Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant SIG Application

Remember, as an ONS national member, you are entitled to one free SIG membership. To join an additional SIG, please complete and return the following application:

SIG Membership Application

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is a national organization of more than 33,000 registered nurses and other healthcare professionals dedicated to excellence in patient care, teaching, research and education in the field of oncology. A prime goal of ONS is to provide a network of peer support and exchange for oncology nurses. To do so, ONS introduced a formal structure of Special Interest Groups (SIG) to facilitate networking of ONS members in an identified subspecialty area. The Bone Marrow Transplant SIG was established in 1989 and has recently changed its name to accurately reflect the field of Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant (BMSCT).

Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant SIG Mission Statement

• Promoting the highest professional standards of BMSCT nursing
• Studying, researching and exchanging standards of BMSCT nursing
• Encouraging nurses to specialize in the practice of BMSCT nursing
• Fostering the professional development of BMSCT nurses, individually and collectively
• Maintaining an organizational structure and function that is responsive to the changing needs of BMSCT SIG members and the populations they represent.

Goals

• Develop and implement educational strategies that provide and integrate state-of-the-art knowledge and new technological trends in the care of the BMSCT patient.
• Continue to enhance the quality and versatility of the BMSCT newsletter.
• Facilitate collaboration and networking between BMSCT centers and/or SIGs.
• Explore and implement strategies of recruitment and retention.

Activities

The BMSCT SIG has chosen to fulfill its mission and goals through activities such as promoting timely dissemination and information sharing of new knowledge and technologies related to BMSCT patient care, and developing a practice column for the SIG newsletter. They also produce a BMSCT SIG Nursing Resource Directory, and have collaborated with the various ONS project teams in writing the Manual for Bone Marrow Transplant Nursing: Recommendations for Education and Practice. They have partnered with the IBMTR/ASBMT Keystone Conference and offer nursing sessions on blood and marrow stem cell transplant. The SIG is exploring research opportunities, and developing topic submissions for presentation at ONS educational events.

Benefits/Communication

The SIG meets once per year during the ONS Annual Congress. BMSCT SIG leaders communicate regularly with SIG members through written communiques and through a newsletter which is published several times each year. The newsletter features timely articles on topics related to BMSCT nursing, new technologies in BMSCT, messages from SIG leaders, conference announcements, and reports on SIG projects and activities.

Membership Requirements

All SIG members must be members in good standing of the national Oncology Nursing Society. ONS members receive one free SIG membership. Additional SIG memberships are $15 each.