ONS is raffling off a gift basket that includes a free Congress registration, a digital camera, and San Diego goodies. It's free to enter, stop by the ONS Resource Area to sign up.

Hi. I just arrived in Tampa. Looking forward to a great conference.

Jennifer Garlick: Is the conference at the convention center?? nowhere on this website does it say exactly where the conference is!!

NursingACE: yes it's at the convention center across from the marriott. symposia are mostly at the marriott, though

Staying at the Westin, anyone interested in jogging a 3 or 5 mile loop early morning.

stop by booth #501 while at congress for more information on NursingACE! why pick up tons of paperwork and handouts only to go home and sort through it all to figure out which ones were most important? NursingACE.com houses all patient educational materials, slides, and more, all geared towards increasing the knowledge of your patients and colleagues. participate in online quizzes and download all of the materials to save the clutter in your ONS ... [read more]

Hi. I can't believe that IOL/ APN is just a few days away. I am very excited about the mini-institute on Comparative Effectiveness Research and Economic Evaluation that I am coordinating. My colleagues presentations look great.

Has anyone taken a laptop or netbook to IOL/Congress since ONS has "gone green"? I decided not to purchase a book this year,opting to download the slides and bring my laptop.Now I'm wondering if maybe I should have gotten the book. Thoughts? Mary

Jason Godesky: The Tampa Convention Center has a wireless hot spot, and we have the Internet Café in the ONS Resource Area. There may not be wireless available in the rooms where sessions are held, but if you download the slides ahead of time, I don't think you'll... [read more]

I am really interested in how other Heme/Onc practices have implemented an EMR and how they are using it. Also, what kind of compliance issues they are having with MDs to registration staff.

MEVrabel: Hi. Hematology & Oncology News & Issues has published numerous articles like "The paperless cancer center: myth or reality?" and "Who owns the information in an EHR?" at http://www.towniecentral.com/Images/Hemonctown/magimages/0509/HONIMay09pg36.pdf ... [read more]

Laurie Rice: We have been paperless since 1/07 and love it! Angst in the first few months but now don't know what I would do if I had to go back to the old way.

Is anyone interested in meeting for some networking with the neuro onc sig at the IOL/APN conference. Drinks or sit together at one of the dinner meetings would be nice. Let me know Laurie

I am on the planning team for IOL and it has been such fun planning the educational content of the conference for all of you who are attending. I hope you have a great time and that your educational needs are met. I am particularly excited about the "Lean" session on Saturday morning. These speakers will help us learn how to evaluate our practices so we can be more efficient and cost effective in this time of tightening budgets! Looking forward t... [read more]

anyone attending that? I am checking into the Marriott on Wednesday, I'm on facebook.

Jennie Kenderski: I was unable to attend this class, but please let me know how it goes. I am staying at the Marriott too, and I am on facebook. Thanks so much, look forward to meeting you!

I am arriving early for the IOL and wanted to sight see on Thursday. Anyone else available and want to meet for a meal and a trip to the zoo or aquarium? I am at the Westin Harbour Island. Donna A APRN from Las Vegas

Has anyone taken this exam? I was wondering what the best way to prepare for it is. Course vs. textbook?

Fabienne Ulysse: The exam is very hard. I took it in may of this year. I studied from the online review materials, the new textbook for APN. You must fo alot of case studies. Practice Questions so that you can get familiar with the format. Good luck! You will do fine... [read more]

Hi all! I am honored to serve as the Team-Leader and I want to thank each of you for joining us in Tampa, Florida for the 10th annual IOL. The Itinerary-Builder is up and running so if you haven't had an opportunity to utilize the I-Builder yet, it is a fantastic planning/time management tool. Looking forward to seeing you all..... :) Kim

any one coming who has taken the breast certification test? would like to connect to see how to prepare for it, thanks, Dana Sebek

Heather Vanderploeg: Dana, I passed the exam in the spring, would love to meet you and share my experience. my email: heather.vanderploeg@astrazeneca.com

Kathryn Childers: Dana, I passed the exam in August. I would love to connect with you. Maybe we will be attending some of the same sessions. Send me a e-mail if you like and we can arrange to meet - nursekat1@verizon.net

I have a room at Marriott Waterside; with double beds; arrive Thursday early afternoon and leave mid afternoon on Sunday.

