Dear Navigators,
Each February we celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day to honor those we love. I think it appropriate to also honor the love we give. When you selected your career in oncology navigation, I suspect it was with a great love for humanity and a strong desire to help those who are most in need. Your efforts in navigating the maze of oncology care provide patients with peace of mind and allow them to focus on their healing. It is this spirit of giving—of love, really—that I propose we acknowledge this month in addition to the traditional definition of the holiday.
Your dedication to the field of navigation can be taxing. Just as we recommend “caring for the caregiver” to patients and their families, so must we take care of ourselves to ensure our best performance on the job. In striking a balance between giving of yourself at work and taking time for yourself, I recommend investing time to enhance your professional life through our organization. Connecting with others in this field is an immensely rewarding and restorative experience that strengthens your ability to use navigation techniques to ultimately improve patient outcomes.
With that goal in mind, perhaps this is the year you will attend one of our conferences? This April 27-29 we are hosting our West Coast Regional Meeting in Phoenix, AZ. The annual meeting will be held November 16-19 in Orlando, FL. I look forward to these meetings as a wonderful way to connect with our members, share information, and recommit myself to our chosen profession.
As always, I am grateful for your loyal readership and hope you take advantage of all the professional opportunities JONS and AONN+ have to offer. Attend a meeting, submit a manuscript, join a committee, and ultimately restore yourself.
Sincerely,
Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS
Editor-in-Chief
University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer, Depts of Surgery and Oncology; Administrative Director, The Johns Hopkins Breast Center; Director, Cancer Survivorship Programs at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins; Associate Professor, JHU School of Medicine, Depts of Surgery, Oncology & Gynecology and Obstetrics;
Associate Professor, JHU School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
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