The Oncology Nursing Podcast

“It was really the ability to be able to connect with many individuals from my profession. Reflecting on what initially drew me to ONS Congress, I can’t help but reminisce about my first time attending in 2002. I was going down memory lane the other day and found some pictures from my first time attending. As I reflected, I could not help but feel immensely grateful for the support and education I received as a novice nurse during that time from attending Congress,” Jessica MacIntyre, DNP, MBA, APRN, AOCNP, 2024–2026 ONS president, told Lenise Taylor, MN, RN, AOCNS, BMTCN, oncology clinical specialist at ONS, during a conversation about ONS Congress. Taylor spoke with several 2024 ONS Congress attendees, asking the question “What brought you to ONS Congress?” Listen to their stories and learn how the conference has affected their careers in this special episode. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Episode Notes Information on submitting an abstract to ONS Congress Oncology Nursing Foundation ONS Congress ScholarshipsOncology Nursing Podcastepisodes:Episode 258: ONS Through the Ages: Stories From the Early Days With Cindi Cantril and George HillEpisode 160: Build Innovative Staff Education Tools and ResourcesEpisode 191: Explore Orientation Opportunities for New-to-Practice NursesONS Voicearticles: Our Unified Voices Can Improve Cancer Survivorship Care Personalized Patient Education: Ensure Effective, Inclusive, and Equitable Patient Education With These Five StrategiesONS Congress presentations from episode guestsThe Nurse as an Effective Educator: Facilitating Patient-Centered Learning (Beau Amaya)Powerful Outcomes From Nurse and Patient Policy Advocacy (Gilanie De Castro)Back to Basics: Utilizing Huddles to Emphasize Standard Care and Maintenance of Central Venous Catheters in an Effort to Reduce CLABSI (Erin Hillmon)Enhancing Triage Precision: Nurse Navigation's Impact on a Lymphedema Program (Jessica MacIntyre)Implementing a Graduate Nurse Residency Program (Leah Scaramuzzo) To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “What I want to accomplish is really to contribute significantly to an organization that has contributed so greatly to me. And until you go to Congress, you don’t fully realize the ripple effect that ONS has on the field of oncology nursing. They really are a cornerstone to our profession. So when I volunteer with ONS, I feel like I’m serving the oncology nursing community as a whole, and I’m so grateful to get to do that on a national level.” (Stacey Clements, BSN, RN) TS 3:35 “What is bringing me to Congress is to talk about patient education, health literacy, ways that we can improve the patient experience and help them understanding. And I think this is such an important topic because it’s what we do at the core of nursing. We really teach patients and their caregivers how to take care of themselves. And sometimes we forget that it’s not just a checklist to get the education done. It’s really learning what the patient needs, what they need to think about—some consideration about what may be affecting the way that they’re retaining information. Then hopefully I can give some tools and have some discussion with many different nurses across the U.S.” (Beau Amaya, MS, RN, OCN) TS 5:04 “Why I am so excited to attend Congress is that it really gives us an opportunity to work together with our colleagues, learn what each other is doing, and kind of leverage our collective wisdom. So this way we work smarter instead of harder.” (Leah Scaramuzzo, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, AOCN) TS 7:58 “I was a scholarship recipient, which I was super excited to...

“One of the things that I know Dr. [Tom] Connor worked on very heavily in his career is the long-term impact on the health of nurses and other exposed healthcare workers. We definitely need more longitudinal studies, which are difficult to do. And it’s not something that you see every day where I talk to chemo nurses and said, ‘Hey, I’ve been in this 20 years. It hasn't bothered me at all.’ Well, until it does. Therefore, it’s so important when we’re training incoming nurses—how very important it is to start with these practices early in the career and throughout the career,” Charlotte A. Smith, RPh, MS, senior regulatory advisor at Waste Management PharmEcology Services in Milwaukee, WI, told Lenise Taylor, MN, RN, AOCNS, BMTCN, oncology clinical specialist at ONS, during a conversation about hazardous drug and waste disposal. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by April 19, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to hazardous drugs and hazardous waste. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcastepisodes: Episode 209: Updates in Chemo PPE and Safe HandlingEpisode 142: The How-To of Home InfusionsONS Voicearticles: Two Oncology Nurses Implement Process to Allow Patients to Disconnect Pumps From the Comfort of Their Own Homes The Oncology Nurse’s Role in Oral Anticancer Therapies Strategies to Promote Safe Medication Administration Practices ONS Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs Learning LibraryONS position statement: Infusion of Antineoplastic Therapies in the HomeONS book: Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs (fourth edition)ONS course: Safe Handling BasicsClinical Journal of Oncology Nursingarticles:Environmental Risk Factors: The Role of Oncology Nurses in Assessing and Reducing the Risk for ExposureOral Chemotherapy: A Home Safety Educational Framework for Healthcare Providers, Patients, and CaregiversOral Chemotherapy: An Evidence-Based Practice Change for Safe Handling of Patient WasteReconciliation and Disposal of Oral Medication: Creating a Safe Process for Clinical Research PersonnelPharmacy Practice Newsarticle: Applying NIOSH Hazardous Drug Assessment of Risk Principles To Home Healthcare (by Charlotte Smith and Tom Connor)Books mentioned in this episode:Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Our Stolen Future by Theo Colborn, Diane Dumanoski, and John Peterson MyersGenerations at Risk by Ted Schettler, Gina Solomon, Maria Valenti, and Annette HuddleDrug Enforcement Agency: National Prescription Drug Takeback DayEnvironmental Protection Agency: Final Rule: Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for NicotineMD Anderson Cancer Center: Chemotherapy at Home: 9 Things to Know (patient resource)Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Safe Handling of Chemotherapy and Biotherapy at Home (patient resource)National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare SettingsManaging Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare SettingsNIOSH List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings, 2016 To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “A hazardous waste is a chemical, some of which are...

