GPON is dynamic, professional movement within an international oncology nursing network. Members reflect on and share the lives, work, achievements and challenges of oncology nurses in low resource countries. GPON brings their experiences and perspectives to the attention of the world.
GPON is global nurse leadership in action for paediatric, adolescent and adult cancer care. The power of the GPON networking is forging relationships among nurses caring for patients with cancer from infancy through the end of life across all borders – north, south, east and west. Our community of paediatric and adult oncology nurses collaborates to seek solutions for many of the toughest situations in oncology nursing practice identified by local nurses, e.g. nursing working in crisis zones (including conflict) and those affected by climate change or impacted by migration leading to severe staff shortages. Many people with cancer in such settings have limited access to essential medicines and the healthcare professionals often lack the equipment to deliver safe and effective cancer treatment and care. We support our community of oncology nurses by maintaining on-the-spot communication about webinars, conferences, educational opportunities worldwide and listening. One powerful mechanism for exchange with all nurses is our WhatsApp group with postings in multiple languages with hundreds of members sharing cancer nursing practice, training opportunities and discovering expertise nursing throughout the continuum of cancer care in all parts of the globe.
Every year as part of London Global Cancer Week, we hold a free annual virtual conference in ‘East-friendly’ time and again in ‘West-friendly’ time. We have diverse speakers including oncology nurses and a few topic experts to share current practices, policies and initiatives. The vast majority of our speakers are from low-resource countries giving us insights into their working day including patient and family experiences, advocacy, challenges and successes. Nurses come together in a safe and dynamic space to recognise and celebrate diversity, learn about inspirational and innovative approaches to nursing care, share stories, engage in discussions and celebrate nursing practice and research. GPON connects with Latin America (LATAM) nurses in Spanish with simultaneous translations during annual webinars to capture nurses who cannot otherwise benefit. Other translations of individual speakers allows us to hear the expertise from many regions.
The winners of the GPON oncology nursing awards, open to oncology nurses and teams working in low-resource areas are announced at the annual conference. We publish widely on the priorities in global oncology nursing, e.g., in the Lancet Oncology and ecancer and Seminars in Oncology Nursing and always prioritise co-authoring with our global community.
GPON ‘hands the microphone’ to oncology nurses who are often not given this opportunity. We are here to support and celebrate the dedication, knowledge and skills of the global oncology nursing community in low-resource settings where 80% of patients with cancer are treated. We welcome you to join us at GPON.