ONCC Board of Directors Recruitment

• Board member terms are three years, beginning at the close of the annual ONS Congress®. There is the option for reappointment to a second 3-year term with mutual agreement by the individual and the Board.
• Board members are expected to attend three Board meetings per year, at least one of which will be held at the ONCC Headquarters in Pittsburgh.
• The estimated annual time commitment for ONCC Board members for meeting attendance is 12 days, which includes weekdays and weekends. All expenses directly related to meeting attendance will be reimbursed by ONCC.
• Board members are expected to participate on Board committees, chair committees, and run for positions on the Executive Committee when they are eligible. The Executive Committee consists of the ONCC President, President-elect, and Secretary/Treasurer. Board members are eligible for these offices after one year of service on the Board and all Board members should be prepared to hold an office sometime during their term.
   

ONCC issues a call for Letters of Interest for positions on the Board of Directors that are elected by the Board from a slate created by the ONCC Nominating Committee. This call is sent by email to all ONCC-certified nurses who may be eligible to run for the position and posted on the ONCC website.

Potential candidates are encouraged to review the nomination information to determine if they are qualified and able to serve on the Board. Letters of Interest must be submitted electronically by the date specified.

The ONCC Nominating Committee reviews all Letters of Interest and determines the individuals to be invited to submit a full nomination application based on the needs of the ONCC Board for the position(s) to be filled. 

The Nominating Committee reviews all complete applications submitted by the application deadline and selects candidates to be interviewed by telephone. Following the completion of telephone interviews, at least one (1) and not more than three (3) candidates for each position to be filled are slated for consideration by the ONCC Board of Directors. 

The ONCC Board of Directors selects new members from the presented slate during their fall meeting. The chair of the ONCC Nominating Committee notifies all slated candidates of the selection results.
 

It is important that a Board have members who possess two types of competencies. Universal competencies are those that are important for all Board members to possess. Collective competencies are important for one or more members to possess. The Nominating Committee considers these competencies when evaluating potential Board candidates.

Please note: As part of the application process, you must complete a Self-Assessment to rate your abilities on the Universal Competencies and the Collective Competencies. The individuals who provide your references will be asked to rate your abilities in these competencies as well. It is important that you ask individuals who can speak to your abilities in these areas to provide your references.

Essential Universal Competencies 

These competencies determined to be important for all members of the Board.

Advocacy

Ability to align organizational priorities with the needs and values of the constituency and stakeholders to move the mission of the organization forward.

• Recognizes the needs of oncology nurses, employers, and other stakeholders.
• Advocates for oncology certified nurses in the workplace and broader healthcare environment.

Effective Communication

Ability to articulate information orally or in writing in a clear and convincing manner to a variety of audiences, as well as the ability to listen and comprehend in a non-judgmental manner.

• Makes clear and convincing oral presentation.
• Conveys information, analysis, ideas, and positions in writing in a clear and organized manner.
• Tailors communication to the intended audience.
• Responds to others in a way that reflects understanding of the content and accompanying emotion expressed.
• Uses verbal and nonverbal communication for respectful exchange of information.
• Communicates with clarity and integrity to build trust with stakeholders.

Information-Seeking

Possesses an underlying curiosity and desire to know more about things, people, or issues, including the desire for knowledge and staying current with professional trends and developments, as well as scanning for potential opportunities or information that may be of future use to the organization. Exercises a commitment to lifelong learning.

• Supports or makes available opportunities to foster learning in others.
• Presses for exact information; resolves discrepancies by asking questions to get to the root of situation, problem, or opportunity.
• Seeks comprehensive information, expert perspective, and knowledge.
• Establishes ongoing systems or habits to get information.
• Encourages adoption of best practices and applies evidence-based information to practices (including leadership practices).
• Exhibits self-awareness and confidence.
• Learns from challenges, setbacks, and failures as well as successes.

