3,200 Nurses Came Together Virtually to Spark Change, Now What?
Jen Krause, Director of National Conferences and Meetings
More than 3,200 oncology nurses came together virtually for the 46th Annual ONS Congress™ to learn, connect, and share. From fast-paced live Q&As with invited speakers to heated competition in the Virtual Challenge, attendees made (and are still making) the most of their time in the digital space.
This year’s ONS Congress featured more than 60 invited sessions, 165 oral abstract presentations, and 293 posters, allowing attendees to earn up to 160 nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) contact hours during the live conference and subsequent on-demand period.
Attendees visited a virtual learning hall, attended industry-supported symposia and theater presentations, relaxed through wellness activities, and had some fun viewing their fellow attendees’ pet pictures and attending a virtual wine tasting.
Theresa Brown, PhD, BSN, FAAN, a clinical nurse and author of the New York Times Best Seller, The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients’ Lives, presented this year’s opening keynote address. In Oncology Nursing: Catalyzing Hope and Care, Brown focused on the importance of the oncology nurse’s role for patients with cancer, now more than ever, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood, BSN, MSN, MPH, presented the closing keynote, talking about the importance of having the voice of nurses in driving policy. Underwood is the first woman, the first person of color, and the first millennial to represent her community in Congress. She talked about how she decided to run for office and the work she has been a part of while there.
Have fear of missing out? It’s not too late to register to take advantage of the on-demand ONS Congress experience. You can learn more and see the full schedule. All ONS NCPD sessions as well as posters, oral abstracts, and select industry events are available on demand through May 27. Register now.