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 2007 CPON® of the Year
Joan O'Hanlon Curry, RN, MS, CPNP, CPON®
Administrative Nurse Manager/Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY
According to one of her colleagues, in just two years since joining the Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), Curry has had “a major impact on the quality of care delivered, the research infrastructure, the administrative organization of the division (which has had far reaching impact on the hospital overall), the education of nurses/nurse practitioners, and establishing standards.” Curry has been noted for:
- Developing an ambulatory chemotherapy program in which children are treated with chemotherapy as outpatients via pumps in backpacks. The program has been proven to be cost-effective, and to have a positive impact on the quality of life for patients and families. She has been invited to instruct staff at other children's hospitals in the country on how to set up such a program.
- Serving as an instructor for the APHON Chemotherapy Course in her area as well as in other parts of New York state, New Jersey, and Virginia; as a trainer for the ELNEC course; and as a trainer for the ONS Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Course.
- Presenting educational in-service programs at a community rehabilitation hospital to teach staff about the special requirements for patients with cancer.
- Developing a school re-entry program for children.
- Participating in the ONCC Advocates Program. Currently 75% of the nurses in her division are certified, and 100% are expected to be certified by the end of 2007. She also encourages certification among nurses at neighboring facilities that provide care for children with cancer.
- Providing leadership in community health-related activities, including an effort to build a children's hospice in the New York area.
- Serving on numerous institutional committees, including co-founder of the Oncology Nursing Council, the Service Excellence Committee, the Infection Control Committee, the Pediatric Quality Committee, and the Bereavement Committee.
- Introducing town hall meetings at her facility, so patients and families can offer feedback about the services provided and suggestions for improvement.
 2007 OCN® of the Year
Kimberly George, RN, BSN, OCN®
Wichita Falls, TX
George won the award for her significant contributions to oncology nursing
and oncology nursing service; and for supporting and promoting certification
in oncology nursing. She is Oncology Coordinator at United Regional Health
Care System in Wichita Falls, Texas.
To encourage certification, George offers one-to-one coaching for test preparation
and provides an oncology nursing review. She successfully lobbied her institution’s
administration to send nurses to certification review courses, to provide reimbursement
for certification fees, and to recognize certified nurses with plaques in their
units. She frequently speaks to nursing students about the role of the oncology
nurse and the benefits of certification. She participates in the ONCC Advocates
program, through which she promotes the benefits of certification at her workplace
and in her community.
In her community, George developed a bilingual education program on breast
examination and mammography, targeted to Hispanic women who rarely receive
such services. She is a facilitator for the Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control
Coalition, a founding member of the Cancer Coalition of North Texas, a member
of the American Cancer Society (ACS) Board of Directors, an ACS Volunteer Legislative
Ambassador, and co-chair of the Wichita Falls Relay for Life.
At her workplace, she collaborated with pharmacists to develop a safe-handling
labeling system for oral cytotoxic agents; wrote her institution’s safe
handling protocols; introduced the usage of chemotherapy carts; and standardized
her facility’s patient/family chemotherapy education by creating customized
portfolios for each patient. With the help of a former patient’s family,
she created the Tres Hood Memorial Cancer Resource Center that provides educational
resources for patients, families, healthcare providers and the community.
2007 Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse of the Year
Michele Gaguski, RN, MSN, AOCN®, APN-C
Brick, NJ
Gaguski won the award for her significant contributions to oncology nursing
and oncology nursing service; education; and for supporting and promoting certification
in oncology nursing. She is an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Ocean
Medical Center in Brick, New Jersey.
Gaguski is actively involved in ONCC, where she serves on the Advanced Practice
Test Development Committee, has served as an ONCC test item write, and contributed
several articles to the ONCC News. She is a contributing editor for ONS Connect;
is an ONS Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Trainer; and a reviewer for the ONS Seal of
Endorsement Program.
Within her community, she serves as president of the South Jersey Shore Chapter
of ONS; is a speaker for Gilda’s Club; serves as a volunteer legislative
ambassador for the American Cancer Society, and is a facilitator for the I
Can Cope Program.
At Ocean Medical Center, she promotes certification by organizing an Oncology
Certified Nurse Study Group; implemented test preparatory sessions; and offers
one-to-one coaching to potential test candidates. She is also a member of the
ONCC Advocates Program, and promotes the benefits of certification in her workplace
and community.
As an educator, Gaguski has developed and presented dozens of certification
review courses throughout the United States. Within her institution, she developed
and facilitates an annual oncology nursing retreat; created a multi-course
oncology competency program; developed self-learning modules on pain management;
developed an oncology orientation program for outpatient oncology staff; and
provides oncology education to professional and paraprofessional members of
the healthcare team. She also serves on the Cancer Committee, the Patient and
Family Education Committee, and the Hospice Level of Care Committee.
She has served as the principal investigator for numerous research studies on
smoking cessation, fatigue education for patients, and other cancer-related topics.
At Ocean Medical Center, she developed and facilitates the oncology clinical
trials program; chairs the nursing research committee; created Nurse Research
Week; and edits the “The Nurse Investigator” newsletter.
2007 Employer Recognition Award
Hartford Hospital
Hartford, CT
Hartford Hospital was selected to receive this award for their ongoing support,
encouragement, and recognition of certification in oncology nursing.
To encourage oncology certification among its nursing staff, the Hartford
Hospital:
- Makes certification a strategic goal of the hospital that is supported
by management and acknowledged publicly.
- Provides recognition for certification through a pay for performance system
that results in a higher merit increase for certified nurses.
- Provides financial support for time-off and travel to local, regional,
and national educational meetings
- Provides certification test and renewal fees up front
- Recognizes certified nurses at an awards ceremony
- Presents certification pins to certified nurses
- Displays recognition plaques honoring units that have attained 100% certification
- Publishes the names of certified nurses in the center’s annual report,
various newsletters and external publications.
- Hosts unit celebrations each time a nurse achieves certification
- Writes personalized letters to nurses who attain certification.
To apply for a 2008 ONCC Award please go to http://www.oncc.org/awards/awards.shtml.
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