[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 28, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL ROLE OF ONCOLOGY NURSES

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                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2004

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues the important and essential role that 
oncology nurses play in the care of patients diagnosed with cancer. As 
anyone ever treated for cancer will tell you, oncology nurses are 
intelligent, well-trained, highly skilled, kind-hearted angels who 
provide quality clinical, psychosocial, and supportive care to patients 
and their families. In short, they are integral to our Nation's cancer 
care delivery system.
  Cancer is a complex, multifaceted, and chronic disease, and people 
with cancer are best served by a multidisciplinary health care team 
specialized in oncology care, including nurses who are certified in 
that specialty. This year alone 1.3 million Americans will hear the 
words ``You have cancer.'' In addition, 556,500 will lose their battle 
with this terrible disease. Everyday, oncology nurses see the pain and 
suffering caused by cancer and understand the physical, emotional, and 
financial challenges that people with cancer face throughout their 
diagnosis and treatment. Oncology nurses play a central role in the 
provision of quality cancer care as they are principally involved in 
the administration and monitoring of chemotherapy and the associated 
side-effects patients may experience.
  The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is the largest organization of 
oncology health professionals in the world with more than 30,000 
registered nurses and other health care professionals. Since 1975, the 
Oncology Nursing Society has been dedicated to excellence in patient 
care, teaching, research, administration and education in the field of 
oncology.
  On behalf of all the people with cancer and their families in Ohio's 
11th Congressional District, I would like to acknowledge Molly Loney 
for her leadership within the Oncology Nursing Society. For the past 2 
years, Molly has served on the ONS Board of Directors as Secretary. 
Through Molly's and ONS' leadership, our Nation is charting a course 
that will help us win the war on cancer.
  The ONS has 9 chapters in the great state of Ohio. These chapters 
serve the oncology nurses in the State and help them to continue to 
provide high quality cancer care to those patients and their families 
in the State.
  I commend the Oncology Nursing Society for all of its efforts and 
leadership over the last 29 years and thank the Society and its members 
for their ongoing commitment to improving and assuring access to 
quality cancer care for all cancer patients and their families. I urge 
all of my colleagues to support them in their important endeavors.

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