“When we’re talking about the role of nurses in addressing these challenges, they play a critical role because of when they actually get to see patients. And so, if we can help with early identification and assessment, really finding out, using financial screening tools to identify any patients that might be at risk, early on, of financial toxicity, that can really allow for timely interventions,” Sarah Paul, LCSW, OSW-C, senior director of social work at CancerCare in New York, NY, told Lenise Taylor, MN, RN, AOCNS, BMTCN, oncology clinical specialist at ONS, during a conversation about financial toxicity in adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by April 12, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to financial toxicity in the adolescent and young adult population. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD.Oncology Nursing Podcastepisodes: Episode 300: AYAs With Cancer: End-of-Life Care Planning Episode 294: AYAs With Cancer: Clinical Trial Enrollment Barriers and Facilitators Episode 287: Tools, Techniques, and Real-World Examples for Difficult Conversations in Cancer Care Episode 276: Support Young Families During a Parent’s Cancer Journey Episode 62: Financial Toxicity LegislationONS Voicearticles:AYA Cancer Survivorship: Younger Survivors Face Different Challenges and Prefer More Casual Support Programs Nursing Considerations for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Care How to Support Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer at the End of Life LGB AYA Patients With Cancer Have High Burden of Chronic Conditions in Survivorship AYA Champions Clinic Fills Gaps in Care and Addresses Unmet NeedsONS book: Oncology Nurse Navigation: Delivering Patient-Centered Care Across the Continuum (second edition)Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursingarticles:Two Case Reports on Financial Toxicity and Healthcare Transitions in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer SurvivorsCrucial Conversations: Addressing Informational Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults Diagnosed With CancerA Nurse-Pharmacist Collaborative Approach to Reducing Financial Toxicity in Cancer CareOncology Nursing Forumarticle: A Brief Screening Tool for Assessment of Financial ToxicityONS Financial Toxicity Huddle CardONS Nurse Navigation Learning LibraryAdolescent and Young Adult Cancer Awareness WeekAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyCancerCareGot TransitionNational Comprehensive Cancer NetworkPatient Advocate FoundationTriage Cancer To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “For nurses that are caring for AYA patients, it’s really important to not only be aware of financial toxicity but know how to assess for financial toxicity because of the pivotal stage that these patients are at in their life. They often don’t have the financial stability or insurance coverage that adults who are maybe middle age or even in the older adult population might have.” TS 2:11 “The idea of [AYAs] not really understanding insurance coverage—I think it’s really important that as a team, we simplify some of this complex information, breaking it down into more manageable steps and providing that guidance on the documents and...

“At the beginning, like when you first meet someone before they’ve even started anything, kind of get a baseline of ‘What’s your ability to complete your daily activities? How is your coordination? How’s your speech now? How is your writing ability?’ up front before we start anything that could be toxic. And then prior to every treatment, I tend to look at their gait, watch them walk in or walk out of the office, to see if they’re changing at all,” Colleen Erb, MSN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, AOCNP, hematology and oncology nurse practitioner at Jefferson Health Asplundh Cancer Pavilion in Willow Grove, PA, told Lenise Taylor, MN, RN, AOCNS, BMTCN, oncology clinical specialist at ONS, during a conversation about central nervous system toxicity. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by April 5, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to CNS toxicities. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcastepisodes:Episode 303: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Ocular ToxicitiesEpisode 290: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Peripheral NeuropathyEpisode 278: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Hepatic ComplicationsEpisode 269: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Gastrointestinal ComplicationsEpisode 256: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Hematologic ComplicationsEpisode 250: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Dermatologic ComplicationsEpisode 244: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Cardiovascular ComplicationsONS Voicearticles: Cognitive Impairment Is Much More Than “Chemo Brain” When Delirium Is Recognized and Addressed Early, Patient Outcomes Improve An Oncology Nurse’s Guide to Bispecific Antibodies CNS Survivorship Needs More Research, Funding, and Training, Expert Panel SaysONS courses: Essentials in Advanced Practice Symptom Management Treatment and Symptom Management—Oncology RN Nursing Considerations for CAR T-Cell Therapy for Patients With Hematologic Malignancies: Patient Education and Symptom ManagementONS books: Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice (second edition) Clinical Manual for the Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse (fourth edition) Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing (seventh edition)Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursingarticles:Associated Toxicities: Assessment and Management Related to CAR T-Cell TherapyDronabinol Therapy: Central Nervous System Adverse Events in Adults With Primary Brain TumorsPrimary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: Treatment and Nursing Management of Immunocompetent PatientsONS Huddle Card: Immune Effector Cell–Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS)American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Nervous System Side EffectsManagement of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: ASCO Guideline To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “Biotherapy, immunotherapy, and cellular therapy can cause changes in cognitive function and personality, even without other signs of obvious neurotoxicity. Things like cytokines, whether it’s infused or as a result of side effects, can bypass the blood-brain barrier and can also alter that vascular permeability to allow other substances to kind of cross the...

“A couple of things I think are really important when you look at this class of drug: It developed by a concerted effort in cancer drug development to look at new agents that would be effective based on the mechanism. And then once they found a drug in this class that was beneficial, they further modified it to try to get better efficacy and less toxicity,” Rowena “Moe” Schwartz, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, professor of pharmacy practice at James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about the nitrosoureas drug class. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by March 29, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to nitrosourea administration. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcastepisodes: Episode 286: Pharmacology 101: Alkylating Agents Episode 288: Pharmacology 101: Antimetabolites Episode 296: Pharmacology 101: Anthracyclines and Other Antitumor Antibiotics Episode 299: Pharmacology 101: Plant AlkaloidsONS Voicearticle: The Oncology Nurse’s Role in Oral Anticancer TherapiesONS courses: ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Administration Certificate™ ONS Fundamentals of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Administration™ONS books: Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice (second edition) Clinical Guide to Antineoplastic Therapy: A Chemotherapy Handbook (fourth edition) Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs (fourth edition)Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursingarticle: Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: Treatment and Nursing Management of Immunocompetent PatientsOncology Nursing Forumarticle: ONS Guidelines™ to Support Patient Adherence to Oral Anticancer Medications ONS Oral Anticancer Medication Learning Library ONS Oral Adherence VideoNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “With the nitrosoureas, there’s something really interesting because there’s another mechanism that has been identified. And that is that when you put these nitrosoureas in the body, they break down into intermediates, and one of them is an isocyanate. … These isocyanates, what they do is they inhibit DNA repair, therefore have an impact on cells that are damaged. You can think of it as the second mechanism, and people that work in the neuro-oncology space think of this when they think of drugs like lomustine in brain cancer, how that drug decreases the DNA repair protein O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase.” TS 4:11 “These drugs are very lipophilic, meaning they cross the blood-brain barrier. That’s why we use them in brain tumors, so that’s one of the key things. That’s also one of the toxicities we see when drugs cross blood-brain barrier; we see neurotoxicity. So that’s one to at least always consider but also the benefit of it crossing over and being able to treat cancers within the CNS.” TS 8:19 “As a group, these drugs are alkylating agents, so definitely the safe handling is essential. And with DNA-damaging agents, that means anybody who is going to...

