Find Grants and Scholarships
Advancing your knowledge enhances your ability to provide excellent care to your patients. To help you defer the cost of additional courses and certifications, we offer a wide variety of awards, grants, and scholarships.
Oncology Nursing Foundation Academic Scholarships
If you are interested in earning another degree—whether it’s a BSN, MSN, PhD, or DNP—we encourage you to apply for one of our scholarships for oncology nurses returning to school.
ONS Congress® Scholarships
Scholarships are available to offset the cost of registration, travel, and per diem expenses. By attending Congress, you can earn up to 30 CNE credits.
Oncology Nurse Scientist Intensive
The Oncology Nurse Scientist Intensive will join 10 competitively selected participants and senior research scientist faculty mentors to collaborate in a mock study session and working sessions to refine grant proposals. The Intensive is designed to foster the needs and interests of early-career oncology nurse scientists in a supportive environment.
Research Grants
Research Grants available from $50,000-$100,000 for PhD Nurse scientists from an early career- to senior science investigators.
ONCC Certification Scholarships
Through the Roberta Schofield Memorial Certification Award, you’ll receive free registration for an Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation certification exam or renewal. Each year, 150 nurses receive this award.
Josh Gottheil Memorial Stem Cell Transplant Development Awards
$2,000 awards are given to support RNs working in stem cell transplantation by providing funding to attend a continuing education program that will further your goals related to transplant nursing.
Leadership Scholarships
Up to $1,200 registration fee to attend a leadership nursing continuing professional development program held either virtually or in-person. Funds are for program registration only. This scholarship is made possible by the ONS Past Presidents fund and the ONCC Emerging Leaders fund.
Episode 20: Advance Your Career Through Awards, Grants, and Scholarships
Linda Worrall, RN, MSN, executive director of the Oncology Nursing Foundation, joins ONS’s Chris Pirschel to talk about how oncology nurses can advance their careers through the Foundation’s leadership awards, research grants, and education or ONS Congress scholarships.
Episode Notes:
Check out these resources from today’s episode:
- The Oncology Nursing Foundation
- Foundation Research Grants
- Foundation Education Scholarships
- Foundation Leadership Awards
- Awards, Grants, and Scholarships Presentation
To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities.
To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org.
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ONS Podcasts
On-the-go discussions covering a wide array of clinical and leadership topics that you can earn NCPD for.
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Blaze a Trail to ONS Congress® With Scholarships From the Foundation
The 49th Annual ONS Congress offers a unique opportunity for oncology nurses and researchers to forge lasting connections and elevate their professional practice. The knowledge and experiences gained are empowering, inspiring you to ignite positive change in oncology nursing and cancer care.
The Oncology Nursing Foundation can support you as you embark on your ONS Congress journey.
Since 1981, the Foundation has been awarding ONS Congress Scholarships to RNs committed to enhancing cancer care. Recipients can apply the educational grants of up to $2,000 toward registration fees, travel expenses, and per diem conference costs.
Receiving this scholarship through the Oncology Nursing Foundation means the world to me! I have been an oncology nurse for seven years now and have always wanted to go to. I love to learn new ways in which to provide the best care for my patients and by going to ONS Congress, I will have that opportunity. I will take back what I learn at ONS Congress to my fellow peers to expand their knowledge as well. Thank you so very much!
— Victoria Cole, RN, 2023 ONS Congress Scholarship Recipient
Applications for ONS Congress Scholarships are accepted from September 15–December 1, 2023, and the scholarships are distributed based on funding availability.
The Foundation also offers the Ceira Boyle Student Nursing ONS Congress Scholarship to support a student nurse who is pursuing a career in oncology nursing by providing the funding to attend ONS Congress.
Applications for this scholarship are accepted from September 15–March 15, 2023. Preference is extended to nurses within a 30-mile radius of the event’s location, fostering accessibility for those nearby.
ONS Congress offers robust learning and networking among the oncology nursing community practicing across the United States and beyond. Learn more about these opportunities and submit your application today.
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Make Your ONS Congress® Dream a Reality With Scholarships and Employer Support
Oncology nurses and researchers have the chance to make lifelong connections and enhance their practice by attending the 47th Annual ONS Congress. You will leave the conference feeling empowered that you can make an impact on the future of cancer care. But first, you’ll need to get there.
You can take advantage of funding from the Oncology Nursing Foundation to begin your ONS Congress journey. Since 1981, the Foundation’s ONS Congress Scholarships have supported RNs improving cancer care by developing their personal knowledge and sharing it with others after attending ONS Congress.