Eileen Rappaport, ARNP: Please contact me about sharing a room. Eileen Rappaport, ARNP 772-597-3616 I was just about to make arrangements and would not mind sharing a room. Eileen

Can share room, I am at the Tampa Marriott Waterside. I will be arriving Friday and Leaving early Sunday morning

Lee Ann Judy: Hi Beverly, I am looking to share a room. I have not yet secured accomodations. I will also be arriving on friday and departing on Sunday. Let me know. Thanks. Lee Ann

Beverley Taylor: Hi Lee Ann, It will be my pleasure to share room. I will contact housing to secure two beds. Thanks alot.

Hi everyone. My name is Kaye Luttrell and I am on the planning committee for this years IOL. Wow! we are so excited about it. The topics are so pertinent to our nursing practices today and the speakers are top notch. If you haven't already registered, do it now - you won't want to miss one minute of this event! See YOU there!

Would like to share a room at Embassy suite's for IOL with another female RN.

Carole Dolmas: i have a suite at the embassy to share with another female RN. i'm going to the APN but it's all at the same place! right. let me know if you have a room, or need a room. carole dolmas. i'm signed up on crowdvine.

Lee Ann Judy: Hi Carole, I am looking to share a room for Friday and Saturday nights. I am also considering renting a car Sunday after the confrence and going down to Sanibel for the night and then returning on Tuesday. Any interest?

I have not secured accomodations for the confrence. I am interested in sharing a non-smoking room for Friday and Saturday nights. Can be male or female.

Attention IOL attendees: Did you know that you can receive over 5.5 CNE on Saturday, November 14? There are many hot topics that will be presented that you've been waiting for. Check out the schedule on the IOL conference website. Which sessions do you plan to attend?

You should be making plans to attend the ONS Trish Greene Quality of Life Lecture at IOL on Sunday, November 15 at 10am. The lecture is titled, To Live Until You Die--Quality of Life at the End of Life, presented at IOL by Cyndi Cramer. Ms. Cramer is a clinical administrative supervisor and educator in oncology, critical care, and pediatrics at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL. She will discuss discuss how to introduce palliative care much ear... [read more]

Is it in your plans to attend IOL opening? If not, it should be. At the IOL Opening Ceremonies / Keynote Session, Kathy B. Dempsey will present, Shed or You're Dead®: How to Stay Alive & Thrive in the Midst of Healthcare Change! She will help us man­age smarter and build re­silience de­spite in­creased de­mands (i.e., nursing shortage, healthcare reform, etc.). You'll learn how you can prac­tice the 3 Rs of shed­ding to stay pos­i­tive, jug­gle p... [read more]

Do you want a customized conference is at your fingertips??!! Having a hard time choosing which sessions will have the most impact on the work you do every day? This year, ONS is offering Express Itineraries for IOL to provide you with a suggested schedule for your area of interest to impact your work setting. Simply download one of the PDFs in the Syllabus and Itinerary builder

Anyone attending the Nuts and Bolts workshop held in conjunction with APN?

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Kristina Taylor : Hi David. I am ready for the conference. I am from NE South Dakota and in a rural, community practice. I'm excited that you are in a rural practice and hope to compare a few notes at the conference.

Patti Sipe: Hi, Dristina and David, I will be attending the Nuts and Bolts workshop. Are you already using any form of EMR? Our institution is starting in certain areas. Our department uses some forms for communication and scheduling. We have not started for act... [read more]

Kristina Taylor : Hi Patti, we are not currently using the EMR. But I am interested in how you are using it for documentation. Looking forward to seeing you at the conference.

Just reaching out to any students so perhaps we could connect at the APN conference. It will be strange to attend my first ONS conference as a "student". : 0

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Janelle Wagner: Nichole, I will also be attending the conference as a student. I've attended a few other ONS conferences in the past, but this will be my first ONS APN conference. Perhaps all of the student attendees will be able to meet while we are there.

Nicole Santamorena: Hi Wendy & Janelle, Glad I'm not alone! Maybe as we get closer we can pick a time to meet up, maybe at an ancillary/symposium breakfast or dinner? Have you signed up for any?

Janelle Wagner: Hi Nicole, I just signed up for the Comorbidities and the Cancer Patient interactive dinner on Thursday night. When will you be flying in to Tampa? I arrive Wednesday night from Colorado. Janelle

Hey all, For those of you using Twitter, we will be posting all tweets with either the #IOL09 or #APN09 hashtags. These messages will appear on a board in the exhibit hall as well as on the IOL and APN Web sites. If you have any questions about ONS's social media efforts, please feel free to contact me at spieszak@ons.org