The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is a national organization of more than 35,000 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 or interest area. The Acute & Critical Care SIG was established in 1992.  In 2002 the groups name changed to Acute & Critical Care.  To find more information about the CCS SIG visit the SIG Virtual Community at http://criticalcare.vc.ons.org/

Acute & Critical Care SIG Mission

The mission of the Acute & Critical Care SIG is to promote excellence in oncologic acute & critical care nursing by promoting a useful, efficient network of communication within ONS for oncology nurses who provide critical care, and by serving as a forum for oncology nurses to identify and explore current oncologic acute and critical care issues, and by sharing educational resources and clinical expertise with other SIGs and the membership-at-large.

Goals

• Increase communication and networking among members of the SIG and within ONS.
• To increase access to acute & critical care resources in order to ensure continued growth and strength of ONS.
• Provide the membership with information and educational opportunities.
• Develop liaison relationships with other nurses and nursing organizations caring for acutely ill cancer patients.

Activities

The Acute & Critical Care SIG has chosen several activities designated to further their mission and goals, including developing topics for presentation at ONS educational events and publishing a newsletter.

Benefits/Communication

The SIG meets once per year during the ONS Annual Congress. Acute & Critical Care SIG leaders regularly communicate with SIG members through written communiques, and through a newsletter which is published three times per year. The newsletter features timely articles related to critical care practice issues, website reviews, journal article reviews, and updates from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

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.