“The prescribing information is really a reliable data-driven and comprehensively reviewed tool. That’s not just for healthcare providers when writing a prescription, but also, for example, it is a tool that can be used to generate educational content for healthcare systems as they update formularies and create drug information,” Elizabeth Everhart, MSN, RN, ACNP, associate director for labeling at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, MD, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about drug package inserts and labeling. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.25 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by March 22, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to FDA drug labeling. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPDOncology Nursing Podcastepisodes: Episode 126: Oncology Clinical Trials and Drug Development Episode 242: Oncology Pharmacology 2023: Today’s Treatments and Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs Episode 273: Updates in Chemotherapy and ImmunotherapyONS Voicearticles:Oncology Drug Reference SheetsFDA UpdatesONS books: Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice (second edition) Clinical Guide to Antineoplastic Therapy: A Chemotherapy Handbook (fourth edition)ONS Drug Development Learning LibraryONS and Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association: Safe Handling Q&A: How to Determine if a Drug is Hazardous National Library of Medicine: DailyMedFDA Prescribing Information ResourcesDrugs@FDA: FDA-Approved DrugsNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Hazardous Drug Exposures in Health Care To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “Nurses can be involved in several ways in creating the labeling. They can be members of the FDA multidisciplinary team that reviews the information submitted by the drug maker. Also in the review and development of the patient package insert or medication guide or the instructions for use that are used to help a healthcare practitioner, patients, or family members use the drug safely and accurately.” TS 2:08 “[Nurses] can use the sections to guide their teaching and instruction to patients, particularly about dosing and any tests that will be done to monitor for adverse reactions and any needed changes in the dosing, like whether they need to hold the medication or take less of it. They can also use the information to describe what the expected and serious adverse reactions for the drug are and how frequently they occurred in clinical trials.” TS 9:12 “The patient package inserts and medication guides that I mentioned are written in patient-friendly language and are good resources for nurses to use to educate patients and their caregivers or family members about what the product is used for, what its main and most serious side effects are, as well as what to expect in terms of the need for any special tests.” TS 11:04 “In the FDA’s public Prescribing Information Resources page, there are several excellent resources for healthcare providers to learn more about specific sections of the label, as well as to find good educational material for patients and their caregivers. There are also several...

“First, you want to refer patients to an eye care provider prior to initiating therapy, and I think communication at this point is really important. You need to tell the eye care provider why they’re being referred, what treatment they’re getting, the most common ocular toxicities, and also what needs to be done at every visit. They need to do a visual acuity; they need to do a slit-lamp eye exam. And these eye care providers need to know that ahead of time, so they’re doing everything at that visit,” Courtney Arn, APRN-CNP, nurse practitioner at the Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about ocular toxicities and their management in cancer care. The advertising messages in this episode are paid for by Dartmouth Hitchcock Cancer Center. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Episode Notes NCPD contact hours are not available for this episode.Oncology Nursing PodcastCancer Symptom Management Basics series: Episode 244: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Cardiovascular Complications Episode 250: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Dermatologic Complications Episode 256: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Hematologic Complications Episode 269: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Gastrointestinal Complications Episode 278: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Hepatic Complications Episode 290: Cancer Symptom Management Basics: Peripheral NeuropathyONS Voicearticles: Oncology Drug Reference Sheet: Mirvetuximab Soravtansine-Gynx Oncology Drug Reference Sheet: Tisotumab Vedotin-Tftv Oncology Drug Reference Sheet: Belantamab Mafodotin-BlmfONS courses:ONS Cancer Basics Essentials in Advanced Practice Symptom Management Treatment and Symptom Management—Oncology RNSymptom Management—Oncology APNONS books: Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice (second edition) Clinical Manual for the Oncology Advanced Practice Nurse (fourth edition)Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursingarticles:Transfusion Reactions: A Case Study of an Ocular Adverse Event During Autologous TransplantationOcular Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Allogeneic TransplantationEnfortumab Vedotin: Nursing Perspectives on the Management of Adverse Events in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial CarcinomaOncology Nursing Forumarticle: Ocular Toxicity of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “The most common ocular toxicities that we see with cancer treatments currently are vision impairment, which can include decreased visual acuity or blurred vision. We also see keratopathy or keratitis, very common to have dry eyes, photophobia, eye pain. Sometimes patients can develop cataracts, conjunctivitis, or even blepharitis, which is inflammation of the eyelid.” TS 2:27 “Fortunately, most of the ocular toxicities that develop when being treated with these treatments are short term, and so most of them are reversible. And they actually resolve relatively quickly after stopping treatment that’s causing the ocular toxicity. So usually within one to two months, the ocular toxicities have significantly improved or resolved.” TS 4:55 “Sometimes patients come in and you’re asking them, ‘Are you having any symptoms, or do you have any blurred vision?’ And they’ll say, you know, ‘I haven't been able to see my computer as well,’ or ‘I’ve noticed when driving, I can’t read the road sign.’ And what I really hear often is watching TV, they can’t see the scores of sports games at the bottom of the screen.” TS 7:43 “The nurses are...

