Success is not final: onward to the future 
of evidence-based practice

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) is celebrating its 40th anniversary, so it seems only fitting that this column focuses on how evidence-based practice (EBP) has evolved for oncology nurses and ONS during the past 40 years. EBP has been around for a very long time. In the famous Notes on Nursing published in 1860, Florence Nightingale noted that, "The most important practical lesson that can be given to nurses is to teach them what to observe-how to observe-what symptoms can indicate improvement-what the reverse-which are important-which are of none" (p. 5). This quote seems pertinent given that a large part of what oncology nurses do is related to the management of symptoms, either from cancer or its treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation). In addition, during the past 10-15 years, nurses have been immersed in providing symptom management interventions that are based on evidence, not just in hearsay or ritual. 
.