EONS President Virpi Sulosaari
On European Cancer Nursing Day (ECND), celebrated every year on 18 May, the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) raises awareness of the value of cancer nursing and the importance of the care of people affected by cancer.
As the largest group of healthcare providers in cancer care settings, cancer nurses interact with people throughout their lifespan and the cancer care continuum more than any other profession.
This year, ECND24, our theme is ‘From Knowledge to Action: Shaping the future of cancer nursing’. Our campaign will have a strong emphasis on how cancer nurses are innovating for the future of cancer care through policy, education, research and advocacy. Well-educated and well-supported cancer nurses can help to bring down the cancer burden and provide better patient care.
The role of cancer nursing has evolved to respond to the needs of people affected by cancer and changes in cancer care services, and will continue to evolve. Cancer nurses have been faced with significant challenges over recent years: the Covid-19 pandemic, workforce shortages, unhealthy working conditions, inequality of access to training and lack of recognition of the profession.
To improve the state of cancer nursing and the working conditions of the cancer nursing workforce, nursing leadership practices need to be embraced at all governance levels, in clinical practice, academia and professional organisations. Furthermore, we need to ensure access to cancer nursing education, promote recognition of the cancer nursing specialty and foster cancer nursing research.
ECND is EONS’ way of raising awareness and recognition of the impact of nurses on quality care, on the lives of people affected by cancer and on shaping the cancer services for a changing world, and the resilience, relevance and expertise that are the keys to success.
This year is special for EONS as we are celebrating our 40-year anniversary. EONS has had a significant role in advancing cancer care over the last four decades. Our anniversary key phrase ‘40 years and beyond’ underlines that this is a time to look back at what we have learned and to take this experience and knowledge with us to meet the demands of the future.
A special celebratory event in Turku, Finland, in collaboration with Finnish Oncology Nursing Society, will take place prior to 18 May with a range of high-profile speakers to highlight EONS’ innovations and impact, and the outstanding contribution of cancer nurses across Europe.
*The ECND24 Task Group invites all cancer nurses to take part in a virtual Europe-wide social media campaign to bring awareness to our campaign themes and messages. This year our hashtag is #ECND24Shapethefuture
*More information about ECND24 at https://cancernurse.eu/ecnd24/
* More about EONS at https://cancernurse.eu