“We’ve seen over and over from an access standpoint how that makes a difference, then especially when you’re looking across racial disparities, ethnic disparities, geographic disparities, that having that person who can break down those barriers then is a great equalizer in that process,” Bonny Morris, PhD, MSPH, RN, senior director of navigation at the American Cancer Society, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about addressing disparities in cancer care through patient navigation and new rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on principal illness navigation. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by March 8, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to the role of the oncology navigator. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast episodes: Episode 64: Oncology Nurse Navigators Episode 158: Navigate Patients Through Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Episode 229: How Advocacy Can Shape Your Nursing CareerONS courses: Equipping the Novice Oncology Nurse Navigator: An ONS Collaboration with AONN+ONS books: Oncology Nurse Navigation: Delivering Patient-Centered Care Across the Continuum (second edition) Telephone Triage for Oncology Nurses (third edition) ONS Voice articles: Oncology Navigation Standards Help Patients Overcome Disparities and Barriers to Care Task Force Recommends Patient Navigation Services Increase Certain Cancer Screening to Advance Health Equity Oncology Nurse Navigator Roles Are Transforming Cancer Outcomes for Underserved Rural Patients New Roles in Oncology Nurse Navigation Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles:Lean Practices for Resource Use, Timeliness, and Coordination of Care in Breast Cancer NavigationLow-Dose Computed Tomography: Effects of Oncology Nurse Navigation on Lung Cancer ScreeningOncology Nurse Navigation: Expansion of the Navigator Role Through Telehealth Oncology Nursing Forum article: Oncology Nurse Navigator Effect on Emergency Department Visits and Hospital Admissions of Adults With Cancer Post–Outpatient ChemotherapyONS Huddle CardsONS Nurse Navigation Learning LibraryONS 2017 Oncology Nurse Navigator Core Competencies Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation CBCN Role Delineation Study: Executive SummaryAmerican Cancer Society resources: ACS CARES (Community Access to Resources, Education, and Support) Building Expertise, Advocacy, and Capacity for Oncology Navigation (BEACON) InitiativeCancer Action Network Health Equity Ambassador Program Leadership in Oncology Navigation (LION)National Navigation Roundtable What Can a Cancer Navigator Do for Me? (patient resource)CMS: Health Equity Services in the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “When you get hit with that diagnosis, it’s like time stops. And even if the person that’s delivering that news—they’re trying to provide the best communication possible—but you just don’t hear anything else. And you’re overwhelmed trying to process everything and trying to just...

“Social work was involved because we could be radiation gung-ho, ready to go; chemo can be ready, but whoops, this patient doesn’t have a ride. It can be little things like that, you know, where we kind of forget. That’s why you need kind of a multidisciplinary approach. If it’s not your social worker, your navigator is going to know more and be like, ‘This patient needs a ride. I’m working on gas cards.’ Something like that can also halt a patient starting [treatment],” ONS member John Hollman, RN, BSN, OCN, senior nurse manager of radiation oncology at AdventHealth Cancer Institute in Orlando, FL, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about care coordination between radiation oncology and other oncology subspecialties. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by March 1, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning objective: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to coordination of care to assist with the management of radiation-related side effects. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 12: The Intersection of Radiation and Medical Oncology Nursing Episode 60: Radiation Side Effects With Head and Neck Cancers—ONS Congress Episode 128: Manage Treatment-Related Radiodermatitis With ONS Guidelines Episode 272: Oncologic Emergencies 101: Radiation Therapy for Emergent and Urgent Interventions Episode 298: Radiation Oncology: Nursing’s Essential Roles Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: Patient Handoff Processes: Implementation and Effects of Bedside Handoffs, the Teach-Back Method, and Discharge Bundles on an Inpatient Oncology Unit Radiation Therapy Pain Management: Prevalence of Symptoms and Effectiveness of Treatment Options Partial Breast Irradiation: A Longitudinal Study of Symptoms and Quality of Life Oncology Nursing Forum article: Symptom Clusters in Patients With Brain Tumors Undergoing Proton Beam Therapy ONS Voice articles: The Intersection of Radiation and Medical Oncology Nursing (featuring an interview with John Hollman) Today’s Immunotherapy Combinations New Treatments in Radiation Oncology49th Annual ONS CongressRadiation Track and John Hollman’s radiopharmaceuticals session ONS book: Manual for Radiation Oncology Nursing Practice and Education ONS course: ONS/ONCC Radiation Therapy Certificate ONS Communities: Radiation ONS Huddle Cards: External beam radiation Brachytherapy Proton therapy Radiation Find your local ONS Chapter’s next meeting. RT Answers American Brachytherapy Society To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “Skin reaction is a big thing in our field for breast cancer. Managing it with lotions, creams, and stuff like that is temporary. To something more complicated, like the head and neck cancer patients with base of the tongue, where the beam is directed straight at that area of the body, which is very delicate, as we know, very, very, very tough treatment. You know, anything from esophagitis to dysphagia, dry mouth, no taste. Salivary glands are affected. So it really kind of depends, obviously, where we aim the machine.” TS 2:04 “I think it really determines on how that radiation nurse knows...