Navigating Change

Ability to plan, make decisions, implement, and evaluate new processes in an evolving environment; ability to energize stakeholders and sustain their commitment to changes in approaches, processes, and strategies.

• Maintains focus on strategic goals and values during changes.
• Exhibits constancy of purpose in providing leadership to advance change initiatives.
• Provides direction for overcoming resistance to change.
• Demonstrates confidence in progress and benefits of change.
• Defines the vision for the next wave of change.
• Responds with flexibility to changing information and proactively guides others through ambiguity.

Personal Integrity

Holds personal values that promote ethical behavior in doing what is right and just for the greater good, without involving personal agenda.

• Practices in an ethical manner and models ethical practice.
• Maintains consistency in values and priorities in the face of opposition.
• Ensures that words and actions align with personal values.
• Exercises duties of care, loyalty, and obedience in board work.
• Values and respects diversity.

Relationship Building

Ability to form partnerships and build relationships through use of influence, teamwork, trust, and honesty.

• Builds relationships with stakeholders grounded in mutual trust and respect.
• Develops relationships with individuals in roles relevant to promoting the mission of the organization.
• Builds networks of individuals with similar goals and who support similar interests.
• Promotes positive working relationships within teams and with external groups/individuals.
• Shares responsibility for leadership and decision-making.
• Fosters relationships to build alliances and strategic partnerships to achieve common goals.
• Mentors others in an intentional manner, employing an appropriate level of needs analysis and methods.

Stewardship

Ability to effectively and responsibly allocate financial, human, and other resources.

• Promotes the responsible use of and allocation of financial resources.
• Guides the development of long-term plans for funding organizational growth and development.
• Oversees the development of revenue sources and understands their financial implications.

Strategic Orientation

Provides visionary thinking to build a shared vision and long-term goals, while considering the implications of decisions on the organization and its stakeholders.

• Applies the mission, vision, and strategy and their implications for the organization’s structure, culture, and stakeholders.
• Identifies environment in which constituency operates and factors shaping the direction of oncology nursing and certification.
• Questions conventional approaches and encourages new ideas.
• Fosters a culture of inquiry, innovation, and transformation.
• Exercises innovative thinking toward complex solutions or when adapting previous solutions in new ways for breakthrough thinking to explain situations or resolve problems.
• Balances tradeoffs, competing interests, and contradictions in the interest of the bigger, broader picture.
• Sets strategic priorities that position the organization for long-term success.
• Aligns strategy and resource allocation.
• Measures success against predetermined outcome metrics.

Team Building

Ability to form and develop high functioning teams that possess balanced capabilities to accomplish a set of goals and objectives; recognized in the workplace and other venues as a leader.

• Promotes inclusiveness, diversity of ideas, and achievement of mutual goals.
• Motivates team members to set and attain outcomes.
• Holds team members accountable for results.
• Models norms for leadership behavior.
• Takes the initiative and responsibility for the success of group projects.
• Inspires others to support organizational goals and strategies.
• Gains personal commitment from others to accomplish organizational goals.
• Removes or reduces barriers to organizational effectiveness and success.
• Promotes good working relationships regardless of personal likes/dislikes; breaks down barriers, builds good morale, and supports cooperation.
• Encourages or facilitates a beneficial resolution to conflict.

Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion

• Remains open to change and new information.
• Cognizant of unconscious and systemic bias.
• Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions.
• Fosters an inclusive working environment.
• Supports initiatives that address racism, discrimination, and bias.
• Promotes a supportive culture for all stakeholders.

Essential Collective Competencies 

Those competencies determined to be important for at least some members of the board to possess.

1. Research Expertise- Ability to design, implement and evaluate research studies; ability to critique and analyze research methodology, findings and other evidence for relevance and applicability. 
2. Prior Board Experience- Ability to play a leadership role in a group that oversees institution or system-wide initiatives; understands non-profit board responsibilities.
3. Test Development Knowledge - Understanding of the entire test development process including role delineation, item-writing and review principles, item statistics, passing score methodology, validity, and reliability; ability to interpret these processes to others. 
4. Business Acumen - Ability to develop and monitor budgets, to interpret financial statements, and make sound judgments regarding financial decisions.

