Welcome to the Chicago Chapter Virtual Community!

Election Results are in!

Congratulations to our new elected officers for 2012!

Christa Lappin, President-elect

Marcia Mickle, Treasurer-elect

Marc Epstein-Reeves, Secretary

Josie Howard Ruben, Director at Large

Chicago Chapter 2012 Board:

Dani Gale: President;  Marc Epstein-Reeves: Secretary;  Denise Lapka: Treasurer;                                   Marcia Mickle: Treasurer-Elect;  Jean Ridgeway: Director-at-Large;                                                               Maggie Smith: Director-at-Large;  Josie Howard Ruben: Director-at-Large;  Lisa Gaston, Immediate Past-President, Christa Lappin: President-elect.

2012 Committee Chairs:

Newsletter: Ima Garcia and Carol Knop;  Program: Katharine Szubski;  Research: Barbara Holmes Gobel;  Membership:  Mary Lappe and Christa Lappin ;  Archivist: Maryjo Osowski;  Nominating:  Lisa Gaston;  Virtual Community: Bev Caraher and Jan Golick.

Contact info for Board/Chairs can be found in "About Us" section at the top of this page.  Choose "Our Leadership" to download our roster.

Welcome to the Chicago Chapter. The Chapter invites you to browse our site and participate in our events and other offerings.

Our Award Winning Newsletter can be downloaded from the "News" section at the top of this page.

If you would like to join our chapter, download a membership application!

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NEW!  Discussion Forum- Check out our Discussion forum to exchange ideas, clinical information, etc!
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Are you new to public speaking or do you want to improve the delivery of your speeches and presentations? 

CCONS wants to help with a new CCONS Speaker Mentorship Program!!!

We are looking for oncology nurses who want to begin presenting or improve their speaking skills. We have wonderful mentors who can help you present for the first time or improve on your current skills. Our CCONS mentors are expert presenters in symptom management, end of life care,  radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biotherapy, targeted molecular therapies, breast cancer, prostate cancer, GI malignancies, bone marrow transplant and  hematologic malignancies.

How does the CCONS Speaker Mentorship Program Work?

1.      First you need to complete the application and be accepted into the CCONS Speaker Mentorship Program.

2.      Once approved you will need to sign up & complete the ONS Online Speaker Training Course.  This is an interactive self-paced web course offering 4.7 CEUs that is designed to improve your speaking skills. You will have 3 weeks to complete it.

3.      CCONS will reimburse you for the course and provide you with a mentor.

4.      You will work with the mentor to develop a presentation for you to present at your institution. These presentations must be completed by June 2012.

5.      CCONS will provide a modest breakfast or lunch for participants at your first presentation!!!

Registration is limited to only 10 nurses so apply now for this exciting opportunity!!!

 Click here to download application

Applications are due by January 1, 2012

This program is funded by a grant from the ONS Foundation 

Interested in joining our chapter or need to renew (January is renewal time!) for 2012?  Click here to download the 2012 membership application form. 

 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

The Patient Services team at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Chicago, Illinois has resources for patients that they would like to share with oncology nursing professionals.    There is a one-page Financial aid application for patients who are diagnosed with a blood cancer and are in active treatment. Upon receipt of an original application bearing a HCP (Physician, Nurse Practitioner or LCSW) signature, the patient will receive a $100 stipend. 

 Other services and programs offered include Co-Pay Assistance, Financial Aid, Education Programs and materials, Family Support Groups and more. Also, a Treatment Agenda Guidebook was created to help newly diagnosed patients keep track of their contacts, treatments, medications, blood work and resources in one place.  

Go to the website  www.lls.org/il  for these resources.  Patients/family members can click on the Spanish option at the top right hand corner to see the entire website in Spanish. 

Any nurse who would like to get involved in planning a program, facilitating a support group or can offer any ideas on how to make our outreach efforts a success, should contact Kristi Anys, Manager of Patient Services, at 312-568-7728 or at the following email address: kristi.anys@LLS.org

CCONS Exciting Volunteer Opportunity

 Are you looking for a way to get involved with CCONS and you do not have the time to dedicate hours after work or on the weekends?  Well, we have found the perfect solution for you!!!