“Trying to give them as much autonomy as possible is really important. I always like to ask, ‘Would you like to have a conversation? Do you think that you can handle a conversation about advance care planning?’ Or ‘What you would want someone to do for you if you're not able to speak for yourself?’ They may say no, you know, and we have to respect that too,” Mandi Zucker, LSW, CT, executive director of End of Life Choices New York in New York City, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about end-of-life and advance care planning for adolescents and young adults with cancer. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by February 23, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to advance care planning with the adolescent and young adult cancer population. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD.Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 9: How to Support Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer Episode 41: Advocating for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Episode 135: ELNEC Has Trained More Than One Million Nurses in End-of-Life Care Episode 251: Palliative Care Programs for Patients With Cancer Episode 287: Tools, Techniques, and Real-World Examples for Difficult Conversations in Cancer CareONS book: Oncology Nurse Navigation: Delivering Patient-Centered Care Across the ContinuumONS courses: Facilitating Intentional Conversations—Parts 1 and 2ONS Voicearticles: How to Support Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer at the End of Life Palliative Care Reduces Pain Trajectory in AYAs With CancerAdvance Care Planning: Nurse-Led Programs Increase Patient Conversations, Understanding, and—Ultimately—Documentation and Completion Rates Help Your Patients Prepare for the End From the BeginningONS Huddle Cards: Palliative and Hospice CareNational Hospice and Palliative Care OrganizationEnd of Life Choices New YorkFive WishesHello gameThe Death Deck/The EOL DeckThe Conversation ProjectMyDirectives website and appVitalTalk website and app To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “There’s a saying in this field: It’s never too early to have the conversation until it’s too late. And like I said, when my children turned 18, we completed advance care plans with each of them. … Thankfully, they were, and they still are, healthy, and they didn’t need an advance care plan imminently, but that’s actually the perfect time to do it. So, we had this conversation when there was no emotionality really attached to it, and that’s the best time.” TS 7:31 “So, trying to give them as much autonomy as possible is really important. I always like to ask, ‘Would you like to have a conversation? Do you think that you can handle a conversation about advance care planning?’ Or ‘What you would want someone to do for you if you’re not able to speak for yourself?’ They may say no, you know, and we have to respect that too.” TS 11:28 “I like to use an acronym called WAIT, W-A-I-T—Why am I talking? And frequently, I talk because I'm nervous. I’m so anxious at such, you know? Exactly. Just because we have a little training in this doesn’t make it an easy conversation to have. So I often...

“I can't stress enough how often I get questions about, ‘Is this the paclitaxel doing this? Is this the docetaxel doing this?’ And coming up with strategies to kind of help get our patients through with supportive care is important. It's a really big opportunity for pharmacists and our nurses to really provide it and help our patients get through and show the knowledge that we have and to help them,” Dane Fritzsche, PharmD, BCOP, oncology informatics pharmacist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and University of Washington Medicine in Seattle, WA, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about the plant alkaloid drug class. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by February 16, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to plant alkaloids. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD.Oncology Nursing Podcast Pharmacology 101 Cancer Symptom Management Basics Oncologic Emergencies 101 ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Administration Certificate™ ONS Fundamentals of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Administration™ Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice Clinical Guide to Antineoplastic Therapy: A Chemotherapy HandbookClinical Journal of Oncology Nursing Vincristine Minibag Administration: A Quality Improvement Project to Minimize Medical ErrorsTaxane-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Objective and Subjective Comparison Between Paclitaxel and Docetaxel in Patients With Breast CancerLiposomal Irinotecan: Nursing Considerations in an Outpatient Cancer CenterExtremity Cooling: A Synthesis of Cryotherapy Interventions to Reduce Peripheral Neuropathy and Nail Changes From Taxane-Based ChemotherapyPlant Alkaloids ONS Symptom Interventions and GuidelinesONS VoiceChemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy May Have a Link With Vitamin D DeficiencyHematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association patient education IV Cancer Treatment Education SheetsChemoCare To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From This Episode “An alkaloid is an organic compound, so think carbon-based ring structure. The only thing special about alkaloid is that it has to contain at least one nitrogen atom.” TS 1:43 “Plant alkaloids are just alkaloids derived from plants itself, so think like the roots, stems, leaves, bark, and things like that. Each of these agents we'll discuss today are unique, but broadly speaking, all of them are extracted, at least when they were first discovered, from a plant source. And they are typically biosynthesized by these plants for defensive purposes.” TS 2:01 “Broadly speaking, [plant alkaloids] are cell cycle–specific agents. They do, depending on the compound, impact different parts of the cell cycle. Topoisomerase inhibitors is an example, so think irinotecan, which is a topoisomerase I inhibitor. There's topoisomerase II inhibitors, like etoposide being a good example. These impact the S phase in your cell cycle, so the synthesis of the DNA. Topoisomerase kind of helps unwind DNA and stabilize that as it's being replicated.” TS 3:36 “Again,...

“We are there for whatever issue, whether it's skin management or helping just cheer them on and manage small things or big things, you know, to get them through these treatments. And then as a patient completes the treatment, we continue the nurse education and [managing] the late toxicities,” Michele “Michi” Gray, RN, radiation oncology care coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about what you should know about nursing’s important role in radiation oncology. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the nursing practice or oncology nursing practice ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by February 9, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase knowledge of the radiation oncology nurse role. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 272: Oncologic Emergencies 101: Radiation Therapy for Emergent and Urgent Interventions Episode 104: How Radiation Affects All Areas of Oncology Nursing ONS Voice article: The Intersection of Radiation and Medical Oncology Nursing ONS course: ONS/ONCC Radiation Therapy Certificate Course ONS book: Manual for Radiation Oncology Nursing Practice and Education (fifth edition) ONS Huddle Card: Radiation ONS Congress® Radiation Track American Society for Radiation Oncology To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “There's many different forms of therapeutic radiation. External beam radiation is probably the most common type of radiation therapy used in cancer treatments. Using x-rays and gamma rays are types of external beam, and that is the most common and what everybody thinks of when we talk about radiation therapy. Also, particles would be another type. Particles would be electrons and protons. Then there’s brachytherapy. That's internal radiation, which is a technique that is sealed radioactive sources placed directly into or adjacent to the tumor.” TS 3:13 “First step [in the treatment coordination process] is that consult—getting the patients in the door. Quite honestly, this consult can be a long day for the patients. They may just have a consult with the radiation oncologist. [But if they’re coming from a distance,] they might seeing a multidisciplinary clinic, so they are seeing all the physicians all in one day: the medical oncologist, the radiation oncologist, a surgeon.” TS 6:31 “We have a clinic team that oversees a lot of the clinical nursing side of things with rooming and then anesthesia recovery and things like that. And then we have the nursing working with the physicians and care coordination. We kind of have two different nursing roles within the Cleveland Clinic. So, education from both sides, you know, doing education, providing care for the patients and the patients’ families.” TS 16:28 “This is one of the many phone calls that we get, I should say, almost daily. We get several phone calls from patients who say, ‘I've looked at my chart, I don't see my radiation treatment. Why...

