Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators

AONN+ (Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators) is a national healthcare specialty organization that promotes the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators.^[1] The academy was founded in 2009 by Lillie Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, and provides a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services, which aid patients in the management of cancer treatment. The organization, which started as AONN (The Academy of Oncology Nurse Navigators, Inc.) and changed its name to AONN+ in 2013 to reflect its patient navigator and survivorship care services,^[2] has more than 5,000 members.

As a globally recognized leader in oncology navigation, AONN+ provides navigators with official certification designation.^[3]

History of Patient Navigation

After the National Hearings on Cancer in the Poor were held in 1989, the American Cancer Society released its Report to the Nation on Cancer in the Poor. This report concluded that there were critical issues confronting poor people with cancer, which included barriers to obtaining cancer care, a lack of funds to pay for said care, the prevalence of fatalism among the poor that prevented them from seeking care, a lack of education when it came to cancer treatment, and the overall level of pain tolerance the poor had to endure when suffering from cancer. These findings led to the concept of patient navigation, which has evolved as a strategy to improve outcome in vulnerable populations by eliminating barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases.^[4]

Oncology navigation is one of the newest professions in healthcare. Today's oncology nurses and patient navigators provide patient-centered care to cancer patients, from outreach to survivorship or end-of-life care, as well as eliminate barriers that otherwise prevent timely care across all segments of the healthcare continuum.^[5] In 2016, AONN+ launched the first certification exam for this profession in an effort to establish nurse navigation as a unique profession in the oncology arena and ensure that its practitioners are adequately prepared to perform the duties of the position.

Publications

The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship is the official publication of AONN+. It is published six times a year and features topics related to patient navigation and survivorship care.^[6]

AONN+ also publishes CONQUER™: the patient voice, a premier forum for patients with cancer.^[7]

Collaborations

(AONN+) is a member of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard setting, prevention, research, education and monitoring of comprehensive quality of care. AONN+ is among 50 other national organizations involved in cancer care.^[8] AONN+ has also collaborated with Sarah Cannon, the global cancer enterprise of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA).

References

1. https://www.aonnonline.org/about/
2. "AONN Rebrands Name to AONN+". CPS Me. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
3. "Sixth Annual Navigation & Survivorship Conference Draws More than 700 Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators from Around the World". PR Web. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
4. Freeman, Harold P. [https http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/21/10/1614.full "The Origin, Evolution, and Principles of Patient Navigation"] Check |url= value (help).
5. Willis, Anne; Reed, Elisabeth; Pratt-Chapman, Mandi; Kapp, Heather; Hatcher, Elizabeth; Vaitones, Virginia; Collins, Stacy; Bires, Jennifer; Washington, Etta-Cheri (December 2013). "Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship". Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship 4 (6): 20–26.
6. http://www.jons-online.com/jons-about/
7. About CONQUER https://conquer-magazine.com/about/
8. "AONN+ Granted Membership in the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer". The Oncology Nurse. Retrieved 5 April 2016.