EONS Newsletter April 2024

EONS PRESIDENT VIRPI SULOSAARI INVITES YOU TO THE EONS LEADERSHIP FORUM!  

EONS President Virpi Sulosaari invites you to sign up for the '40 years of EONS Cancer Nursing Leadership Forum'. 

This hybrid event will take place on 15 May 2024, at Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland, and is for clinical nurses, nurse managers, cancer nursing directors, educators, stakeholders and policy makers. Attendance for the event is hybrid. 

The aims of the Leadership Forum are to:  

• Raise awareness on the importance of cancer nursing leadership.  
• Provide perspectives on leadership strategies with emphasis on teamwork, adaptability, and well-being at work.  
• Discuss innovative approaches on clinical and cancer nursing leadership.  
• Provide examples on clinical leadership in provision of person-centred cancer care.  
• Every cancer nurse is a leader: perspectives on clinical nursing leadership.  

Leadership Summit Fee: 180 EURO 

Online Attendance Fee: 80 EURO 

The deadline for registration is 30 April 2024. Download the programme with speakers.

ECND24, on 18 May, is now just a month away! It’s time to prepare to raise the profile of cancer nursing across Europe with a major social media campaign and make sure our voices are heard on our special day. Our theme this year is From Knowledge to Action: Shaping the future of cancer nursing. EONS President Virpi Sulosaari said: It’s going to be a wonderful day when we all come together on social media to spread important messages about the future of our profession. 
Go to https://cancernurse.eu/ecnd24/ to download banners and templates to use on social media. You can use your own photos too. On 18 May, let’s tell the world about the ways cancer nurses are helping transform the future of cancer care! 

Great news! The deadline has been extended for you to participate in European Cancer Nursing Day (ECND) 2024 by either nominating outstanding individuals or teams for the "2024 Making an Impact in Cancer Nursing Award'' or showcasing your creative contributions in the ECND24 competition. The prestigious award, presented by EONS, recognises those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation in cancer nursing, impacting patient care and advancing nursing practices. Up to two winners will receive free registration to EONS17. Nomination submissions, due by May 05, 2024, can be made through the provided document or Google Form. 

The ECND24 competition invites cancer nurses across Europe to submit short movies or photo montages showcasing innovative initiatives under the theme "From Knowledge to Action: Shaping the Future of Cancer Nursing." Entries focusing on introducing new ideas involving the public or patients should be submitted via Google Form by May 05, 2024. The winning entry will receive complimentary registration to the EONS17 conference in Barcelona from September 14-16, 2024, providing an opportunity to present their work. Join these initiatives to celebrate and contribute to the impactful advancements in cancer nursing. 

In oncology, a patient’s treatment plan often involves various measures, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, to eliminate the cancer. Palliative care, which is sometimes less visible, is however, a crucial aspect of cancer care that affects the quality of life of patients and their families. Palliative care refers to specialised medical care provided to individuals with serious illnesses. The aim is to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. In the field of oncology, palliative care extends beyond treatment, providing a source of comfort, dignity, and hope during the most challenging times.

Pictured from left: Project coordinator Associate Professor Jeroen Hasselaar, Dr Cathy Payne from European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), EONS President Virpi Sulosaari.

EONS President Virpi Sulosaari recently participated in a high-level symposium held in Vilvoorde, Belgium organised by the Palliative Sedation Horizon Europe project. This five-year project has carried out studies looking into proportional palliative sedation in five European countries. To increase public and professional understanding of palliative sedation, an online education programme was developed and an open access e-book with best practice examples has been published on the website. Policy recommendations will be soon published as a “Brussels statement”.  Additionally, the EAPC recommended framework on palliative sedation has been further developed.
Palliative sedation is a medical intervention used to provide relief from refractory suffering in patients with life-limiting illness. It is important to distinguish it from euthanasia as it aims to relieve suffering not shorten or extend life. The level of sedation should be what is needed to relieve suffering and it can be light, deep, intermittent or continuous depending on the patient’s need. Palliative sedation has significant social and ethical implications which must be considered. Recommendations are needed on palliative sedation and on increasing awareness of the intervention and correct understanding of its purpose. Multidisciplinary collaboration and further education of healthcare professionals are needed to implement such recommendations.

