Pre-Congress Sessions

This year, ONS is offering a number of special, in-depth preconference programs to provide you with information on hot topics in oncology nursing.

Visit the Register for Congress area for complete Pre-Congress registration information.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Primer for Oncology Nurses
This is an all-day session.
Patients actively seek complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for treating their cancer and its side effects. You're left with the task of synthesizing available facts and knowledge from multiple sources and making recommendations. The inherent quality of this information needs to be assessed carefully to support the best evidence-based practice. In the morning, this session will provide a sampling of high-quality sources of CAM facts and knowledge. The afternoon workshop will then provide you with hands-on exposure to common CAM modalities and related information. Speakers will encourage you to ask questions and participate to gain new information you can apply to your practice. You will also have the opportunity to navigate selected CAM databases on a laptop and review an expansive display of CAM-related materials. This session includes approximately 90 minutes of pharmacology content.

Level: Introductory
Track: Symptom management
Speakers
Diane Jones, MSN, RN, AOCNP, FNP
Georgia Decker, MS, RN, CS-ANP, AOCN^®
Colleen Lee, CDR, RN, MS, AOCN^®

Pharmacology Update
This is an all-day session.
Advances in pharmacotherapeutics provide a tremendous opportunity for continuing education for oncology nurses. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 38 new molecular entities and novel biologics. Eight of these products were related to the treatment of cancer and its side effects. ONS members consistently identify the need for information about new agents as a top priority on Membership Satisfaction Surveys. Many state boards of nursing require that advanced practice nurses demonstrate a specific number of hours spent in education sessions focused on pharmacotherapeutics. This session will provide you with a detailed review of new pharmacologic agents used in the management of patients with cancer. This session includes approximately 360 minutes of pharmacology content.

Level: Advanced
Track: Advanced practice/chemotherapy

Chemotherapy: It's Not Just for Cancer Anymore
This is an all-day session.
An increasing number of patients with nonmalignant/autoimmune disorders are receiving treatment traditionally thought to be specific for cancer. Many oncology nurses don't have a full understanding of these disorders yet are asked to administer chemotherapy to these patients. Get the information you need through this comprehensive review of several nonmalignant autoimmune disorders. This session includes approximately 120 minutes of pharmacology content.

Level: Introductory
Track: Chemotherapy
Speakers
Patricia Geddie, RN, MS, AOCN^®
Sandra Kurtin, RN, MSA, OCN^®, ANP
Karen Roesser, RN, MS, AOCN^®

What is Your Question?
How to Construct Great Tests
This half-day hands-on workshop will introduce you to the concepts behind item writing and the construction of valid and reliable academic- and certification-type test questions. Common mistakes in item writing will be reviewed, and you will work to improve old items and develop new ones. Understanding solid test construction is an important role for educators and test takers alike, so come to this session and step up to a whole new level of understanding.

Level: Introductory
Track: Education
Speaker
Cheryl Lacasse, RN, MS, OCN^®

Pain Management Resource Nurse Program: Defining the Role and Setting Up for Success
Multiple studies have demonstrated that pain management in hospitalized patients remains inadequate in many areas of the country. The nurse's lack of knowledge about appropriate pain assessment and management may be an important factor in this complex problem. Multiple hospitals have developed the position of "pain management resource nurse" to influence and improve pain management in their institutions. This session will provide practical tips for establishing such a program. Speakers will address breaking down barriers and attitudes in pain assessment and its management; strategies for changing clinical practice; and models of excellence. They will present the results from a survey of pain management resource nurse training programs in the United States. You will have the opportunity to engage in interactive discussions to explore potential barriers, opportunities, and practical ways to be effective and "set up for success" when implementing the role of pain management resource nurse in your clinical setting.

Level: Introductory
Track: Symptom management
Speakers
Susan Dempsey-Walls, RN, MN, APRN, AOCN^®
Jeannine Brant, RN, MS, AOCN^®
Carol Curtiss, RN, MSN

ONS Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Renewal and Update Course
New, Exciting Session Format! This workshop will provide you with an interactive update on what's current in treatment, safe handling, and symptom management. Combining traditional presentations with a fun and interactive Jeopardy™-like game, you will participate in a review of current uses of selected antineoplastic agents and growth factors. Calculating drug doses and safe handling of antineoplastics will be reinforced. An introduction to symptom clusters highlights a new approach to assessment and management. This course will also serve as a renewal for nurses who currently hold an ONS Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider Card.

Level: Introductory
Track: Chemotherapy
Speakers
Janet Cogswell, RN, MS, CNS, AOCN^®
Arlene Davis, RN MSN AOCN^®
Shirley Triest-Robertson, RN, PHD, AOCNS

The ABCs of Stem Cell Transplant:
What Every Oncology Nurse Needs to Know
This half-day session will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the care of patients before, during, and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Speakers will emphasize the care of the patient in the community setting. The course includes an introduction to hematopoietic stem cell transplant, donor selection and HLA typing, preparative regimens, and acute toxicity of transplant, including graft versus host disease. You'll also learn about issues related to long-term recovery after transplant. This sessions includes approximately 30 minutes of pharmacology content.

Level: Introductory
Track: Hematologic/BMT
Speakers
Mary Burgunder, MS, BSN, RN, OCN^®
Viki Anders, RN, MSN, CRNP
Kelly Bugos, RN, MS, NP
Katherine Mishaw, RN, MS, AOCN^®

Oncology Nursing in a Private Practice Setting
The evolution of oncology practice from an academic setting to a community-based specialty began about 30 years ago. Today, approximately 80%-90% of all oncology care is delivered in ambulatory settings. Much of this care is delivered in the private practice (physician) office setting. Physician groups can range from single-physician practices to large practices with more than 50 medical oncologists. In this session, you'll get information on the clinical, administrative, and financial perspective of nursing care in the physician office setting.

Level: Introductory
Track: Outpatient
Speakers
Kathleen Shuey, MS, RN, AOCN^®, APRN, BC
Rose Marie Ambrosino-Cook, RN, MS, CNS, CFNP, AOCN^®
Phyllis Herbertson, RN, BSN, OCN^®
Paula Sturiale, RN OC^®

Meet the Families of Targeted Therapies: The HERs, VEGFs, RASs, MMPs, RAFs, and AKTs
This program will provide you with an overview of the cellular pathways involved in carcinogenetic processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell motility, and metastasis. The pathways and receptors that these targets affect are important for nurses to understand as they care for their patients. The future role of targeted therapies in cancer-used as single agents or combined with chemotherapy or other targeted therapies-will be addressed. The mechanisms of action of these pathways, drug toxicities, and nursing implications (such as drug-drug interactions) will be reviewed. Speakers will also address your role in caring for these patients. This session includes approximately 30 minutes of pharmacology content.

Level: Advanced
Track: Chemotherapy
Speakers
Brenda Keith, RN, MN, AOCN^®
Peggy Esper, MSN, RN, CS, AOCN^®
Donna Gerber, PhD, RN, AOCN^®