Join our Cancer Genetics SIG colleagues in this challenge to increase the number of ONCC Certified nurses ins our SIG’s membership. The stats as of 4/15/09 are in the link below. Check out our SIG’s current standing, in the link below, and encourage certification to your colleagues, especially those in our SIG. If our SIG has the highest percentage increase we will be recognized at the 2010 Congress SIG Planning & Networking meeting. Watch for updates on the main SIG virtual community and on our VC site!! We need YOU!

For certification information go to http://www.oncc.org/publications/news.shtml.

Congress 2009 Flier (2)

Congratulation Letter to Appointment as NHGRI Director - click here.

ANA and ISONG Co-Publish Genetics and Ethics in Health Care: New Questions in the Age of Genomic Health Nursesbooks.org, the publishing program of the American Nurses Association (ANA), in collaboration with the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG) has just released a book exploring the current ethical challenges associated with advances in genetics technology and genomic health care from a wide cross-section of cultural, racial, religious, and technical perspectives. While these advances are at the cutting edge of understanding the causal factors of health and illness, they also demand that we acknowledge and respect the deeply complex and diverse moral and ethical concerns that can impact the decisions of individual patients and the lives of their families and communities.

http://nursingworld.org/Books/pdescr.cfm?cnum=24#9781558102637

To order a copy of the book at a discount from ISONG while supplies use this order form.

Kathleen Calzone, RN, MSN, APNG, FAAN Senior Nurse Specialist (Research) NCI/CCR/Genetics Branch 8901 Wisconsin Ave. Building 8, Room 5101 Bethesda, MD 20889 301-435-0538 Fax: 301-402-4471

On January 13, 2009 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released an updated and improved version of the Surgeon General's Internet-based family health history tool.  Read more about the history tool.

It is a time to focus on the need for mentoring and to assure a brighter future. You can partricipate by becoming a mentor or mentee through the Cancer Genetics SIG Mentoring Program.

Did you know that the Cancer Genetics SIG provides a formal mentoring program for oncology nurse professionals? Joining is easy. To enroll, visit www.3creekmentoring.com/ONS to start the process.

Mentoring relationships officially begin once a mentee contacts a prospective mentor (through the online program) and both parties agree to a mentoring arrangement. These relationships are ongoing with the majority of communication occurring by email and through the online program. However, mentors and mentees may also connect in-person or by telephone (at their own expense) as deemed appropriate and convenient for them.

Mentoring relationships can be either short or long in duration. However, participants should be willing to make a minimum commitment of two hours per month to the program. If at anytime an arrangement is not meeting the desired expectations, a mentor or mentee can be paired with another member participating in the program.

Please direct any questions to membership@ons.org.

National Nurses United, the nation’s largest organization of registered nurses, today activated its nationwide disaster relief program to recruit nurse volunteers to provide assistance to residents of earthquake-devastated Haiti. More than 4,500 registered nurses have responded in less than one day. Details are still being worked out, but those able to support the efforts of these nurses can get involved by signing up to volunteer or donate.