| Sumario: | Significance & Background: The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has approximately 200 local chapters that promote networking and education for oncology nurses, including student nurses. ONS supports student nurses by helping them navigate their career paths, expand their knowledge, build leadership skills, and prepare for the transition from student to professional nurse. In 2015, ONS started providing free membership to students that were attending the National Student Nurses Association conference. Shortly after launching this initiative, ONS recognized the vital role students play in the future of oncology nursing. As a result, the organization expanded the offer, making free membership available to any student interested in pursuing a career in oncology nursing. Purpose: In 2017, this local ONS chapter established a formal role for nursing students attending area nursing schools to serve as a student board member. The goal of this role was to engage students by introducing them to the oncology nursing specialty as a potential career path. Interventions: The local ONS board developed guidelines for the student board member application process. Participation requirements include attendance at local ONS meetings and board meetings, as well as an oncology presentation on a topic of their choice to board leadership at the end of their term. The board decided that a maximum of two student board members would be selected through a vote by board leadership for a one-year term. To promote this opportunity, a board member was designated as a liaison to area nursing schools. Results: Although the program was impacted during COVID, the student board member opportunity has since resumed. To date, this local ONS chapter has had six student nurses serve as board members. When the program first began, student board members who met the established criteria were awarded a $500 scholarship at the end of their term. This scholarship amount has since increased to $1000 per student board member. Discussion: The innovative efforts of this local ONS chapter in involving student board members has successfully fostered student engagement at the local level. Several student board members have continued on to pursue careers in oncology nursing.
|
|---|