About OCCNS
OCCNS is a special interest group of ONA that was established in the early 1980’s as a group in which practicing clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) in Oregon could share information, influence practice, participate in relevant legislation and education,
and address issues and challenges to their practice. Since it’s beginning, OCCNS has successfully obtained recognition for CNSs in the state by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (1999), and obtained prescriptive and dispensing privileges for CNSs
who need them (2007). In addition, OCCNS is an affiliate of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) thus offering a setting in which members of NACNS can link to state-level CNS activities and issues.
In addition, OCCNS is the Oregon affiliate of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) to offer a setting in which members of NACNS can link to state-level CNS activities and issues. This affiliation helped bring the NACNS Annual Conference to Portland in 2010 and then again in 2023. To offer educational support, OCCNS collaborates with the NW Regional CNS group and Nurse Practitioners of Oregon (NPO) to jointly sponsor conferences and/or presentations.
- Executive Board
- Chair: Ann Busch, MS, APRN, CNS-PP, ACNS-BC, CWOCN, FCNS, FAAN
- Immediate Past Chair: Sherri Atherton, MS, APRN, CNS-BC
- Chair Elect: vacant
- Board Position 1: Sandra Bunn MSN, CNS-PP, ACNS-BC, BC-ADM
- Board Position 2: vacant
- ONA Staff Liasion: Therese Hooft at hooft@oregonrn.org
In Remembrance of Sue B. Davidson, PhD, RN, CNS who passed away in late 2023 - June 1, 2024
