A Day in the Life as an ONS Congress Attendee
Planning Team Member
We’re so excited to rejuvenate, refocus, and revitalize with you at the 48th Annual ONS Congress®. To help you prepare, here’s what a typical day at ONS Congress looks like.
Before you leave your hotel room, gather your conference guide, something to take notes with, a water bottle, and a pair of your most comfortable walking shoes. Oh, and don’t forget a sweater or light jacket, because conference rooms can be chilly.
- 6 am—Start your day with an Industry-Supported Breakfast Symposia to hear the latest developments in oncology nursing, network, and enjoy a free meal.
- 7 am—Head to the poster pavilion and watch one of your colleagues present their poster during a Poster session.
- 8 am—Grab a coffee and meet up with some colleagues before the morning Power Session kicks off.
- 10 am—Choose an educational session from our Clinical Practice, Advanced Practice, Leadership/Management/Education, Radiation, or Research learning tracks. Expand your comfort zone by attending a session on a topic that meets your certification needs or piques your interest in a track unrelated to your current practice.
- I can’t wait to attend this Clinical Practice session in particular: UnLEASHing the Power of Pet Therapy: How to Integrate Pet Therapy Into Your Cancer Center.
- 11 am—Connect and network in the Learning Hall! Share best practices with attendees and exhibitors and attend non-NCPD presentations to continue learning beyond session times.
- Noon—Grab some lunch and head outside to debrief with your colleagues and get some fresh air, or attend one of the Industry-Supported Lunch Symposia offered throughout the week.
- 2 pm—Stop by the Zen Den in the Learning Hall. We know that the past few years have been difficult with COVID, hospital staffing, nurse burnout, etc., so take time for your well-being and enjoy a complimentary massage, chair yoga, well-being education, pet some furry friends in the dog petting lounge, and much more!
- 3 pm—Interested in networking with fellow outpatient oncology nurses? Join the Ambulatory Practice Pearls Roundtable Networking Session or hop into one of the concurrent Track sessions.
- Pro tip: Wish you could attend two presentations at the same time? Selected educational sessions are recorded for you to watch after the live event concludes. We’ll identify the recorded sessions on the conference schedule closer to the event so that you can decide on which ones to attend in San Antonio and which to watch when you return home.
- 4:15 pm—Join the day’s afternoon Power session. I know I will not miss this one: Mental Health of the Nurse: The Inescapable Certainty of Uncertainty: Maximizing Personal and Professional Wellness.
- 7 pm—Meet up with your chapter members or coworkers for dinner on the San Antonio River Walk and take some time to explore the city. Then get a good night’s rest to maintain your energy for the rest of the conference.
The best part about ONS Congress is that you can plan out your days in advance and personalize your itinerary to meet your individual needs. No two itineraries may be the same!
Now it’s your turn: Build your ONS Congress itinerary using the online schedule, and download the ONS Congress app when it’s available closer to the event to help you navigate your personalized itinerary on each conference day.
The opportunities are endless for networking, reconnecting with old friends while making new ones, cultivating your professional development, and just having fun. We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio. There’s still time to register with early-bird pricing.
Note: The schedule illustrated in this blog does not reflect the official ONS Congress 2023 schedule but is a depiction of what a typical conference itinerary may look like. Review this year’s official schedule to begin your own personalized itinerary!