Inclusiveness is an important ONS core value. This value includes striving for diversity on the Board, Steering Council, and other ONS leadership positions, and encompasses diversity in projects, membership, student programs, and providing resources for nurses to meet the needs of their diverse patient populations. ONS is committed to this value, which is reflected throughout the organization and promotes initiatives geared to ensure cultural competence.

Below are just some of the areas that are representative of ONS' commitment to inclusiveness. ONS actively pursues these and other programs and initiatives mentioned throughout this site:

• ONS has recruited a diverse group of volunteers as members of the ONS Diversity Advisory Panel. This panel will be called upon to review and make recommendations on ONS' diversity initiatives as assigned by the Membership Leadership Team. If you desire to be part of this advisory panel in the future to help define diversity initiatives that will make a difference, click here to fill out an application.



• ONS has joined with the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) to partner on a National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign.



• Diverse and underserved patient populations are common themes of sessions presented at the Annual Congress and Institutes of Learning. This trend will continue at future ONS events. Click here for information regarding these and other ONS events.



• ONS has collaborated with the Intercultural Cancer Council (ICC) to develop joint projects such as the Special Symposium, “Health Disparities in Cancer Care,” which highlighted the role of the oncology nurse in eliminating this multidimensional problem.



• As the population ages, more nurses will be caring for the special needs of older patients with multiple comorbidities and other challenges. ONS has been collaborating with the Geriatric Oncology Consortium (GOC) on several projects, including development of a position and presentation of a special symposium at the ONS Annual Congress.



• The ONS International Focus Group specifically address inclusiveness by seeking to recruit and involve members globally.



• International representation and collaboration are among ONS’s priorities. A session titled “Complementary Therapies: An International Perspective,” helped to raise awareness of complementary therapy use in other countries, specifically England, Turkey, and China. ONS also regularly presents and attends the International Union Against Cancer programs and is involved with the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC).

Inclusiveness presents unique challenges, and ONS works diligently through these combined efforts to provide quality programming to assist nurses from all walks of life. ONS makes many provisions to provide ongoing programs and materials that add value to its membership. Many other efforts define inclusiveness at ONS.