ONS Connect - May 2008 - (Page 12)

You Tell Us How Has Attendance at the ONS Leadership Development Institute (LDI) Benefited You? I Can Discuss Oncology Nursing With Knowledge and Poise LDI gave me confidence to pursue opportunities out of my comfort zone. As a community outreach nurse, I am constantly being approached to attend press conferences and do health segments on television and for on-the-spotquotes for the newspaper regarding health issues. The training I received at LDI gave me knowledge, poise, and tools to do these things. I recently was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau, Tau Kappa Chapter, for my leadership qualities and what I have brought to nursing in my area. Dee DeLollo, RN, BS, OCN ® Albany, NY I Know Who I Am as a Leader LDI provides an empowering experience for oncology nurses in all different stages of leadership. I came home with a better understanding of who I was as a leader and how I could improve in my leadership skills. The support and camaraderie of the entire LDI class provided enthusiasm and motivation to take on a leadership project that will improve outcomes despite the many responsibilities we already carry as oncology nurses. Every oncology institution should have a nurse attending LDI! Kristine Kauflin, RN, BSN, OCN ® Bethesda, MD Read more You Tell Us responses online at www.ONSConnect.org. For her LDI project, Teresa A. Anders, RN, BSN, OCN®, introduced a hazardous drug safety program at her institution. A coworker, Nancy Merriman, RN, OCN®, CCRC, an LDI fellow, had discussed her positive experience with Anders, and, although Anders says that she was unsure whether she would be accepted, she decided to apply. Jean Sellers, RN, MSN, OCN®, clinical cancer services manager at the University of North Carolina Cancer Hospital and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill and LDI fellow from 2000–2001, attributes her calling to LDI to the encouragement of her mentor. “I was encouraged by a dear colleague of mine, Molly Loney, RN, MSN, AOCN®. Her presence and interest in my development prompted me to apply, and I have never looked back.” A leader at Every level An important element of the LDI experience is that oncology nurses become aware that they are indeed leaders at every level of practice, which extends from the bedside nurse to the management role. Anders and Sellers took the initiative to translate what they learned during the LDI experience to their professional settings through unique and innovative projects that had personal importance to them. For her LDI project, Sellers says she wanted to implement a palliative care team at her institution, a community hospital with 325 beds, which had recently begun discussions regarding the need to address end-of-life care. The project taught her that many departments and administrators must work together to achieve goals. “Although I understood the need for support and buy-in, I did not realize the crucial importance of having key team members from all levels of administration at the table to make your vision a reality,” Sellers says. 12 ONS CONNECT MAY 2008 http://www.ONSConnect.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ONS Connect - May 2008

ONS Connect - May 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In ONS Leadership Development Institute A Year in the Life - Month Five Web Content Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Put Evidence Into Practice to Prevent and Manage Constipation in Patients With Cancer Giant Database Allows Scientists to Share Information Calendar of Events Working for You Staying on Top

ONS Connect - May 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.