Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses: A Case Study

Nursing is a profession where continuous education is essential in providing quality patient care. Aside from obtaining knowledge during nursing school, professional and interdisciplinary organizations are also sources of acquiring the most recent information that helps healthcare professionals be up-to-date in their respective fields. In this discussion, I will talk about the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses including their purpose and vision, describe why I chose this organization, and discuss the importance of professional organizations to the nursing practice. The Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) is an organization dedicated to nurses and other healthcare professionals who specialize in pediatric hematology/oncology. The organization’s purpose is to provide support and assist nurses to advance in their field of specialty to help achieve optimum outcomes for their patients and families. Their vision is to become universally renowned as the most outstanding organization in hematology/oncology nursing not just for children, but for adolescents and young adults as well (aphon.org, 2016). I chose the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology because I am hoping in the near future that I will be a part of
Another article by Matthews (2012) indicated that professional organizations are essential in the role of nurses as advocates. Matthews (2012) also discussed the points mentioned by Weber (2011) and added that as nurses join and create organizations, they generate a stronger and louder voice that could help raise awareness of patient issues therefore fulfilling their roles as patient