“This year’s ONS Congress will provide me with a vast knowledge of the many facets of oncology nursing, and the funding I received from the Oncology Nursing Foundation is making that possible,” 2021 ONS Congress Scholarship recipient Chelsea Alfaqih, RN, BSN, OCN®, CHPN®, said. “After attending ONS Bridge™ during the height of the pandemic, it made me want to gain even more knowledge. I am truly grateful for this opportunity, and I will definitely be bringing back my new knowledge to my coworkers and patients.”
Scholarship recipients are awarded an educational grant of up to $1,200 to apply toward ONS Congress registration, travel to and from the conference, and per diem conference expenses.
Applications are accepted from September 15–December 1, 2021, and the scholarships are distributed based on funding availability. Learn more and apply today to begin your ONS Congress journey.
But scholarships are not the only way to get to the conference. Garner your supervisor’s and institution’s support for you to attend the 47th Annual ONS Congress by demonstrating the benefits of attending ONS Congress to your employer with our downloadable justification letter. It helps you present the cutting-edge education that you’ll learn and explain how attending ONS Congress can earn you nursing continuing professional development contact hours.
ONS Congress is nothing without its attendees, and ONS and the Oncology Nursing Foundation can help you get there!
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ONS Membership
Cancer is an epidemic, and the fight against it is being waged every minute of every day in health systems around the world. Oncology nurses are at the forefront of this battle, delivering care, carrying out clinical trials, and advancing evidence-based research. Join ONS as we help connect you with the important support and resources needed to provide essential, quality care to your patients.
Perks of Your ONS Membership:
Professional Development
- Get up to a $120 discount on ONCC Certifications
- Free and discounted access to courses with NCPD
- Various volunteer and leadership opportunities
- Development of student nurses through FREE MEMBERSHIP
Networking and Conferences
- Save over $150 on ONS Congress® conference registration
- Save over $80 on ONS Bridge™ virtual conference registration
- Engage in advocacy efforts during ONS Capitol Hill Days
- You'll get a direct connection to over 35,000 other nurses worldwide through our online ONS Communities
- Option to join an ONS Chapter that will connect you with local oncology nurses in your area
- ONS membership gives you International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) membership and discounts on ISNCC programs
Stay Up-To-Date
- You'll receive free subscriptions to ONS's award winning oncology resources:
- Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing
- Oncology Nursing Forum
- ONS Voice
- Oncology Nursing Podcast
Scholarships and Grants
The Oncology Nursing Foundation offers a variety of funding to meet the needs of oncology nurses in areas of education, research, career development, leadership, and chapter funding.
- Bachelor's scholarships
- Master's scholarships
- Doctoral scholarships
- Research Grants
- ONS Congress® Scholarships
- Leadership Scholarships
- Josh Gottheil Memorial Stem Cell Transplant Development Award
- And more!
Please note that all ONS memberships are nonrefundable and no discounts are currently being offered for membership purchase. Download the membership application or click below to join online.
*We recommend using Chrome or Firefox to complete your application. If you do not have access to Chrome or Firefox, please download the membership application and submit via the directions on the PDF.
Student and International Memberships:
ONS offers free memberships for students and discounted memberships for international members. Read below to find out more.
Student Memberships
Full-time nursing students in a pre-licensure program receive member benefits for FREE! Discounts on ONS products, services, conferences, journals, and ONCC exams. You'll also get FREE registration to our Cancer Basics online course ($220 value). Check out some more resources for student nurses.
*Applicants may be required to verify current pre-licensure student status (i.e. copy of current course schedule).
International Memberships
ONS offers an international tiered discount structure for the purchase of memberships.
Member Testimonials
I appreciate that ONS is dedicated to all aspects of cancer care—from advocating for government policies that benefit prevention efforts, to promoting patient and staff education and best practices, sharing groundbreaking nursing research interventions, celebrating survivorship needs, and supporting end of life care, ONS is my go-to resource every step of the way. I trust the resources and guidance ONS provide—ONS is the gold standard for oncology policy, practice, and professionalism.
I am so grateful for the many professional growth opportunities ONS has supported in my career. Opportunities ranging from publication to complementing my patient care with a plethora of resources. My ONS membership has been and will continue to be an integral feature of my oncology nursing practice.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding what type of membership is right for you, please contact help@ons.org.
Resources for Student Nurses
Oncology care is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, nursing careers around. It’s an opportunity to be inspired by the determination, hope, and faith of your patients. Whether or not you decide to enter the oncology field, you are going to care for patients with cancer at some point in your career. And you’re in the right place to learn more about oncology nursing.
