Building Resilience Through Connection
With support from the Cynthia (Cindi) Cantril Oncology Nursing Resilience Fund, the Oncology Nursing Foundation (ONF) is advancing a new initiative designed to strengthen resilience and connection within the oncology nursing community. The Kaleidoscope of C.A.R.E. (Compassion, Adaptation, Reconnection, and Exploration) program will provide nurses with an immersive retreat experience that empowers them to foster healthy practices and prioritize their well-being.
On April 25 and 26, 2026, the Kaleidoscope of C.A.R.E. project team convened in Pittsburgh, PA, for a brainstorming and development meeting to build the initial framework for the program. The nurses who volunteered shared vulnerable insights, barriers, and challenges they commonly face in the workplace, as well as the critical need to support oncology nurse wellness.
The project team continues to develop program materials and guidelines to support a 1.5–day immersive retreat for oncology nurses to reconnect with their mind, body, and spirit, renewing their capacity to care for themselves, their colleagues, and the patients they serve. The program will support emotional healing and self-reflection, teaching nurses how to balance grief and joy in the complex field of cancer care. By equipping oncology nurses with resiliency tools and resources, the Kaleidoscope of C.A.R.E. program will strengthen their ability to communicate and manage workplace challenges.
“Over 50 years ago, ONS was established to advance the field of oncology nursing. Today, safeguarding our profession’s legacy is more crucial than ever,” Cindi Cantril, MPH, RN, OCN®-Emeritus said. “Resilience isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a vital obligation. By prioritizing our well-being through retreats and accessible resources, we help ensure the ongoing strength of oncology nursing and support the next generation of nurses who will uphold our legacy. My dedication to launching this program and delivering these critical resources is driven by a desire for oncology nurses to thrive and for patients to continue receiving outstanding care.”
The kaleidoscope theme is central to this program and its purpose—symbolizing transformation, unity within diversity, and the power of perspective. It reflects how the fragmented experiences of oncology nurses can come together to form harmonious patterns, inspiring participants to find meaning amid chaos and recognize the ever-shifting nature of the oncology nursing profession.
“Oncology nurses hold space for others during the most vulnerable moments of their lives, and we rarely ask who holds space for us. We hardly ever ask for that space ourselves. Our collaboration is about honoring that invisible weight we carry and helping oncology nurses nurture their inner reserves that sustain not just their practice, but their whole selves,” Valerie Burger, MA, MS, RN, OCN®, CPN said. “It’s almost revolutionary. We’re saying that the inner life of a nurse matters—that their grief, their hope, their exhaustion, and their resilience deserve attention and care. This isn’t soft work; it’s the hardest and most necessary work there is.”
The program will initially be piloted with ONS Chapters and healthcare organizations, specifically targeting oncology RNs. Pilots are anticipated for fall 2026. The project team is currently developing a curriculum, agenda template, and program assessments to measure impact and reach.
In the long-term, ONF aims to build a consortium of expert facilitators across the United States who can provide this programming in different regions. ONF plans to train the facilitators in 2027 and officially launch the program nationally later that year.
This program aims to support increased retention rates among oncology nurses, foster personal development, strengthen self-awareness, and equip nurses with improved strategies for coping with grief and emotional fatigue.
“Supporting the well-being of oncology nurses has measurable impact—reducing burnout, improving retention, and enhancing patient outcomes. We know that a resilient workforce is foundational to sustainable, high-quality cancer care, and that is why oncology nurse well-being matters,” Kaleidoscope of C.A.R.E. project team member Roselyn Ogunkunle, PhD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, OCN, FAAN, said. “Our goal is to create a structured, evidence-based well-being program that empowers oncology nurses to build resilience across all domains of practice, transforming not only individual wellness, but team culture, organizational well-being, and patient experience.”
The Kaleidoscope of C.A.R.E. Project Team Volunteers:
Cindi Cantril, MPH, RN, OCN®-Emeritus
Valerie Burger, MA, MS, RN, OCN®, CPN
Rebecca Crane-Okada, PhD, RN, CNS, AOCN®
Roselyn Ogunkunle, PhD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, OCN®, FAAN
Jamie Mercado, BSN, RN
Mary Lappe, BSN, RN, OCN®