“What you teach patients about that the side effects may be somewhat different, because it's more of a regional treatment with less systemic toxicities, so it's teaching patients about the drugs, the side effects, and the actual procedure itself,” Lisa Hartkopf-Smith, MS, RN, AOCN®, CHPN, advanced practice nurse at OhioHealth Center in Columbus and ProMedica Cancer Institute in Toledo, OH, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about the oncology nurse’s role in intra-arterial chemotherapy administration. This episode is part of a series about chemotherapy administration, which we’ll include a link to in the episode notes. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the nursing practice, oncology nursing practice, or treatment ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by February 2, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge about the nurse's role in intra-arterial chemotherapy administration. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 252: Intraperitoneal Administration: The Oncology Nurse’s Role Episode 285: Transarterial Chemoembolization: The Oncology Nurse’s Role Additional episodes about chemotherapy administrationClinical Journal of OncologyNursing Evaluation of a Chemotherapy and Medication Education Process for Patients Starting Cancer TreatmentChemotherapy Courses: ONS Fundamentals of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Administration ONS/ONCC Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Administration Certificate™ Access Device Guidelines: Recommendations for Nursing Practice and Education (fourth edition) Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice (second edition) To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “Intra-arterial chemotherapy has actually been in existence over 70-plus years. It's been around for a long time. There are case reports in the literature as early as 1950 of intra-arterial chemotherapy, one specifically being giving nitrogen mustard, of all things, interactively through a catheter for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.” TS 1:43 “Retinoblastoma is a common indication at this point in time for intra-arterial chemotherapy and has very good success rates. Intra-arterial chemotherapy is also used in liver cancers, whether it's an unresectable liver metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the colon or it's unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, as an another example where it's used. And it can also be used in hepatocellular or HCC carcinoma.” TS 6:36 “Some of the things, like pretreatment, things that the nurse has to look for in any of those are labs and particularly clotting times. You know, to make sure that a PT and an INR and a platelet count was drawn because this patient is going to have a catheter in their artery and frequently will have heparin, so we need to make sure you know what that is.” TS 8:22 “When you're pulling your drug information, your patient drug information sheets, it may not be appropriate to give the Adriamycin®...

“The search for daunorubicin’s sister really led to this discovery of doxorubicin, which is an analog with much greater activity. The discovery of doxorubicin can be coined kind of as, ‘one of the best drugs born in Milan, Italy.’ And after that, a few analogs were developed and tested, and two that we currently use today, are idarubicin and epirubicin,” Puja Patel, PharmD, BCOP, clinical oncology pharmacist at the Delnor Hospital Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center in Geneva, IL, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about anthracyclines and other antitumor antibiotics. This episode is part of a series about drug classes, which we’ll include a link to in the episode notes. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the nursing practice, oncology nursing practice, symptom management, palliative care, supportive care, or treatment ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by January 26, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge of anthracyclines and antitumor antibiotics. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast: Pharmacology 101 series ONS Voice oncology drug reference sheets IV Cancer Treatment Education Sheets ONS Voice articles: The Evidence Is Building for ACE Inhibitors in Anthracycline-Associated Cardiotoxicity Outpatient Oncology Drug Series: Doxorubicin Is the Infamous Red Devil Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: Nursing Alchemy: Transforming R-CHOP Information Into Essentials Dyspnea: Common Side Effect Cardiac Toxicity: Using Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors to Prevent Anthracycline-Induced Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Cardiomyopathy Oncology Nursing Forum article: Symptom Clusters in Lymphoma Survivors Before, During, and After Chemotherapy: A Prospective Study ONS Huddle Card: Antitumor Antibiotics Additional healthcare professional resources: Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People Harvard University Implicit Association Test OncoPharm Podcast ASCO Education Podcast The roots of modern oncology: from discovery of new antitumor anthracyclines to their clinical use Additional patient resources: National Comprehensive Cancer Network patient resources National Comprehensive Cancer Network patient webinars National Cancer Institute resources for patients To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “Anthracyclines are kind of categorized as topoisomerase II inhibitors, and these agents are very powerful in that they have—it's really like three drugs in one—they have various mechanisms.” TS 3:55 “We need to create a stable environment, and so we actually cut one of the cords, and that's exactly what topoisomerase is doing. It's cutting one of the DNA strands. And in this case, it's cutting two strands, and that's why it's called topoisomerase II, so it's cutting both of the strands. It's cutting the DNA, releasing some of that tension, allowing for replication, and then rejoining that portion. So, it's a very important...

“So much of this is just knowing what is their diagnosis, what medications are they on, what could be the root cause of this—where is their disease to begin with? There's really a lot of differential diagnosis and workup that has to be thought about, you know, when you're dealing with shortness of breath and pulmonary toxicities,” Beth Sandy, MSN, CRNP, OCN®, thoracic medical oncology nurse practitioner at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about just a few of the pulmonary toxicities oncology nurses may encounter in patients receiving pharmaceutical cancer treatments. This episode is part of a series on cancer symptom management basics; the rest are linked below. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the nursing practice, oncology nursing practice, symptom management, palliative care, supportive care, or treatment.ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by January 19, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge of pulmonary complications from cancer treatment. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast Cancer Symptom Management Basics series ONS Voice articles: Pneumonitis With Immunotherapy Treatment Hematologic Cancers Have Higher Long-Term Risk of Clots and Bleeding Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: Durvalumab Immunotherapy: Nursing Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events During the Journey of Patients With Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Heart and Lung Complications: Assessment and Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism and Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Multiple Myeloma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Clinical Implications for Patients With Lung Cancer Oncology Nursing Forum article: Multifactorial Model of Dyspnea in Patients With Cancer ONS book: Understanding and Managing Oncologic Emergencies: A Resource for Nurses (third edition) ONS Symptom Interventions and Guidelines™: Dyspnea To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “Your lungs are what is needed to have the gas exchange within your bloodstream. So, when we inhale, we're inhaling oxygen, and we need that gas exchange to occur in the alveoli, which are the tiny, little bubble-like structures within the periphery of the lungs. And they're communicating with tiny, itty-bitty little blood vessels. And that's where the gas exchange occurs, where you get rid of the carbon dioxide from the blood and you get oxygen to the blood. And what ends up happening is there is, for whatever reason it may be, that gas exchange can’t occur, and that can result in so many different forms from different toxicities, whether there's an inflammation causing the alveoli not to work correctly, whether there's an obstruction where there's literally something obstructing the air getting into the lungs, or whether there's compression from an external source like a fusion or something like that that is pressing...