Student Membership Benefits and Resources
FREE Online Courses
Get Started With ONS Cancer Basics™
As a student member benefit, ONS offers complimentary access to the ONS Cancer Basics course. This introductory-level class prepares nurses new to oncology or in non-oncology settings to provide quality care to patients receiving chemotherapy. View instructions on how to register for membership, and then access the course to get started.
Additional Courses to Consider
Receive free access or sizable discounts on the introductory-level education that nurses in non-oncology settings need to provide quality care for patients receiving chemotherapy. These courses offer self-paced learning on the fundamentals of cancer care and chemotherapy safety.
| Courses | Description | Student Price | NCPD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocacy 101: Making a Difference | This course will help you gain the knowledge and skills needed to effectively communicate your ideas and concerns to legislators to impact cancer care. | FREE | 2.75 |
| Introduction to Evidence Based Practice |
In this course, you will learn about developing a spirit of inquiry and how to identify and write clinically relevant PICOT (patient population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and timeframe). |
FREE | 1.25 |
| Safe Handling Basics |
This introductory course discusses hazardous drugs and how to handle them safely. All nurses and other staff who work in areas where hazardous drugs are handled or administered will benefit from this course. The course content is aligned with recommendations from ONS, NIOSH, USP, and other national organizations.
|
FREE | 1.00 |
| Introduction to Nutrition in Cancer Care |
In this interactive course, you will learn foundational information about the impact of nutrition on patient outcomes, patient risk factors that lead to malnutrition, and when to provide a nutrition intervention.
|
FREE | 1.50 |
Network with Oncology Professionals
Local Chapter - As part of your ONS membership, you're automatically signed-up to the chapter closest to you.
ONS Congress® - Join 4,000 of your peers to shape and revolutionize the future of cancer care at the annual ONS Congress. As a student, you can save almost $300 on early bird registration!
The ONS Career Fair at ONS Congress® can be a helpful professional development tool. Whether you are currently seeking a job or looking for ways to develop your professional skills, this event will help you get on the path to success. Professional development workshops put on by industry leaders can help you learn how to stand out among job applicants and establish yourself as an oncology nursing leader.
ONS Communities - Share ideas and ask questions of other oncology nurses. Visit ONS Communities and connect with peers in cancer care sub-specialties.
Networking Resource for Students - To help you as your nursing career develops, we asked ONS members to share their advice, support, and recommendations for student nurses and compiled their responses into a new resource, Tips for Student Nurses From ONS Members.
Career Development
Career Center - The Career Center is a place where job-seekers have access to their next position in oncology nursing. ONS members can use career coaching, resume writing support, and customized learning content.
Career Guide - Explore the newly designed ONS Career Guide to discover a variety of resources related to beginning a nursing career. Discover our multiple resources—all in one place—with just a click of a button.
CareerWire - A monthly e-newsletter that provides oncology employment updates from across the country.
ONS Job Board - Visit the ONS Job board to view the latest job openings, post your resume, and set up alerts to help you land your dream job.
Resources On-The-Go
ONS Podcast - Listen to tips and professional advice from seasoned nurses on topics like Advancing Your Career Through Awards, Grants, and Scholarships, Effective Job Interviewing Skills, Resume Writing Tips, and more. Find us for free on iTunes and the Google Play store by searching "Oncology Nursing Podcast."
Webinars - Browse through ONS's many webinars to advance your knowledge and understanding of oncology nursing.
ONS Bridge™ - The premier virtual oncology nursing conference that helps connect you with resources and education to support you as you progress your nursing career. Get the full conference experience from the comfort of your home with daily live sessions where you can interact with speakers, a virtual exhibit hall, industry events, and much more.
ONS Voice - Through its evidence-based, award-winning content, ONS's online news, views, and advocacy magazine engages oncology nurses in its mission to share oncology nursing news, stories, and views from ONS and the diverse cancer care community.
Discover More About Oncology Nursing Careers
Oncology nursing offers unlimited career possibilities. Nurses can choose from a variety of sub-specialties of clinical oncology nursing. Don't know where to start? ONS has career guidance to offer.
View the tabs below to learn oncology career options in each category.
