Nursing Leadership in Global and Domestic Tobacco Control
Oncology Nursing Society Position Statement
Endorsed by ANA: December 2008
Purpose
The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) acknowledges and is committed to maximizing the potential that nurses, the largest group of healthcare professionals, have in reducing adult and youth tobacco use, promoting cessation, actively protecting all people against secondhand tobacco smoke, and helping to increase access to tobacco use prevention and cessation services. In addition to the prevention of tobacco use to reduce cancer risk, intervention is needed to support the cessation efforts of patients with cancer and cancer survivors who are at increased risk for side effects of treatment, cancer recurrence, a second tobacco-related cancer, increased morbidity, decreased survival, and diminished quality of life.
Statement of ONS/ANA Position
It is the position of ONS that:
- Tobacco is a worldwide epidemic that requires the leadership and active involvement of nurses; and
- The U.S. government ratify and implement the WHO FCTC.