“AYAs are underrepresented in clinical trials and unfortunately have one of the highest rates of being uninsured of any population. So, this is really concerning for a lot of reasons and really impacts our ability to make a difference for their treatment and outcomes,” Stacy Whiteside, APRN, MS, CPNP-AC/PC, CPON®, nurse practitioner and fertility patient navigator in the Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about increasing AYA enrollment in clinical trials. Whiteside is also the nursing representative for the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) AYA Committee. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the nursing practice, oncology nursing practice, care of the pediatric hematology and oncology patient, or pediatric hematology and oncology nursing practice ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by January 12, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge of clinical trial treatment barriers in adolescents and young adults with cancer. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 9: How to Support Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer Episode 19: The Practical Side of Clinical Trials Episode 126: Oncology Clinical Trials and Drug Development Episode 260: Diversity in Cancer Clinical Trials Episode 276: Support Young Families During a Parent’s Cancer Journey ONS Voice articles: Balance Hope and Quality of Life for Phase I Clinical Trials Help Patients Understand Biomarker Test Results and Clinical Trials Options Nursing Roles in Clinical Trials Use ClinicalTrials.gov to Find the Right Cancer Research Studies for Your Patients Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: Cancer Clinical Trials: Improving Awareness and Access for Minority and Medically Underserved Communities Community-Based Clinical Trials: The Role of Nurses in Increasing Enrollment Disparity of Equitable Representation in Cancer Clinical Trials: Nursing Perspectives Oncology Nursing Forum article: Examining Participation Disparities in Cancer Clinical Trials Perceptions of Clinical Trial Participation Among Women of Varying Health Literacy Levels Treatment Decision-Making Involvement in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer Clinical Trials ONS Huddle Card National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) National Clinical Trials Network National Library of Medicine: Clinical Trials NCI’s Community Oncology Research Program Children’s Oncology Group (COG) SWOG Cancer Research Network: Clinical Trials Journal of Clinical Oncology articles about COG and SWOG: The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Responsible Investigator Network: An Initiative for Advancing AYA Cancer Research in the National Clinical Trials Network SWOG S1826, a Randomized Study of Nivolumab-AVD Versus Brentuximab Vedotin-AVD in Advanced Stage Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email...

“I can think of examples where I have two patients. They have the same diagnosis, but they have two different insurance companies, treatment plan’s the same. ‘Patient A’ isn't going to get the optimal treatment plan because their insurance company won't approve it. ‘Patient B’ is going to get the Cadillac version of this treatment plan, and what am I supposed to do about it,” Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN, FAAN, HEC-C, senior clinical ethicist in the John J. Lynch Center for Ethics at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about how access-to-care issues can produce moral dilemmas for nurses and how to manage this. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 1.0 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the nursing practice and oncology nursing practice ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by January 5, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge in moral dilemmas in nursing practice. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. How to advocate for your patients. ONS position statement: Access to Quality Cancer Care Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 222: Ethical and Moral Dilemmas of Futility in Cancer Care and Treatment Episode 253: The Ethics of Caring for People You Know Personally Episode 277: Futility in Care: How to Advocate for Your Patients and Prevent Ethical Distress ONS Voice articles: Four R’s and Resilience Approach Help Oncology Nurses Respond to Morally Distressing Challenges It Takes a Team to Confront Moral Distress Cope With Moral Distress by Focusing on the Possibilities The Case of the Blurred Boundaries Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: Moral Distress: A Qualitative Study of Experiences Among Oncology Team Members Moral Distress: Identification Among Inpatient Oncology Nurses in an Academic Health System Moral Distress: One Unit’s Recognition and Mitigation of This Problem The Role of Oncology Nurses as Ethicists: Training, Opportunities, and Implications for Practice Oncology Nursing Forum article: Ethical Challenges Encountered by Clinical Trials Nurses: A Grounded Theory Study Reducing Compassion Fatigue in Inpatient Pediatric Oncology Nurses Moral Resilience Moral Resilience ONS Huddle Card American Cancer Society: Road to Recovery American Nurses Association position statement: The Nurse’s Role When a Patient Requests Medical Aid in Dying (ONS endorsed) Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation: Improving Licensure and Credentialing Applications Toolkit Guttmacher Institute: Roe v. Wade Overturned: Our Latest Resources General ethics resources: Center for Practical Bioethics Harvard Implicit Association Test Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Ethics Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University The John J. Lynch, MD Center for Ethics: MedStar Washington Hospital Center To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “When people think of a moral dilemma, sometimes what I think they’re considering is what I call a ’moral...