- Cancer Type
- Setting
- Population
- Nursing Role Type
- Treatment Modality
There are more than 100 types of cancer, and some nurses subspecialize not only in oncology but in certain types of cancers such as:
- Breast
- Neurology
- Colorectal
- Orthopedic
- Outpatient
- Inpatient
- Homecare
- Hospice
- Perioperative (PACU, Pre-Surgical, Operating Room)
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
- Adult
- Adolescent/Young Adult
- Nurse Practitioner*
- Clinical Nurse Specialist*
- Case Manager
- Informatics Specialist
- Navigator
- Clinical Trials Nurse
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist*
*Denotes an advanced degree is required
- Surgical Oncology
- Medical Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Palliative/Supportive Care
- Infusion
- Bone Marrow Transplant
Give to the Oncology Nursing Foundation
The Oncology Nursing Foundation offers you the only place in the world to give directly to nurses who advance cancer care and improve patient outcomes.
Sustain the Future of Oncology Nursing
The Oncology Nursing Foundation’s mission is to support oncology nurses and you are an integral part of sustaining this important work. Every gift helps to support continuing education, leadership, and research for and by oncology nurses, ensuring that nurses will continue to improve the lives of patients with cancer on your behalf.
Giving a Financial Gift
Your donation to the Oncology Nursing Foundation, a national public, nonprofit, tax-exempt, charitable organization, makes it possible to help nurses receive access to education, research, and professional development; improve patient care; and advance the oncology nursing profession.
Since 1981, the Oncology Nursing Foundation has provided more than $31 million in funding to support oncology nursing awards, grants, scholarships, and educational initiatives.
With your help, the Foundation was able to allocate more than $1,000,000 in funding in 2022:
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$516,000 for academic scholarships
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$111,048 for conference scholarships
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$738,459 for research grants
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$26,579 for career development awards
Please consider giving a gift to help support the next generation of oncology nurses. Your annual giving is vital to sustaining excellence and compassion in cancer nursing care.
All About Roundtables: Participate in Live Discussions on ONS Bridge™ Bonus Day
In addition to two live session dates on September 12 and 14, 2023, registering for ONS Bridge allows additional access to our bonus day on September 13, 2023, featuring six live roundtable discussions. Each 45-minute roundtable discussion allows attendees to discuss a variety of topics pertinent to their practice and professional growth with ONS. Here’s a quick look at the roundtable sessions we have planned for you:
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Learn More About ONCC Certification
Are you interested in becoming Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) certified, but don’t know where to start? Do you currently hold ONCC certification but need help renewing? If so, this roundtable session is for you!
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The Oncology Nursing Foundation Can Fund Your Education, Conference Attendance, and More
The Foundation has provided more than $31 million in awards, grants, scholarships, and educational initiatives since 1981, helping nurses achieve advanced degrees, research grants, and career development. The session will provide information on scholarships, funding opportunities, and resources to write a successful application. -
ONS Board of Directors Town Hall
Join ONS President Danya Garner, PhD, RN, OCN®, CCRN-K, NPD-BC, along with Director-at-Large Valerie Burger, MA, MS, RN, OCN®, CPN, and Director-at-Large Susan Brown, PhD, RN, MSN, CENP, to discuss their leadership journeys and member involvement opportunities, as well as learn more about important ONS initiatives. -
Enhance Your Leadership Skills Today
Talk with members of the ONS Leadership Development Committee about ways to strengthen your leadership skills and opportunities to volunteer with ONS. -
Ask the Experts: Get Answers to Your Clinical Questions
Take advantage of the opportunity to ask ONS oncology clinical specialists your practice questions. Questions can be submitted through September 6, 2023. Additional ONS resources will also be highlighted during the roundtable session. -
Overcome Staffing Challenges
Come ready to discuss innovative tools, strategies, and resources for staffing with your colleagues from across the nation. You’ll have the opportunity to share your best practices and learn from others.
We hope you’ll join us for ONS Bridge. Register now to secure your spot! Please note that roundtable discussions do not offer nursing continuing professional development contact hours and will not be recorded, so be sure to tune in on September 13, 2023, so you don’t miss a thing.
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Learn How ONS Supports You
We enjoyed connecting with you and look forward to continued collaboration. The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is dedicated to supporting both healthcare organizations and individual oncology nurses with customized solutions to the challenges they face in day-to-day practice. ONS’s innovative products, evidence-based resources, and professional development opportunities are designed to enhance your capabilities. Whether you’re looking to elevate your organization’s oncology care or seeking personal and professional growth, ONS is here to support you. Explore how ONS can be your trusted source in achieving excellence in oncology nursing.
Products for Institutions
ONS Oncology Nurse Orientation Program™
The comprehensive course streamlines education for nurses new to oncology. The program incorporates feedback from cancer centers and ONS members to provide the interactive delivery of complex knowledge with preceptor-led activities.
ONS All-Access™
Enhance professional development within your institution with clinical care resources, education, and publications available through ONS All-Access™, a new purchasing program, that features volume discount pricing. Contact us to learn more about how ONS All-Access can meet your organizational needs.
