OCN^® of the Year
Sherry Looker, RN, BSN, OCN^®
Nursing Supervisor, Medical Oncology, Cancer Treatment Unit
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Looker promotes certification in a variety of ways. She initiated an annual certification recognition event sponsored by the Southeast Minnesota ONS chapter, which includes the presentation of OCN^®, AOCN^®, and CPON^® pins to certified chapter members. She has obtained study materials and preparation resources from corporate supporters for use by her nursing staff. As editor of the chapter newsletter, she routinely published articles about certification and reminders of test application deadlines. She has presented at OCN^® review courses, basing her presentations on the OCN^® test blueprint and utilizing the reference list.

Her accomplishments in oncology nursing service include serving as president, program co-chair, nominating committee chair, historian, and editor of an award-winning newsletter for her ONS chapter. She initiated the development of a chapter web site and serves as its editor. She actively participates in chapter volunteer events, such as hosting dinners at the Hope Lodge and Gift of Life Transplant House, and providing a community education display at Relay for Life. She serves on the planning committee for the Mayo Cancer Center Conference. She successfully lobbied her city Mayor to proclaim May as Oncology Nurses Month. She also volunteers to organize and deliver small recognition gifts and hand-written notes to chapter members in conjunction with Oncology Nurses Day and Month.

Looker routinely educates oncology patients, families, nurses, and other professional colleagues both locally and nationally. Recently, she presented on managing the effects of illness and treatment for regional "I Can Cope" groups; provided updates on chemotherapy and treatment-related topics to nurses at Mayo Clinic's regional practice sites; taught portions of certification review courses; and presented at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Nursing Conference on the impact of obesity on cancer. At the Mayo Clinic Cancer Treatment Unit, she participates in the orientation, education, and evaluation of nurses, residents, fellows and physicians. She is involved in clinical trial research education of patients on specific protocol therapies, and is participating in research on patient perspectives. She participated in a qualitative study on end of life issues, and is co-author of the results article, which was published in 2005 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year
Carol Brueggen, RN, MS, AOCNS^®, APRN-BC
Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, MN

Brueggen has been certified since 1989, first as an OCN^®, AOCN^®, and since April 2005, as an AOCNS^® Brueggen served as chair of the planning committee for the oncology nursing review course presented at the Mayo Clinic. As a member of her chapter's Board of Directors, she supported a policy that members be reimbursed $75 for attaining certification. She encourages nursing colleagues, including those in advanced practice, to pursue certification. She diligently lobbies the Minnesota Board of Nursing to accept ONCC's advanced certification credentials for advanced practice licensure.

Her accomplishments in oncology nursing service include serving as nominating chair, secretary, vice-president, president-elect, president, and ex-officio president of ONS chapters in both Wisconsin and Minnesota over the past 18 years. She is an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society, and has served as a facilitator and instructor for "I Can Cope" and Reach to Recovery programs. She has participated in collegiate panel discussions about opportunities in nursing, and participates in community cancer prevention health fairs. She serves on numerous professional committees, including the Transcultural Care Committee, the Cytotoxic Policy Development Workgroup, the Clinical Trials Education Workgroup, and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Education Network. She served as a delegate to the Wisconsin Nurses Association state convention for 5 years, and also served as chair of the association's Economic and General Welfare Committee and as a member of the Public Relations and Nominating committees.

As an educator, Brueggen serves as an assistant professor of nursing at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. In addition, she has presented more than 50 lectures at the local, regional and national level. She was recently invited to present in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, on chemotherapy administration in the outpatient setting, and to participate in a panel discussion on treatment related issues. She is the author of several book chapters, manuscripts, poster presentations, and patient education pamphlets. Early in her career, Brueggen was selected to help develop an in-house oncology treatment program at her facility, and to create cancer education classes for the nurses. At Mayo, she developed order sets/protocols in hematology/oncology/blood and marrow transplant, and created a "New Cancer Diagnosis Packet" which is given to each patient diagnosed with cancer. The packet includes information about a patient's specific cancer, recommended treatment, resource agencies, and community support programs. Brueggen routinely presents staff education programs on end of life care, ethics, surgical oncology, safe handling, cancer basics, clinical trials, symptom management, bereavement, and specific types of cancer. She also serves as a preceptor for several CNS students each year.

In her consultation role, Brueggen provides consultation service to other CNSs and to non-oncology patient care units. She initiated and facilitates the CNS Collaborative - a quarterly videoconference for CNS's located at 5 different sites within the Mayo System. Brueggen participates in the Ethics Consultation Service, and serves on the editorial board of the Cancer Center's Patient Newsletter. She also consults with church organizations that are developing caregiver programs.

Employer Recognition Award
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
Orlando, FL

The MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando supports oncology nursing by requiring/preferring certification for oncology positions, citing a preference for oncology certified nurses in position advertisements, and incorporating certification into job descriptions. The facility provides reimbursement for attainment of certification or recertification, and rewarding nurses who obtain oncology certification with a lump sum cash award. The organization offers a Professional Practice Recognition Program, in which nurses can earn points by meeting specific criteria, such as specialty certification. The points count toward increases in hourly pay. The institution is implementing a new Clinical Ladder program that recognizes specialty certification and recertification, and requires certification beginning at Level III. The hospital's nursing leadership group launched a program last year to encourage specialty certification among nurses. The "Set the Pace" program encourages certified nurses to mentor fellow nurses to obtain certification by rewarding both the mentor and the newly certified nurse upon attainment of the credential. Currently, approximately 75% of the eligible nurses at the cancer center are ONCC certified, and the goal is to reach 100% by 2007.

The center holds a celebration and recruitment dinner for oncology certified nurses. Certified nurses are recognized for their achievements through a presentation featuring photos of the nurses, a short biography, and a statement regarding what certification means to the nurse. The hospital also holds an annual recognition breakfast for nurses who obtain specialty certification. A "Wall of Distinction" in the hospital's main lobby displays plaques recognizing specialty certifications and the nurses who have achieved certification. Oncology certified nurses are recognized for attaining certification or certification renewal in the oncology department newsletter (The Hope Weekly) and in the hospital-wide newsletter (In Touch).

The center supports the local ONS chapter's OCN^® Review Course by providing facilities, accredited continuing education contact hours, registration assistance, and financial support. The organization provides paid-time off for nurses to participate in professional organization activities, such as the ONS Congress Team.