Alliance will advance educational and professional development opportunities for ACS Oncology Navigators
It has been proved that teamwork is vital in the battle against cancer. This is a fact that the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) recently validated when they entered into a National Alliance Partnership Program.
Under this program—which brings together 2 organizations that are strongly aligned in their missions and values—ACS oncology patient navigators will have access to all AONN+ member resources, including the Oncology Patient Navigator–Certified Generalist™ (OPN-CG) certification exam when requirements are met.
With more than 6000 members, AONN+ is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators.
The ACS is a global grassroots force of 2 million volunteers saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 25% decline in the cancer death rate in the United States since 1991, driven by less smoking, better treatments, and earlier detection.
“AONN+’s collective resources will help empower ACS’ navigators with the education and skillsets necessary to further their professional competencies,” says Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, ONN-CG, Cofounder and Program Director, AONN+. “There’s little question that certification for oncology navigators is an issue about which both AONN+ and ACS are passionate.”
“We are excited and committed to further develop a synergistic alliance with ACS that is mutually structured to provide interactive opportunities to experience knowledge sharing, increase innovation, and enhance collaborative engagement to pursue superior quality cancer care,” says AONN+’s Danelle Johnston, RN, MSN, BSN, ONN-CG, OCN, CBCN, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Initiatives.
“A cancer diagnosis can be the most overwhelming experience a person may ever face in his or her lifetime. The journey can be challenging for patients and their caregivers to manage,” says Katherine Sharpe, MTS, Senior Vice President, Patient and Caregiver Support for the ACS. “We are thrilled that ACS patient navigators will have access to the wealth of resources through our partnership with AONN+. This partnership will support our navigators in their efforts to help improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caregivers as they face the psychosocial, emotional, and financial aspects of their cancer experience.”