Sources:        

1. American Hospital Association’s Center for Healthcare Governance. (2009). Competency-Based Governance: A Foundation for Board and Organizational Effectiveness. Chicago, IL
2. AONL Nurse Leader Core Competencies, AONL (2022).
3. Board Core Competencies, Nurses on Boards Coalition Board Preparation Work Group
4. The Board-building Cycle: Finding, Engaging, and Strengthening Nonprofit Board Members, 3rd Ed. BoardSource (2019)
5. “Competency-Based Succession Planning” in Great Boards Newsletter (Nov 2010)
6. “Nurses on Boards: Competencies required for leadership”, American Journal of Nursing, March 2012.

Please note: In addition to the Universal Competencies that are desirable in all Board members, Collective Competencies are desired in one or more Board members. Please review the Collective Competencies to determine if you have abilities in any of these areas.

Reviewed/revised: March 2024

Original creation: 2012, Board-appointed Task Force

Original approval: 2013, ONCC Board of Directors

Candidates should be aware of a number of ONCC Policies related to service on the Board of Directors. Please read the ONCC Governance Policies. As part of the application process you are required to complete the ONCC Policy Agreement Form. This form indicates you have read, understand, and agree to adhere to these policies during the election process, and while in office, if elected.

Anti-Trust Policy

The ONCC Board of Directors, committee members, employees, and other people acting on behalf of ONCC are committed to an undeviating policy to comply with all applicable antitrust laws. In an effort to control activities of ONCC that could violate this ONCC policy, the following procedure shall be implemented:

No one shall communicate, explicitly or implicitly, in ONCC’s name such as in speeches, articles, testimony, or letters without the prior approval of the ONCC president, chief executive officer, or executive director.

1. ONCC’s legal counsel should review any matter of communication that could raise a question of anticompetitiveness or any other antitrust question.

This antitrust policy shall be distributed to all members of ONCC’s Board of Directors, committee members, employees, and other people acting on ONCC’s behalf, and shall be signed annually.

ONCC Examination and Assessment Related Property Rights and Security Requirement

The security of all Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (“ONCC”) examination and assessment materials is extremely important in protecting the integrity of the examination and assessment and is of utmost concern to the ONCC and its testing services vendor. The compromise of an examination or assessment form or individual items could be very costly, including, for example, the cost to write, publish, and administer a new examination or assessment and/or to retest or reassess candidates.

ONCC appreciates your assistance in its examination and assessment development and/or review activities as well as your agreement to protect ONCC’s confidential information and trade secrets relating to the examination and/or assessment. Your participation in ONCC’s examination and assessment development and/or review process is conditioned upon your agreeing to the following:

1. To waive all rights relating to assistance you provide, have provided, or will provide to the development and item-writing of any and all proposed or actual ONCC examinations and assessments. Such assistance is contributed by you to ONCC, without further consideration, on a volunteer basis. At all times in connection with your assistance to ONCC, your work product is a work-made-for-hire (unless applicable law would purport to make you an employee of ONCC solely by virtue of your work product being a work-made-for-hire) and such copyrights are therefore owned by ONCC. To the extent your work product is not a work made for hire, you hereby irrevocably assign to ONCC, for no additional consideration, your entire right, title, and interest in and to all work product (for which ONCC will be considered a joint author). 
2. That any items or works you submit to ONCC must be original and unpublished material that do not violate the intellectual property rights of any third party, must NOT include any content created in part or whole with the use of generative AI tools, and will become the sole property of ONCC. ONCC, as sole owner of such items and works, may, in the sole discretion of ONCC, use such items and works in any manner or not at all, and/or may create derivative works or compilations from such items or works or parts thereof, in any case without compensation to you and without your review or approval.
3. In your participation with ONCC’s examination and/or assessment development and/or review, ONCC may entrust in you ONCC’s confidential information or trade secrets relating to the examination and/or assessment. You agree to hold in confidence all matters and information pertaining to ONCC and to all ONCC examinations, assessments, and examination- and assessment-related materials obtained, prepared, or reviewed by you in connection with your involvement with ONCC. Specifically, you shall NOT:
   • disclose ONCC matters including, but not limited to, matters concerning the development, production, administration, scoring, or reporting of any ONCC examinations, assessments, examination items and answers, assessment items and answers, scoring standards, identity of candidates, performance of candidates, results of examinations, results of assessments, or your evaluation of examinations and/or assessments. 
   • release any materials connected with ONCC or any ONCC examinations and/or assessment, items, or examination- and/or assessment-related documents to any person or entity or make examination and/or assessment materials available for any purpose whatsoever, separate from your specific assistance as authorized by ONCC. 
   • copy or retain any examination items, assessment items, or materials for your files.
   • use generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, ChatSonic, Copy.ai, Google Bard/Gemini, Grammarly, Microsoft Copilot) for any purposes related to item writing or other ONCC examination and/or assessment development and/or review without explicit direction from ONCC. This includes putting any ONCC examination or assessment development or item writing content into a prompt-directed generative AI tool or similar platform whether public or private. For example, putting draft items into a generative AI tool constitutes release of ONCC content.

You must keep examination and/or assessment materials under secure conditions and shall secure all examination and/or assessment materials when not directly working with them. All ONCC examination and/or assessment materials shall be submitted to ONCC in a secure manner (as identified by ONCC) or destroyed by you if you are instructed to do so by ONCC.

If you violate these terms in any way, you shall no longer be eligible to serve ONCC in any capacity, and ONCC shall be entitled to obtain from you injunctive relief, specific performance, damages, costs and attorneys’ fees including costs and fees incurred in obtaining any such relief.
 

Conflict of Interest

It is the policy of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), along with the Oncology Nursing Foundation and Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC), (together, “Affiliated Organizations”), that no individual, while serving the Affiliated Organizations, will allow a situation to exist that may be construed as an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest. All conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest must be fully and immediately disclosed and openly resolved. A conflict of interest is not determined by the individual, but, rather, by an impartial group reviewing the relationship.

1. For purposes of this policy, Conflict of Interest is defined as a situation in which personal or professional concerns or connections of an individual affect his or her ability to place the welfare of the Affiliated Organizations before personal benefits.
2. This policy and the disclosure statement are designed to describe the considerations that help to identify conflicts of interest for all individuals who have a relationship with the Affiliated Organizations.
3. This policy is consistent with the following other ONS policies or external guidelines:
   1. ONS Commercial Support Policies for Continuing Nursing Education Activities.
   2. Financial relationships also can include “contracted research” in which the institution receives a grant and manages the funds and the individual is the principal or named investigator on the grant. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received or expected. Relationships include immediate family members, partners, employers, and companies more than 5% owned by the affected individual. A relevant financial relationship is any relationship in any amount occurring in the past 12 months (as of the date that the form is completed) that creates a conflict of interest. However, a conflict of interest does not have to have financial implications.
4. Each individual must promptly report situations that may be perceived as conflicts of interest to the proper authority as soon as he or she becomes aware of such situations.
5. Each individual must promptly report situations that may be perceived as conflicts of interest to the proper authority as soon as he or she becomes aware of such situations.
   1. All employees of the Affiliated Organizations
   2. Members of project teams, advisory panels, task forces, and think tanks
   3. Special interest group (SIG) and chapter leaders
   4. Faculty and speakers
   5. Authors, editors, and editorial reviewers
   6. Award and research grant reviewers
   7. Consultants
   8. Liaisons
6. The following refers specifically to award and research grant reviewers:
   1. Individuals will not be allowed to serve if they have submitted a nomination or proposal or if they are a consultant or mentor for an award or faculty research advisor for an applicant.
   2. Individuals may not review grant/award applications or make funding decisions in which they have a financial interest.
   3. Reviewers may participate in the research grant review project team, but not review specific proposals if: (a) the proposal is from a student, colleague, or close associate known to the reviewer; or (b) the proposal is from their home institution.
   4. Reviewers are considered to have a potential conflict of interest if a nomination or a research grant application is from their home institution, even if they have no direct involvement in or knowledge of the proposal.
   5. Research reviewers will be excused from the discussion of specific applications for which they have a conflict of interest.
   6. The co-chair or project team leader of research grant review teams will be excused from the entire review cycle if serving as a research advisor for a proposal and the other co-chair or core review project team member will assume his/her duties.
7. A separate Financial Conflict of Interest Policy is signed by all Affiliated Organizations’ Applicable Persons (as defined per the Financial Conflict of Interest Policy) within 30 days of officially assuming their role and annually thereafter. Any Applicable Person serving in a role identified in item E above, also signs the General Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form.

