Paediatric oncology nurses – SIOP PODC needs you – how to get involved

This page is for paediatric oncology nurses that are looking for more information about getting involved in paediatric oncology in developing countries (PODC). This page focuses on SIOP and the SIOP PODC Nursing group, but also provides information on other ways to get involved.

New: Introduction

Join SIOP

SIOP Nursing

Attend the SIOP Annual Congress

Join the SIOP PODC nurses group

Pay the SIOP membership for a nurse from Low- or Middle-Income Country (LMIC)

Get active on social medial

Become an expert on Find an Expert

Become a mentor

Organisations

Contact Us

Introduction

The SIOP Nursing group welcomes members from HIC and LMICs to get involved, share knowledge and experience, and create an engaged and empowered support network of pediatric oncology nurses worldwide.

Survival for childhood cancer has reached >80% in high-income countries (HIC) in recent years, however, in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), survival outcomes are not equivalent due to the lack of access to care and universal health care, poverty, late or misdiagnoses, and fragile health care infrastructures. Pediatric oncology nurses are on the front lines with patients and families faced with life threatening cancers globally. A well-educated and empowered nursing workforce can help close this survival and care gap by decreasing treatment abandonment, deaths due to treatment toxicity with early recognition of treatment side effects, excellent supportive nursing practice including psychosocial and spiritual care of the children/adolescents and families.

The power of nurses

Liz Sniderman, MSN, APRN, CPNC-AC, CPHON, talks about being a paediatric oncology nurse:

“I have been a nurse in pediatric oncology for over 10 years and have repeatedly seen first-hand the power of nurses to improve our patients’ lives. Getting involved with SIOP has given me the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion with nurses around the world. I am constantly astounded by the incredible pediatric oncology nurses I have met through SIOP, and this has given me the drive to continue working hard to improve nursing care globally.”

New: Rachael Kunkel , BSN, RN, CPN, CPHON, talks about SIOP and why she became involved with SIOP:

“Since I was in the seventh grade I knew I wanted to be a pediatric oncology nurse. At that time I also had a deep desire to be a nurse and help nurses in countries where they had less resources. Joining SIOP has helped make my dream all those years ago a reality. I am constantly surrounded by incredible nurses from across the globe who share a similar vision as mine, and who are on the ground making significantly positive differences in their local communities. These nurses inspire me and give me the added incentive to continue to provide quality pediatric oncology nursing care as well as education regardless of my physical location.”

Join SIOP

SIOP is the only global scientific organisation focused on improving the lives of children and adolescents with cancer worldwide. SIOP brings together scientists, doctors, nurses, psychologists and other health care professional and continues to be at the forefront of education and research in paediatric oncology.

SIOP has over 1800 members worldwide and its annual meeting is typically attended by 2500 healthcare professionals, alongside parents, and cancer survivors from 110 countries.

SIOP Nursing

The Nurse Nursing community invites and encourages pediatric oncology nurses from around the globe to become SIOP members, to ensure that the voice of pediatric oncology nurses is heard.  As we begin the decade with many innovative discoveries and global initiatives on the horizon, it’s an exciting time to be a paediatric oncology nurse.   The WHO has designated 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife”, highlighting the critical role that nurses play in the delivery of clinical care, health promotion, and disease prevention. Likewise, the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) aims for a 60% cure rate for all children with cancer by 2030.  Improved outcomes for children with cancer will not be possible without a specialized workforce of pediatric oncology nurses serving as clinicians and leaders in childhood cancer care delivery. As SIOP members, nurses have the opportunity to participate in the important decision-making and advocacy that is critical to the organization.

Celebrate the Year of the Nurse 2020 and help raise awareness for children and adolescents with cancer by becoming a SIOP Member – Membership as a SIOP nurse offers a unique opportunity for international nursing collaboration – we invite you to join us!

Join the SIOP Community now: https://siop-online.org/why-join-siop/

Attend the SIOP Annual Congress

Interested in attending SIOP 2020 in Ottawa, Canada? The SIOP Annual Congress is a fantastic place for paediatric oncology nurses. There is a full nursing programme, with a ‘pre-conference’ education day, directed at nurses. You are also welcome to attend any and all of the wide ranging programme of Keynote lectures; Seminars; ‘Meet the Expert’ sessions… and so much more! It is a great opportunity to network with nurses and colleagues from across the world. https://siop-online.org/event/siop-2020-ottawa/

Early Bird registration deadline is July 29, 2020. Nurses, especially those living in LMIC fees are eligible for discounts and scholarships.