“With the turnover rates where they’re at now, there’s no way we can keep thinking how we did in the past—like, we have to. There’s no doubt. We have to think differently,” Deborah Cline, DNP, RN, associate professor in the Department of Graduate Studies with Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston in Texas, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about oncology nurse retention. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 1.0 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the professional practice and performance ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by December 29, 2025. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge related to nurse retention strategies. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 231: Nurses Thrive in a Healthy Work Culture Episode 187: The Critical Need for Well-Being and Resiliency and How to Practice Episode 85: Nursing Resilience and Self-Care Aren’t Optional ONS Voice articles: Train and Retain: From Orientation to Leadership, Here Are the Strategies That Experienced Staff Developers Use American Rescue Plan Funds Will Reduce Burnout, Promote Mental Wellness Among Healthcare Workforce Biden-Harris Administration Invests $100 Million in Awards to Grow the Nursing Workforce Create Space Between Work and Life With These ONS Member-Tested Techniques Clinical Oncology Nursing: Will You Leave or Stay? ONS Nurse Well-Being Learning Library ONS Symptom Interventions and Guidelines: Peripheral Neuropathy The Journal of Excellence in Nursing Leadership: The Accreditation in Shared Governance Program (Robert Hess) American Nurses Foundation Stress and Burnout Prevention Program National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience Would you like to hear more from Debbie and about the future of nurse retention? Check out her next presentation at ONS Congress® in April 2024. To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “When you look at the data, we have over 3 million nurses in the United States. Approximately, 1.7 million of those are in the hospitals, but unfortunately, the turnover rate has nearly doubled. Just since 2019, where it was about 15.9% nationally, we are over 27% since 2021.” TS 1:45 “The data actually shows that it’s turnover in early-career nurses. When we’re looking at that first five years of data and who’s turning over, it’s our nurses that are one to two years. Our patients are so complex. When you’re looking at staff turnover that’s early, we’re going to have a huge problem getting to the point where we can keep some of the knowledge going, and when you lose them early, it’s not good for nursing and oncology nursing in specific.” TS 3:05 “In May of this year, we learned that nursing enrollments for entry level baccalaureate programs are down for the first time in over a 20-year period. So, that is really concerning. So, enrollments are down. There’s challenges getting clinical placements depending on where you are, not to mention that oncology...

“A sense of belonging is what tethers us to those who share in our spaces that work with us. Belonging is fueled by a social connection, which is one of our basic human needs. When you feel safe, supported, and valued, you bring your full, authentic self to work and you’re fully engaged to work collaboratively to deliver the best patient care and quite frankly, be the best teammate ever,” Kecia Boyd, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, AOCNS ®, BMTCN®, director of inclusion, diversity, and equity in the department of nursing and patient care services at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about how nurses can contribute to a community of belonging in their workplace. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the professional practice and performance ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by December 22, 2025. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge related to inclusion in nursing. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast: Episode 178: Together, We Can Stop Racism and Create Equity in Nursing ONS Voice articles: Diversity in Nursing: How the Profession Is Addressing Racial and Gender Gaps Diversity in Nursing Begins at the Student Level Achieving Diversity and Inclusion in Nursing Requires a Closer Look at the Profession’s Structure Additional ONS resources: DEI Commitment Statement Implicit Bias Huddle Card Introduction to Intentional Conversations Videos Harvard Implicit Association Test The Journal of Excellence in Nursing Leadership article: Equity, diversity, and inclusion: Intersection with quality improvement National Library of Medicine article: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Nursing: The Pathway to Excellence Framework Alignment American Nurses Association (ANA): Promoting Diversity in Nursing and the Role of Leaders To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “For better understanding how belonging is tied into diversity, inclusion, equity, let’s put in the context of a party. So, let’s say diversity is being invited to that party, equity is receiving the invitation to the party in the way that is right for you, inclusion is being asked to dance when you get to that party, and a sense of belonging is dancing like nobody is watching.” TS 3:43 “A strong sense of belonging is important for nurses because it will help create and sustain a healthy work environment that fosters excellence in patient care and optimal outcomes for us—as staff, as nurses—our patients, and other members of the healthcare team.” TS 4:47 “Building relationships at work is how we build resilience to our everyday work environment. Resilience allows us to overcome those stressful situations and to adapt positively resulting in good wellbeing and mental health.” TS 6:01 “I believe it begins with each of us as individuals to do some self-reflecting or some self-awareness, because a self-reflection will allow us to identify our own unconscious biases,...

“I think educating patients of what can happen and those are the symptoms you're really looking for to decrease this from getting to the severe level is like the sensory stuff. It's kind of your starting point and it progresses from there,” Colleen Erb, MSN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, AOCNP®, hematology and oncology nurse practitioner at Jefferson Health Asplundh Cancer Pavilion in Willow Grove, PA, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a discussion about what nurses need to know about cancer- and treatment-related peripheral neuropathy. This episode is part of a series on cancer symptom management basics; the rest are linked below. You can earn free NCPD contact hours after listening to this episode and completing the evaluation linked below. Music Credit: “Fireflies and Stardust” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD), which may be applied to the symptom management, palliative care, and supportive care ILNA categories, by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at myoutcomes.ons.org by December 15, 2025. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of NCPD by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: The learner will report an increase in knowledge related to peripheral neuropathy. Episode Notes Complete this evaluation for free NCPD. Oncology Nursing Podcast Cancer Symptom Management Basics series Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: Balance and Gait Impairment: Sensor-Based Assessment for Patients With Peripheral Neuropathy Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Use of an Electronic Care Planning System to Improve Adherence to Recommended Assessment and Management Practices Instruments for Assessing Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Review of the Literature Extremity Cooling: A Synthesis of Cryotherapy Interventions to Reduce Peripheral Neuropathy and Nail Changes From Taxane-Based Chemotherapy Oncology Nursing Forum article: Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tools: A Systematic Review ONS Symptom Interventions and Guidelines™: Peripheral Neuropathy American Cancer Society’s patient information for peripheral neuropathy American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Guideline: Prevention and Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Survivors of Adult Cancers Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC): Neurological Complications Overview of nursing skills for routine neurologic assessments To discuss the information in this episode with other oncology nurses, visit the ONS Communities. To find resources for creating an ONS Podcast Club in your chapter or nursing community, visit the ONS Podcast Library. To provide feedback or otherwise reach ONS about the podcast, email pubONSVoice@ons.org. Highlights From Today’s Episode “Our nervous system is sort of divided into three parts. The autonomic nervous system, which is kind of controlled homeostasis, blood pressure, your intestinal motility, things like that. The motor system, which is the efferent system, which is reflexes, muscle strength, sort of your big muscle movements, if you want to think of it that way. And then the sensory system, which is the afferent system, which is really what defines motion.” TS 1:51 “I think patients tend to blow off the mild numbness and tingling because they’re just like, ‘Oh, it’s just the side effect of my chemo’ and they don't realize that that can get progressively worse. So, they tend to not tell you, you know, ‘Oh do you have numbness and tingling? Yeah, I get it every visit.’ But they’re like, ‘No, no, it’s fine. It's just once in a while,’ and all of a sudden, two...