Appendix A - General Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Oncology Nursing Foundation, and Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)

1. Reporting Obligations
   1. Purpose of Form. The Boards of Directors and Trustees (“Boards”) of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), the Oncology Nursing Foundation, and the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC), (together, “Affiliated Organizations”) have adopted this General Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form (the “Form”) as the primary means to track information related to actual or potential conflicts of interest involving Affiliated Organizations.
   2. In compliance with the Affiliated Organizations Conflict of Interest Disclosure Policy, the ONS Commercial Support Policies for Continuing Nursing Education Activities, and the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC) guidelines, all individuals serving Affiliated Organizations, must provide disclosure of financial interests and other relationships with entities that have an investment, licensing, or other commercial interest in the science or practice of oncology.
   3. Applicability. This Questionnaire is to be completed annually within 30 days of hire, election, appointment, or volunteering and annually thereafter, if still serving in their respective role, by all employees of the Affiliated Organizations; members of project teams, advisory panels, task forces, and think tanks; special interest group (SIG) and chapter leaders; faculty and speakers; authors, editors, and editorial reviewers; award and research grant reviewers; consultants; and liaisons.
   4. Obligation to Notify Affiliated Organizations. Any individual required to complete this Form shall provide their respective staff point of contact (for volunteers) and immediate supervisor (for Affiliated Organizations employees) written notice of any changes or updates to the information provided on this Form within 60 days of the occurrence of such a change. The individual shall also update the Disclosure Form online.
   5. Failure to Comply with Reporting Obligations. Individuals should complete this Form in good faith, based on their personal knowledge at the time they submit the Form. Failure to complete this Form in good faith and in a timely manner with the reporting obligations set forth in this Form without reasonable excuse, may serve as grounds for disciplinary action, suspension, removal or revocation of any other benefits.
       

2. Instructions for Completion of the Form

   If invited to apply for candidacy based on your Letter of Interest, you will be sent the Policy Agreement Form to submit with your nomination materials. The content of the form is provided below for your information.

   The information requested in this Form is intended to ensure comprehensive disclosure of all actual and potential conflicts of interest involving any Affiliated Organization. Please refer to the policy for the definition of conflict of interest.

   The broad nature of the questions posed may, in some cases, lead to repetitive answers. If you have fully disclosed a transaction, arrangement, or relationship in response to one question on the Form, and another question appears to require the disclosure of identical information, please note on the Form that the information has been provided in a previous response on the Form and identify where that information is disclosed on the Form. Individuals completing this form for ONCC (ONCC employees or task force members) should refer to Appendix B for additional information.

Complete each of the following questions. If you have multiple interests to disclose for any category, attach additional pages.

1. Employment or Leadership Position

List each entity in which you or an immediate family member currently holds any full- or part-time employment or service as an officer or board member for an entity having an investment, licensing, or other commercial interest in the science or practice of oncology.
▢ I have an employment or leadership position to disclose.
▢ I do not have an employment or leadership position to disclose.

