT!! www.redrivervalley.vc.ons.org
PAGE 5 Requirements: Membership Application 1. Must be a member of ONS National (category of RN, full-time student, senior nurse (>62), physically challenged, or associate non-rn) 2. Chapter Dues are $10 (January 2008 December 2008) Name: RN BSN MS OCN AOCN Other: Home Address: Professional Position: Employer: Address: Telephone: Home: ( ) Work: ( ) E-mail Address: (This will be used for sending the newsletter) National ONS Number (Required): Expiration Date: SIG Membership: Committee Interest: Membership Program Newsletter Nominating Submit application and $10 (Check payable to Red River Oncology Nursing Society) to Sherek, Tana OCN 5215 171st Ave SE Horace, ND 58047 H 701-588-4470 W 701-238-6691 tana.shereck@sanofi-aventis.com