Position: Secretary
Barbara Holmes Gobel, MS, RN, AOCN®
Director of Professional Practice and Development and Magnet Program Direrctor
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
ONS member: 30 years; Special Interest Group member: 15 years; Special Interest Group
Coordinator/Coordinator-Elect: 3 years, Chapter member: 25 years
EDUCATION:
Rush University College of Nursing, Master of Science, 1982
DePauw University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 1977
ONS PARTICIPATION (national and local):
2010-2013: Chair of the Research and Evidence-Based Practice Committee of the Chicago
Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society (CCONS)
2012: National Project Team Leader of the Strategic Development and Update of the Oncology
Nursing Society (ONS) Nursing Sensitive Patient Outcomes and Interventions Team
2008-2010: Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Board Liaison to ONS Foundation Board
2008-2010: Chairperson, Policy Subcommittee for ONS Board of Directors
2007-2010: Director-at-Large, Oncology Nursing Society
2005: Member and National Project Team Leader of the ONS Nursing Sensitive Patient
Outcomes and Interventions Team (Prevention of Infection Team)
2004-2006: Coordinator of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Special Interest Group of ONS
2002-2004: Coordinator-elect of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Special Interest Group of ONS
WORK RELATED SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP:
2013-Present: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, Director of Professional
Practice and Development, Magnet Program Director; activities include leading nursing strategic
planning at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, leading Nursing Shared Leadership, leading
professional nursing practice, collaborating with the Northwestern Medicine Academy to lead
nursing professional development activities, leading Northwestern Memorial Hospital to our 2nd
Magnet redesignation, and mentoring graduate students throughout the year
2011-2013: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, Operations Manager, Oncology
Services (Prentice 14, Prentice 15, Prentice 16 and the Rube Walker Blood Center): activities
included leading the operational activities of the Oncology Department Service Line (hiring,
position control, coaching staff, and facilities management for a staff of 225 individuals including
registered nurses, patient care technicians, unit secretaries, social work, rehabilitation therapy,
and environmental services
2010: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, Patient Care Manager, Medical
Oncology/Palliative Care: activities included managing the staff and functions of a 36 bed
Medical Oncology/Palliative Care unit, Instructor, Rush University College of Nursing: activities
included mentoring graduate nursing students Chicago, IL
2004-2010: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, Oncology Clinical Nurse
Specialist: activities included advancing oncology nursing practice for all inpatient oncology
services, teaching the ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course at least annually, developing
and leading the "Fundamentals of Oncology Nursing Practice" course, Instructor, Rush
University College of Nursing: activities included mentoring graduate nursing students on at
least an annual basis Chicago, IL
1995-2004: Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Melrose Park, Illinois, Oncology Clinical Nurse
Specialist: activities included advancing oncology nursing practice for all inpatient and outpatient
oncology services, teaching the ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course at least annually,
and nursing advisor to the “Me First” Fitness Program for women with breast cancer at the
Gottlieb Health and Fitness Center
1989-1995: Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Forest, Illinois, Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and
Nurse Coordinator of the Lake Forest Hospital Center for Breast Health: activities included
advancing oncology nursing practice for all inpatient and outpatient oncology services, teaching
a Chemotherapy Course to nurses at least annually, ongoing education for nurses and
coordinating the Center for Breast Health, Instructor, Rush University College of Nursing:
activities included mentoring graduate students at least annually
1988-1989: Lake Forest Hospital, Clinical Educator, Medical/Surgical, Oncology, Pediatrics:
activities included coordinating the educational needs of the nurses in aformentioned
departments, Instructor, Rush University College of Nursing: activities included mentoring
graduate students at least annually
HEALTH CARE/ CANCER ORGANIZATIONS EXPERIENCE, OTHER PROFESSIONAL
NURSING ORGANIZATIONS /Additional experience (community, political etc.):
2014-present: Program Chair, Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders
2013-present: Member, Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders
2011-present: AONE member
2010-2013: Chair, Research and Evidence-Based Practice Committee of the Chicago Chapter,
ONS (CCONS)
1997-present: Member, Sigma Theta Tau
1988-1989: First Counselor, Gamma Phi Chapter of Rush University College of Nursing
1987-1988: Second Counselor, Gamma Phi Chapter of Rush University College of Nursing
1986-1987: Program Committee, Gamma Phi Chapter of Rush University College of Nursing
1984-1985: Chairperson, Program Committee, Gamma Phi Chapter of Rush University College
of Nursing
1983-1984: Program Committee, Gamma Phi Chapter of Rush University College of Nursing
Position Statement:
The mission of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is to promote excellence in oncology
nursing and quality cancer care. This mission can only be actualized through the individual and
collective efforts of the Society’s many committed members. Through my active involvement in
ONS over the years, I have had the opportunity to personally and collectively promote
excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care.