Click here to read more about the nursing programme at SIOP Ottawa in this invitation and  welcome letter from Lisa Morrissey, SIOP Nursing Steering Committee Chair:
https://siop-congress.org/siop-nursing-committee-welcome-letter/

Some hospitals and institutions support staff to attend the SIOP Annual Congress. This can be in the form of time off and/or financial support. See if your institution can help you attend.

Members of the SIOP Nursing group meet with the SIOP General Secretary, Scott Howard, at the Annual Congress in Lyon, France 2019 (see below).

Abstracts

Abstract submission is open until April 1st, 2020. Nurses are encouraged to submit an abstract focused on a nursing research, educational, or quality initiative at this link: https://siop-congress.org/submission/

Expert nurses are available and willing to help you with your abstract. Click here for more information.  https://cancerpointe.com/experts/

Nursing scholarships

For each annual meeting, SIOP provides scholarships to professionals from LMIC who have submitted an abstract, but have insufficient resources for travel and accommodation. Successful candidates will receive financial support up to EUR 1500 and free registration to the annual meeting.

https://siop-online.org/nurse-scholarships/

Nurses from LMIC may also apply for a PODC scholarship. Click here for details https://siop-online.org/scholarships/

Join the SIOP PODC nurses group

Within the SIOP Nursing community there is a specific group which focuses on nursing in LMIC; the SIOP PODC Nursing Group. We welcome nurses from both LMIC and HIC and the group is designed to promote collaboration and partnership.

If you are from an LMIC (check the World Bank list here https://data.worldbank.org/), you will find support through the PODC Nursing Working Group and the opportunity to network with nurses working in similar situations to your own.

 

If you are a nurse from a HIC, particularly if you have experience volunteering overseas, this is a great opportunity to network and partner with nurses in LMIC.  If you speak more than one language you might be able to utilise that skill. If you only speak one language there is still a lot you can do.

To join the PODC Nursing Group you need to register on the website ‘Cure4Kids’; this is free.  https://www.cure4kids.org/account/register/

Online nurses meeting

The SIOP PODC Nurses group hold monthly meetings, including joint educational sessions with Palliative Care, Supportive Care, Nutrition, and other SIOP PODC working groups. Click here to find out more about the meetings and what they do. You might be able to share your expertise by speaking at an online meeting. You can also find out when the next meetings are and see the slides of previous meetings.

https://cancerpointe.com/siop-podc-nursing/

Please note you will have to be a member on Cure4Kids to see this page.  It is free to register.

Pay the SIOP membership for a nurse from Low- or Middle-Income Country (LMIC)

The SIOP membership registration platform allows you to either of the following:

  • pay the membership for another member – with this option you can pay the membership for a named person
  • donate a membership – with this option you will be able to support a member from a LIC/LMIC and help to further develop paediatric oncology in these regions. SIOP associate membership for nurses from LMICs is euro 10.

https://siop-online.org/renew-your-membership/

Get active on social medial

Follow various groups and organisations (SIOP, POINTE etc.) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Like, retweet and share posts. See https://cancerpointe.com/get-involved/ for details.

Become an expert on Find an Expert

Matching LMIC nurses with from HIC expert nurses from well-resourced settings. If you have experience of treating patients in low-resource settings you can help nurses in LMIC with abstracts or clinical questions or just to network about opportunities. Click here to for more information: https://cancerpointe.com/experts/

Become a mentor

The SIOP Young Investigators (YI) is looking for mentors.

Mentorship is an important factor in professional development and provides benefits for both the mentee and the mentor. The SIOP YI have been working in collaboration with the American Society of Hematology and the Children’s Oncology Group to develop an international and inclusive mentorship programme for Young Investigators from all backgrounds. If you are an interested nurse, click here for more information: https://siop-online.org/siop-yi-mentorship-program/

Organisations

Some organisations have activities abroad, or support nurses going aboard. Click any of the links below to find out more

Paediatric Oncology Nurses

Paediatric Oncology organisations

Oncology Nurses

Volunteering organisations

Contact Us

For more information about the SIOP Nursing Community/Nurse Steering Committee, please contact Lisa Morrissey @ lisa.morrissey@childrens.harvard.edu or Rachel Hollis @ rachel.hollis59@gmail.com.