The EONS Early Career Research Grant 2024, offering up to €2500, aims to support early-career cancer nurses in conducting research projects within their practice. Open to EONS members, applicants must be early career cancer nurses with less than ten years of clinical experience, holding a pre-doctoral degree or having defended their PhD within the past 12 months. Proposals should prioritise nurses working in clinical settings, and preference will be given to those without a previous EONS grant. The application deadline is 31 July 2024, with successful applicants announced in September 2024. The grant must be utilised within 12 months from acceptance, and recipients must submit a report on the gained experience and outcomes. Please visit the EONS website for detailed application instructions, including eligibility and evaluation criteria. 

On March 21, 2024, Youth Cancer Europe launched the “Recommendations for Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Cancer Care in Europe” Policy Paper at a policy event at the European Parliament in Brussels. EONS is proud that our Past-President Johan de Munter was invited to speak at this important event, organised by https://beatcancer.eu/, from the ‘Healthcare Provider's Perspective’. Johan said: “As EONS continues to promote excellence in cancer care across Europe, it’s also our goal to promote equitable, diverse, and inclusive care. Cancer nurse professionals stand at the forefront of patient advocacy, support, and education, ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve regardless of background, circumstance, time, and place. It is essential to recognise and respect the unique experiences and needs of all individuals affected by cancer and work collaboratively to ensure that everyone has access to the care and support they need to live their best possible lives, regardless of their ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. 

Read the Recommendations

The deadline for abstract submissions for EONS17 is 7 May 2024. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to share your research and experience with other cancer nurses during the top event of the cancer nursing year – from 14-16 September 2024 in Barcelona. See the full list of abstract categories. To submit abstracts, visit the ESMO Congress web page. In this special anniversary year our theme is ‘40 Years of European Cancer Nursing – Shaping the Future of Healthcare’. EONS is inviting abstracts on research studies and quality improvement projects, which may include your multidisciplinary team. Abstract topics include advanced care planning, palliative care, eHealth, digital innovations, health promotion, prevention, screening, leadership, education, precision health, rehabilitation, survivorship care, and symptom management. 

The EONS17 Draft Programme is now available – Find out more about our high-quality sessions, notable speakers, and celebratory events.  

The Cancer Nursing Fund (CNF) is offering a bursary scheme for 10 cancer nurses to attend EONS17 (4 to be offered to the host country – the Spanish National Society). Cancer nurses can apply for a grant of EUR 650 per applicant. The support will fund travel (airfare, train in economy class), accommodation expenses and/or registration fee for EONS17. 

The 15th ESO-EONS Masterclass in Oncology Nursing, in San Servolo, Venice Area, Italy, from 08-11-2024 to 12-11-2024, invites applications until Friday, 24 May 2024. The programme is accredited by EONS and designed for European cancer nurses. It offers 3.5 days of intensive, clinically oriented sessions covering advanced oncology topics, including specialist practice skills, communication, symptom management, and clinical leadership. The aims include preparing nurses for senior roles, enhancing clinical knowledge, and utilising evidence-based approaches. Applicants with 3-5 years of clinical cancer nursing practice must be fluent in English and members of EONS. Successful applicants, informed by 1 July 2024, are granted free registration and accommodation. Apply by Friday 24 May 2024 for this opportunity to advance your skills and contribute to the interdisciplinary approach in cancer care. Find out more and apply.

NEW RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY CELL CHANGE EARLY

Stock Photo

Scientists at the recently opened Early Cancer Institute at Cambridge University, UK, have begun work that is pinpointing changes in cells many years before they develop into tumours. The research should help design radically new ways to treat cancer and cancer signs could be spotted years before symptoms, says the new research institute. “The latency for a cancer to develop can go on for years, sometimes for a decade or two, before the condition abruptly manifests itself to patients,” said Prof Rebecca Fitzgerald, the institute’s director. “Then doctors find they are struggling to treat a tumour which, by then, has spread through a patient’s body. We need a different approach, one that can detect a person at risk of cancer early on using tests that can be given to large numbers of people.” 

EONS – WHY ALL CANCER NURSES SHOULD JOIN US!

Johan de Munter, EONS Past-President, and Merel van Klinken, EONS Board member, have written an article for the EONS Dutch Society about the many benefits of joining our organisation: The European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) plays a pivotal role in advancing the field of cancer nursing and promoting excellence in cancer care. Being a member of EONS offers numerous benefits that contribute to the professional development, knowledge enhancement, and recognition of pan-European cancer nurses.

Share this article with your friends and colleagues who are not yet a member of EONS! 

Don’t miss the latest issue of The European Journal of Oncology Nursing (EJON), an international journal which publishes research of direct relevance to patient care, nurse education, management and policy development. As an EONS member you can read it free.