2. Consultant or Advisory Role

List each entity in which you or an immediate family member currently holds or has held any consultant or advisory arrangements with an entity having an investment, licensing, or other commercial interest in the science or practice of oncology for which services were performed or payment was made during the past 12 months.
▢ I have consultant or advisory role to disclose.
▢ I do not have a consultant or advisory role to disclose.

3. Stock Ownership

List each entity in which you or an immediate family member currently holds >5% ownership interest in any entity (publicly traded or privately held) that has an investment, licensing, or other commercial interest in the science or practice of oncology. You do not have to disclose ownership in diversified funds that are not controlled by you or an immediate family member.
▢ I have stock ownership to disclose.
▢ I do not have stock ownership to disclose.

4. Honoraria

List each entity in which you or an immediate family member has been paid directly any honoraria (reasonable payments for specific speeches, seminar presentations, or appearances) during the past 12 months by any entity that has an investment, licensing, or other commercial interest in the science or practice of oncology.
▢ I have honoraria to disclose.
▢ I do not have honoraria to disclose.

5. Research Funding

List each entity in which you or an immediate family member currently conducts any clinical research project(s) funded in whole or in part by an entity that has an investment, licensing, or other commercial interest in the science or practice of oncology.
▢ I have research funding to disclose.
▢ I do not have research funding to disclose.

6. Expert Testimony

List each entity in which you or an immediate family member has provided expert testimony during the past 12 months where the testimony given relates to the science or practice of oncology.
▢ I have expert testimony to disclose.
▢ I do not have expert testimony to disclose.

7. Other Remuneration

List each entity in which you or an immediate family member has received any trips, travel, gifts, or other in-kind payments during the past 12 months from an entity having an investment, licensing, or other commercial interest in the science or practice of oncology. You do not have to disclose payments that are directly related to research.
▢ I have other remuneration to disclose.
▢ I do not have any other remuneration to disclose.

Appendix B

In addition, individuals who serve on the ONCC Board of Directors may not serve as volunteers, on a Board of Directors, or in another leadership role for any organization that offers or that is developing a competing credentialing program while serving on the ONCC Board of Directors and for two years immediately following. Examples of these organizations include:

Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators (AONN+)
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nurses (AAACN)
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPC)
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
American Society of Breast Diseases (ASBD)
Canadian Nurses Certification Program (CNCP)
Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC)
Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC)
Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB)
National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC)
Pediatric Nurses Certification Board (PNCB)
Vascular Access Certification Corporation (VACC)
 

If invited to submit a full application packet, you will complete the following steps. There is no need to complete these steps unless invited to apply by the ONCC Nominating Committee after their review of your Letter of Interest. This information is being provided for transparency and planning purposes only.

Step 1.

Review the application materials, including the Board Competencies, to determine if you are suited to serving on the ONCC Board of Directors and able to fulfill the responsibilities of the position if selected.

Step 2.

Complete and submit the following forms by email to: ONCCNominations@oncc.org by September 6, 2024. Those to be invited to apply based on their Letter of Interest will be contacted by the ONCC Nominating Committee no later than August 9, 2024.

The following forms will be provided for completion. Completed forms must be submitted by email to ONCCnominations@oncc.org.

• Nomination Form
• Self-Assessment Form
• Mission Statement Form
• Policy Agreement Form
• Professional Colleague Reference Form (see Step 3)

Step 3.

Select two Professional Colleagues to provide References. Send your colleagues the Reference Form document.

Choose colleagues who can speak to your abilities in reference to the Universal Competencies and the Collective Competencies. It may take time for your colleagues to complete the reference form. Please allow adequate time for your colleagues to submit the reference form by September 6, 2024. A reminder might be a good idea a few days prior to the deadline!

Step 4.

Submit your CV/Resume by email to ONCCnominations@oncc.org.

All materials must be received by September 6, 2024.