ONS Excellence Awards

All awards, grants, and scholarships are tentative and subject to change based on funding availability.

Excellence in Medical Oncology


Award: Monetary award of $250, a plaque, plus up to $1,000 travel and one day per diem to attend the Opening Ceremony at Congress.

Purpose: To recognize and support excellence of nursing contributions to medical oncology

Nominee's Eligibility Criteria:
The candidate must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a registered professional nurse and an active ONS member
  • Have at least two years of oncology nursing experience
  • Be a recognized expert in the field of medical oncology (e.g., through publications, presentations, research, and peer review)
  • Have made a significant contribution to one or more of the following related to medical oncology: professional/patient education, clinical practice, and/or nursing research
  • Serve as a role model for other nurses.

Criteria: The scoring criteria for judging this nomination packet is as follows:

  • ONS involvement: Participation should include involvement at the local or national level.
    • Includes membership on committees, holding office, or task force participation.
  • Recognized expert in the field of medical oncology, contributing to the development of medical oncology nursing practice.
    • Includes articles in newsletters, journals, reports, video, multimedia, computer assisted instruction, chapters in books (do not include research here, include research in last criteria point)
  • Significant contribution to the following areas:
    • Professional/patient education related to medical oncology
    • Presentations
    • Examples in letters of role modeling
    • Specific educational interventions
    • Program development
    • Support groups
    • Adjunct faculty to preceptor for students
    • Community outreach
  • Clinical practice related to medical oncology:
    • Theoretical concepts used
    • Nursing process used
    • Professional development of self and others
    • Multidisciplinary collaboration
    • Quality assurance
    • Ethical decision-making used
    • Reviews/applies nursing research
  • Medical oncology research 

Application Process
The October 31st awards submission deadline has now passed. Please note that selected award recipients will be notified in early 2012. The next awards cycle will commence after ONS Congress (May, 2012) and individual award applications will be posted at that time.