Institutions contact us to learn more about advancing your practice with the latest in oncology.
Courses and Clinical Resources
Explore carefully curated resources related to more than 20 different critical topics in oncology nursing to help improve your practice and patient care with ONS’s Learning Libraries. From direct-care resources and evidence-based practices to prioritizing your own well-being and growing your leadership skills, ONS’s plethora of ever-expanding learning libraries can help you cultivate your professional growth.
ONS courses incorporate evidence-based content, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values into easy-to-follow formats to help you learn the best practices in caring for patients with cancer. Many ONS courses also offer NCPD contact hours, helping you pave the way to continuing education and certification.
Huddle Cards provide bite-sized education in an easy-to-understand, one-page resource. The cards focus on topics relevant to oncology nursing such as safe handling and scope and standards of practice.
ONS Guidelines™ provide evidence-based symptom management recommendations for patient care. They have been reviewed and accepted by the Emergency Care Research Institute Guidelines Trust®, a publicly available web-based repository of objective, evidence-based clinical practice guideline content.
The drug reference sheets in ONS Voice are quick guides to newly-approved therapies or drugs with new indications. The resource from ONS clinical staff provides information through a nursing lens and includes the drug’s indication, side-effect profile, nursing considerations, patient education talking points, and more. Additionally, add to your repertoire of knowledge on cancer drugs with Oral Chemotherapy Education and Intravenous Cancer Treatment Education sheets—created in part by ONS, the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association, Inc., Association of Community Cancer Centers, and Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association.
Publications and Podcast
ONS offers a full catalog of books and periodicals covering a wide range of topics to support nurses as they transform cancer care. Enhance your practice and develop your skills by reading the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Oncology Nursing Forum, and ONS Voice.
You can also tune in and tune up your practice with the Oncology Nursing Podcast. ONS’s popular podcast features weekly episodes with subject matter experts from all facets of oncology care. Episodes focus on topics such as leadership, clinical practice, and even how to become involved within ONS.
Professional Membership and Volunteering
More than 35,000 oncology nurses worldwide have chosen ONS as their professional home. ONS membership connects you and your staff with the expert-driven support and clinical resources needed to provide essential, quality care to your patients.
Connect with colleagues through ONS membership:
- Explore a virtual community of oncology nursing peers across the country and around the world for shared experiences and expertise in the ONS Communities.
- Receive exclusive access to ONS's Clinical Helpdesk to find answers to frequently asked clinical questions and submit your own question to be answered by our Oncology Clinical Specialist team.
- Get involved in your community with more than 200 local ONS chapters.
- Help shape the future of ONS through chapter and national board leadership positions.
Learn more about how you can get involved through volunteer opportunities.
In-Person and Virtual Conferences
ONS Congress®, ONS’s signature in-person conference, is the largest and most comprehensive conference dedicated to oncology nursing. It features extensive learning opportunities, including dynamic educational sessions covering a wide range of hot topics in the industry, ample networking opportunities, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, a robust learning hall, and more. At ONS Congress, you can share your experiences, network with other dedicated oncology nurses, and learn from educational sessions geared toward advancing quality care and best practices in the care of patients with cancer.
ONS’s premier virtual event, ONS Bridge™, features extensive evidence-based educational sessions led by experts in the field and allows attendees to earn contact hours and connect with peers and industry experts, all from the comfort of their home or office.
Group discount pricing is available, so make plans to register your staff to attend these conferences.
Interested in exhibiting or sponsoring one or both of these events? Learn more.
Certifications
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) offers nationally accredited, oncology-specific certification programs. Oncology nursing certification validates a nurse has specialized knowledge and experience in cancer care. Certification makes a difference—to patients who want knowledgeable nurses, to employers who want qualified and experienced staff, and to individual nurses who want to demonstrate their knowledge.
ONS offers several courses and bundles to support nurses who are working towards specialty certification. In addition, ONS members save up to $120 on oncology nursing certifications offered through ONCC.
Advocacy and Health Policy
Advocacy is one of ONS’s core values and reflects the Society’s dedication to supporting patients with cancer and the oncology nursing profession. Influence health policy by advocating for your patients and your profession and provide your unique perspective to policymakers. Get involved and make your voice heard by taking a stand on the healthcare issues that affect oncology nurses.
Scholarships and Grants
The Oncology Nursing Foundation offers a variety of awards, grants, and scholarships to support oncology nurses, ensuring that they will play a critical role in advancing patient care for years to come.
To learn more or apply, visit onfgivesback.org.