emily nalevanko, ba copy editor oncology nursing society what’s new with ons newsletters?

EMILY NALEVANKO, BACOPY EDITOR

ONCOLOGY NURSING SOCIETY

What’s New With ONS Newsletters?

Thank You!

Presenters usually save this for the end, but …

Volunteers like you are the core of everything ONS does, so thank you for your time and commitment!

Our Goals Today

What’s new with ONS newsletters?Avoid common pitfalls of online publishing.Keep the NEWS in newsletter.Connect with SIG members and get them to

submit articles.SIG Newsletter “Best Article” AwardResources on the SIGs Virtual CommunityQuestions and answers


What used to be Chapter Vision and The SIGnal have joined together to become the new ONS Leadership Update.

ONS Leadership Update will be distributed toSIG leadersONS editorsChapter leadersThe Steering Council Nominating CommitteeThe ONS Board of Directors

ONS Leadership Update

This quarterly online newsletter will be leaders’

one-stop-shop for

UpdatesLeadership tips and toolsA way to connect with other leadersA great place to find ideas for your own

newsletter.

ONS Leadership Update

If you would like to contribute, please do!• Write articles that other leaders will find useful such as

o How to encourage members to get involvedo Producing a quality SIG newslettero Ideas on leadershipo Updates on your SIG’s activities.

This should be a top resource for idea sharing, networking, and collaboration and a great place to show off your group’s accomplishments.

What Else is New?

After the ONS Connect Editorial Board planning meeting in August 2008, SIG leaders will receive an email with all of the topics for 2009.

SIG leaders are welcome to respond with comments and suggestions for topics in their area of knowledge.

Stay connected and share your expertise!

Avoid Common Pitfalls of Online Publishing

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

• Good writing is still good writing.• Accuracy is always vital.• Be sure to cite sources both in-text and in the

reference list.• Know your audience.• Understand why nurses read your newsletter.

Just ask them.


Keep the 4,000-word limit in mind for SIG newsletters.

People read online text differently.• More slowly• Scanning


Always use• Shorter, more concise articles.• Shorter, more concise paragraphs.• Shorter, more concise sentences.• (You get the idea.)


Use visual points of entry.• Subheads• Bulleted lists• Figures and tables• Bolded key phrases


You can still run in-depth articles!

Use links when possible.• Links keep your newsletter shorter and more

manageable plus avoid sticky permission issues.Break long articles into parts.• Adopt this old trick from print publications and

keep readers hungry for more.

Keep the NEWS in Newsletter

Aim to make your SIG newsletter one of the first places nurses go to get news and information on your special topic.

This will take time and effort, but it is a worthwhile goal.


You are surrounded by article ideas here, at work, and at home.

Any time you see something NEW, that’s NEWS.


A new drug• Perform a literature search and write a summary

of what you’ve found.A new device or tool• Try it in your practice and write about your

experiences.A new trial• Write a short summary of the trial’s goals.

A new journal article, book, CD-ROM, etc.• Write a review or summary.


Feature and welcome new members of your SIG.

Highlight innovative programs at workplaces.

Write about other organizations related to your SIG.

• Publish tools they provide.• Review their Web sites.• Highlight their guidelines.


Complementary Care CornerSelf-Care CornerDo-It-Yourself: How to search the literature,

establish evidence-based practice, meditate, hold a journal club, etc.

______ Awareness Month:• www.whathealth.com/awareness/may.html


Conferences• Announce upcoming events of interest.• Review one or more sessions relevant to your

audience.o Start right now with the list of Congress

sessions.


ONS values and how they relate to your SIG (a six-part series)

Your experience using one of the ONS Putting Evidence Into Practice® cards

Grass-roots efforts by nurses in your field


Google it! Type your special interest into Google and see what comes up.

Sign up to receive exclusive email alerts on late-breaking news, reports, and special offers.• FDA:

http://xsuite.thompson.com/SF_Module/webforms/subscribe_emailnews.cfm

• National Cancer Institute: www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/alerts/

• American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/NWS_0.asp

• Alerts from other similar associations (e.g., APHON)


Avoid writing with clichés, including articles that rely on seasonal or holiday themes.

Put your best foot forward: Run your best article first. Don’t begin with the editor’s message just because you always have.

It’s important to thank people and to review SIG business, but don’t make that the bulk of your content.


Search clinical trials: http://clinicaltrials.gov/

Find articles and ideas in the ONS Leadership Update, ONS Connect, the Oncology Nursing Forum, and the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.

One of your best resources is each other!

Connect With SIG Members

Reach out to other SIG leaders.• For example, the Ethics SIG requested articles

from other SIGs on ethical issues in their subspecialties.

Teaming up to produce articles relevant to more than one SIG can be very beneficial to all SIGs involved.


Think about why you volunteer, then tell others what you gain from it.• Networking• Professional development• Building your resume• Extra oomph in your annual evaluation• Points toward certification renewal


Don’t just ask for help.

Instead, list a few specific story ideas in every issue and ask for volunteers. Tell people how many words you need (remember, short and concise) and how long it likely will take to write an article. They may be surprised at how easy it can be.


As a SIG coordinator, supporting the SIG editor is crucial. You can help them by • Sticking to deadlines • Providing articles and content.

You also can appoint “associate editors” to be responsible for one article per issue, perhaps a regular feature (e.g., Self-Care Corner, Member Spotlight).

SIG Newsletter “Best Article” Award

Purpose• To encourage SIG members to contribute articles

to their newsletters.• To promote newsletters as a means of

communication for SIG members.• To foster the collegial exchange of information.


• Relevant to SIG members• Supports the SIG’s mission• Has an affect on the reader (understands and

addresses reader needs)• Is well-written (clear, concise, readable, and

grammatically correct)• Demonstrates a creative or fresh approach to the

subject matter. • Articles must have appeared in a SIG newsletter

and have been authored by a SIG member. The SIG must have met all requirements of publishing SIG newsletters.


• Complete the entry form.• Entries may be submitted by coordinators,

coordinator-elects, newsletter editors, or authors.• Attach one copy of the 2008 issue of your

newsletter highlighting the article of your choice.• Send newsletters to Carol DeMarco, Membership

and Leadership Administrative Assistant, at the National Office by January 24, 2009.

• Entries will not be returned.


“Best Article” author will receive one-year ONS national membership & a certificate.

2 Honorable Mentions will receive one-year SIG membership & a certificate.

SIG Newsletter Editor will be presented with a certificate of recognition.

Resources

SIGs Virtual Community: http://sig.vc.ons.org/• Step-by-Step Guide for Publishing a SIG

Newsletter• Oncology Publishing Division Style Guide• Best Article Award nomination form• SIG Leadership Benefits

Your copy editor at ONS.

QUESTIONSAND

ANSWERS


EMILY [email protected]

Thanks Again!

emily nalevanko, ba copy editor oncology nursing society what’s new with ons newsletters?

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