Targeted and Biological Therapies 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 Biotherapy SIG was established in 1989 and has recently changed it's name to Targeted and Biological Therapies SIG.

Targeted and Biological Therapies SIG Mission Statement

The mission of the Targeted and Biological Therapies SIG is to promote excellence in oncology nursing by studying, researching, and exchanging information related to the care of patients diagnosed and/or treated with biologic agents.

• Promote collaboration and professionalism among nurses working with biologic agents.
• Develop increased opportunities to expand the knowledge base of nurses working with biologic agents.
• Develop tools that promote excellence in the delivery of care to patients treated with biologic agents.

Activities

The Targeted and Biological Therapies SIG, in collaboration with the various ONS project teams, is working on several projects that will fulfill their mission and achieve the group's current goals. For example, the SIG has revised the Biological Response Modifier Guidelines. The new guidelines have been renamed "Biotherapy: Recommendations for Nursing Course Content and Clinical Practicum". The SIG is continuing to develop basic and advanced level biotherapy education topics for presentation at the ONS Annual Congress and the Institutes of Learning, and they are evaluating the need for alternative educational formats.

Benefits/Communication

The SIG meets once per year during the ONS Annual Congress. Targeted and Biological Therapies SIG leaders regularly communicate with SIG members through written communiques, and through a newsletter, ONCBIO, which is published three times per year. The newsletter features a message from the SIG Coordinator, timely articles, a calendar of events, reports on SIG activities, and a Bio-Wants classified section in which members may place ads offering or requesting patient teaching tools, biotherapy related information, or help for special needs. In addition, SIG members receive an updated Targeted and Biological Therapies SIG membership directory each year which includes information on practice areas and expertise.

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.