One of my personal strengths that has served me in my personal and professional life is that of
being an avid learner. I have a keen sense of curiosity about learning new ways of addressing
issues. This curiosity has led me to leadership opportunities, including being a member and
national project team leader of the first ONS Nursing Sensitive Patient Outcomes and
Intervention Team, as well as meeting new friends and developing meaningful relationships
through my participation in ONS.
I believe in the power of inclusiveness in order to seek the best solutions. Throughout my career
I have sought to include diverse opinions and points of view about care issues, whether it has
been in my role as a Clinical Nurse or in my current role as a Director of Professional Practice
and Development.
Chose two of the ONS Core Values and discuss how you have actualized them in your
leadership experiences.
Innovation
Innovation is an essential core value to be able to lead the transformation of cancer care. The
Oncology Nursing Society and its individual members must continuously seek new methods and
ideas to promote significant positive change. I have had the great opportunity to be involved
with the Oncology Nursing Society’s quest to develop resources for nurses and other health
care professionals regarding nurse sensitive patient outcomes and interventions: or what
eventually became known as the ONS “Putting Evidence into Practice” or “PEP” resources. As
an early member and national project team leader for this body of work, we were faced with how
to best identify evidence-based resources for nurses to support safe and effective patient
outcomes. Over the years numerous dedicated members including clinical nurses, advanced
practice nurses and nurse scientists have continued to create and grow this initial body of work.
Our members now have access to a variety of evidence-based resources including books,
pocket cards, online resources, and a variety of published articles on the ONS PEP work, all of
which help to support excellent patient care.
Inclusiveness
The Oncology Nursing Society core value of inclusiveness is one that I have strived to actualize
throughout my career. I believe that the highest quality of patient care can only be achieved
through true diversity of thought. To achieve diversity of thought requires inclusiveness of ideas
from individuals of different ages, races, ethnicities and cultural values. In my role as the
director of professional practice and development, I have the wonderful opportunity to facilitate
our organization’s shared leadership model. In this role I work closely with the clinical nurse
chairs and co-chairs to set dynamic agendas and then execute on these agendas. One of the
guiding principles in our model is to seek to understand current practice from the perspective of
our front-line caregivers. It is only through including the thoughts and ideas of these diverse
caregivers that we are able to achieve exceptional patient care. I have also had the opportunity
to travel to Japan, Korea, Canada and Oman through ONS to learn about how different cultures
approach nursing and patient care. My travel enriches my approach to nursing and patient care,
which I am able to share with the clinical nurses and other healthcare professionals with whom I
work.
Reflecting on the mission and vision of ONS, how have you addressed relevant issues to
oncology nursing?
Throughout my career as an oncology nurse and leader, I have promoted excellence in
oncology nursing and quality patient care. As an advanced practice nurse I have offered
numerous educational programs and classes to countless nurses eager to learn about the care
of patients and their families with cancer. I have taught the Oncology Nursing Society
Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course for several years, and then closely followed up with these
nurses at the bedside and chairside to ensure safe and effective practices. I have presented on
a variety of cancer nursing and symptom management topics locally, regionally, nationally and
internationally. I have had an opportunity to share my clinical knowledge and passion for
oncology nursing through international work with nursing leaders in Japan, Korea, Canada and
Oman. My continued passion for innovation and excellence in cancer care is evident in my
current commitment to provide oncology nursing education in Muscat, Oman in October of this
year. Over the course of my career, I have contributed numerous articles to peer reviewed
publications and have written several book chapters for cancer care textbooks. I have had the
great opportunity to publish six oncology nursing textbooks. I believe that my work in these
areas will ensure that the nurses who are new to the field of oncology nursing are well-prepared
to address the existing issues in the field of cancer care and will be well-equipped to continue
their own development
In my current role as the Director of Professional Practice and Development at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital, I am in an ideal position to lead transformation within patient care as well as
specifically within the cancer care specialty. I have supported and promoted the growth and
development of clinical knowledge and skills and ensured that both nurses new to the field of
cancer care, as well as seasoned oncology nurses are able to participate in these clinical and
professional development opportunities. As a result, every one of our nurses has an opportunity
to step up and lead transformation within cancer care with the support of the nursing leadership
at our organization. I work closely with our clinical nurses through a Shared Leadership model
that helps to develop talents and cultivate the next generation of nurse leaders.