CCONS will be partnering with Beautiful Lengths for human hair donations for women diagnosed with cancer.  Beautiful Lengths has a partnership with Pantene and the American Cancer Society for this endeavor.   As oncology nurses, we care so much about our patients,  and this is a great opportunity to go one step further to acknowledge their struggles and show our ongoing support.   However,  volunteers can be anyone willing to participate. The hair collections will take place at Northwestern during April 2012;  therefore,  we wanted to get the word out to ask your support of this event immediately!

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Maggie Smith at smith.maggie@comcast.net.   If you would like to learn more information about this program, you can review the website at www.Beautifullengths.com

 Thanks to Barb Gobel, of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, for bringing this exciting opportunity to our attention!  We hope you can participate in this important initiative and stay tuned as more details will be forthcoming in 2012!!!

Chicago Chapter of ONS

presents

"Helping Patients Transition to Survivorship"

Vicki Longfield, MSN, APRN

Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University

Thursday, February 16, 2012

McCormick and Schmick's

4999 Old Orchard Center

Skokie, IL 60077

847-763-9811

Registration and Dinner : 6:00pm

Dinner sponsored by Lilly Oncology

Chapter Business Meeting: 6:30-7:00pm

Educational Program: 7:00-8:30pm

Cost:  CCONS Members - FREE

Non-members - $5.00

Please RSVP by Feb 13 to Pam Nosse at

nossepa@lilly.com

For Questions only, call Pam at 312-802-6886

This activity will have no contact hours for CE credit.

          Check our Calendar above for more Chicago Chapter Events

Visit www.ons.org or www.ccons.vc.ons.org

 (847) 696-9494

Year Round Testing Continues for AOCNP® & AOCNS®

Nurses who want to attain advanced certification in oncology nursing may take the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP®) Test or Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS®) Test at any time during 2008. Candidates may apply at any time, and if eligible to take the test, will receive an Authorization to Test that provides for a 90-day testing window. Because of the length of the testing window, candidates must take the test during the 90-day period, and will not be permitted to transfer or extend that period. Learn more about AOCNP® certification at http://www.oncc.org/getcertified/TestInformation/aocnp/index.shtml or AOCNS® certification at http://www.oncc.org/getcertified/testinformation/AOCNS/index.shtml.

It's time to apply for the 2011 CCONS MEMBERSHIP AWARDS !!!!

It’s time again to receive recognition for the dedication of so many of our members.  CCONS provides several awards each year so nominate yourself or another member for one of the awards.  The deadline for all awards is December 15, 2011.  Awards will be announced at the January, 2012 membership meeting. 

OCN/AOCN/AOCNS/AOCNP Certification Scholarship 

Two $100 scholarships will be awarded to members who are certifying or recertifying for certifications through the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation.  Each candidate must be an active member of CCONS and must be eligible to take the certification exam.  Candidates must take or have taken the examination during the same year in which the award is given.  Proof of taking the exam must be presented.  This is a self nomination scholarship.

Career Development Award

This award is given to provide financial assistance to a member seeking educational opportunities.  It may be used for continuing education, professional resources or formal education.  Two $250 awards will be given.  Candidates must be active CCONS members, complete the application form including an essay describing how the recipient would use the award.  This is a self nomination award.

Nursing Education Scholarship

This award provides assistance to a current CCONS member who is completing a BSN, MSN, post masters NP or doctoral program.  The scholarship money may b e used for tuition, books or other expenses.  Proof of enrollment in an accredited nursing program and a brief description of professional goals in oncology nursing are required.  Two $500 scholarships will be awarded.  This is a self nomination scholarship.

Undergraduate Nursing Education Scholarship 

This award provides assistance in completing an undergraduate nursing degree.  Applicant does not have to be a member of ONS or CCONS.  Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program.  Scholarship does not require applicant to pursue a career in oncology nursing but consideration will be given to those whose professional goals include oncology nursing.  Applicant must complete application and essay describing how they handled a difficult patient situation. One $500 scholarship will be awarded. This is a self nomination scholarship.

Spouse/Significant Other Award

This $50 award is given to recognize the efforts of a spouse or significant other in the promotion of CCONS or CCONS sponsored activities.  This is not an annual award but must be nominated by a CCONS member when appropriate.  The award requires efforts above and beyond to support efforts of CCONS.  An essay including the efforts put forth by the nominee must be submitted by the CCONS member nominating this candidate.

Spirit of CCONS