Oncology Nursing Society

1 month ago | ons.org | Luke Schultheis

U.S. adults with lower wealth have greater end-of-life symptom burden than those with medium to high wealth, researchers reported in a recent study. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study highlights the need for better symptom management at the end of life and measures to address disparities in end-of-life care.

1 month ago | ons.org | Luke Schultheis

Patient assistance programs (PAPs) can help address cancer-related financial toxicity by lowering patients’ out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for oral oncolytics. However, many patients are deemed ineligible for the financial assistance, a team of oncology nurses wrote in study results published in the February 2025 issue of the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.

1 month ago | ons.org | Lisa Cummings

By Lisa M. Cummings, MSN, RN, OCN®Ana is Maya. The Maya is an ancient people who live in Central America and in countries all over the world. They speak more than 30 living languages and have had remarkable achievements over the centuries. The Maya have traditionally relied on prayer, rituals, plants, and herbs to manage their health. “Language, tradition, and a deep sensibility toward the land and the sky continue to shape their worldview,” the Smithsonian National Museum of the American explains.

1 month ago | ons.org | Lisa Cummings

By Lisa M. Cummings, MSN, RN, OCN®Communication—an exchange of information between people, whether verbal, written, or non-verbal gestures—is foundational to the oncology nurse–patient relationship. As medical professionals, we must ensure our patients understand the knowledge we’re sharing with them to enable them to make an informed decision that is right for themselves. “The greatest problem of communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished,” George Bernard Shaw aptly noted.

1 month ago | ons.org | Luke Schultheis

Nearly 8.5% of students enrolled in nursing schools reported having disabilities, researchers wrote in JAMA Network Open. The prevalence of nursing students with disabilities in U.S. bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs exceeds those in medical schools, they said. For their cross-sectional study, the researchers used national data from nursing schools to identify obstacles individuals with disabilities face in BSN programs.