Oncology Nursing Day 2019 Message

Today is Oncology Nursing Day, a celebration of achievements beyond one profession. There are countless people to honour, an endless list of stories to be heard and a limitless number of people who have been helped by oncology nurses. 

The theme this year is “Celebrating our Diversity”, an appropriate theme for #OND2019. de Souza Institute is extremely honoured to provide a platform and resources for nurses who want to invest in themselves and give the best care possible. We are most proud of how accessible we’ve made our course offerings and of the diverse backgrounds of this year’s group of designates.

In the past 12 months we have recognized nurses who work in major cities, community hospitals, regional cancer centres and we’ve even celebrated out first de Souza Intern from Ryerson University. These nurses are not just specialized in one field, some are in ambulatory care, hospice care, community care and public health working with the homeless. This is a perfect example of the diversity that exists with oncology nurses, each one of them has their own unique story of why they became an oncology nurse and what they are driven to accomplish.

As we celebrate oncology nurses across Canada we want to highlight, recognize and congratulate the latest group of nurses to earn their de Souza designations, Lorraine Aspden, Sarah Orr-Shaw, Mark Kocsis, Cheryl Page, Sean Holloingshead, Pam MacInnis and Marlisa Budihardjo, your achievements add to the diverse and rich tapestry of oncology nurses Canada wide.

Executive Director, Dr. Mary Jane Esplen

April 2, 2019 is Oncology Nursing Day
April 2nd, 2019 marks the 16th anniversary for Oncology Nursing Day, and the theme this year is “Oncology Nursing: Celebrating our Diversity”. As oncology nurses, every day you provide unwavering support, compassion and care for your patients; while also campaigning, advocating and promoting for resources to meet the challenging needs of the cancer care system. You are at the heart of cancer care, and today especially we would like to thank you.

About Oncology Nursing Day
Oncology Nursing Day (OND) is a day to recognize the many incredible roles that oncology nurses play in our national healthcare system. Cancer is a disease that affects people of all genders, nationalities and age groups. Oncology nurses are on the front lines of cancer treatment, care and research. We thank all Canadians, from coast to coast, for their roles in helping us celebrate Annual Oncology Nursing Day. There are countless untold stories of oncology nurses profoundly impacting the lives of so many Canadian cancer patients and their families.