Featured Sessions

9-10:30 am

Plenary Session I
The Yellow Brick Road to Cooperative Group Research
Pamela Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN
Joan E. Haase, RN, PhD
Lona Roll, MSN, CNS
Donna Betcher, RN, MSN, CPON^®

The Nursing Research Committee of the Children's Oncology Group implemented a new infrastructure in 2001 to increase its contribution to the scientific mission. The structure pairs ad-vanced practice nurses who are clinical experts experienced in the cooperative group culture with nurse researchers new to the cooperative group process. This session will discuss strategies that contributed to meet-ing the cooperative group's mission, including developing companion protocols to therapeutic trials, embedding objectives representative of nursing priorities within the aims of therapeutic trials, and free-standing protocols. Faculty will highlight how these strategies have significantly increased the number of open and accruing tri-als sponsored by the Nursing Discipline in this cooperative group.

6:30-7:30 pm

Special Session: The ONS Strategic Plan for Multi-Site Research: 2007 and Beyond
Debra L. Barton, PhD, RN, AOCN^®
Barbara B Cochrane, PhD, RN
Loretta (Lori) Williams, RN, DSN, OCN^®, AOCN^®
Pamela Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN

• The development of core competencies for nurse scientists conducting multi-site research
• The identification of methods to facilitate data sharing, use of common data elements, and evaluation of nursing-sensitive patient outcomes
• The identification of advocacy and partnership mechanisms to promote awareness of nursing science contributions to the scientific community and to gain nursing access to and participation in national research agendas, research groups, and networks
• Training opportunities and strategies to facilitate nursing participation in multi-site research.

In addition, speakers will address future directions related to ONS's role in multi-site research, and you'll be encouraged to participate in the discussion. You'll also have the opportunity to network with colleagues interested and engaged in the conduct of multi-site research.

9-10:30 am

Plenary Session II The Burden of Disparities Across the Cancer Continuum: From Screening to End of Life
Usha Menon, PhD, RN

An estimated 1.4 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2006. Of these, an unequal burden is borne by minority and underserved populations. Disparities in cancer, from screening to end-of-life care, represent a major challenge for healthcare providers. The needs are beyond a medical challenge, and, in fact, represent a moral and ethical dilemma that begs resolution. Nurses, comprising the largest component of the workforce in health care are in a unique position to influence the reduction of such disparities. This session will present an overview of cancer disparities with examples from successful research programs as well as strategies to engage in initiatives to decrease disparities.