JUNE 2001, VOL 73, NO 6 P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

48th AORN Congress Wow! Awesome event

n this issue, we celebrate our 48th annual Congress, “A Nursing Odyssey: Legend to

Legacy.” The connections we make with nursing colleagues from other nursing organizations, Headquarters’ staff members, industry partners, and each other during Congress rekindle our spir- it and sustain us through the chal- lenges and opportunities of the coming year. From the opening strains of “2001 : A Space Odyssey,” the energy and passion for perioperative nursing appar- ently was alive and well at Congress 2001.

ARMY NURS€ CORPS 1 OOTH ANNIVERSARY

In June, I always take time to reflect on the sacrifices and con- tributions that have been made so that we may enjoy our freedom and the opportunity to join togeth- er. Last year, my husband and I toured the new D-Day museum in New Orleans. The pictures and narratives told the compelling sto- ries of men, boys, and nurses whose courage earned them a place in history.

At Congress, we highlighted the nurses of the Army Nurse Corps for their 100 years of serv- ice. “The colors were posted by the US Army Nurse Corp Ft Hood and Ft Sam Houston.”’ Brigadier General William Bester remarked that “OR nurses have played a key role in the nurses’ continuing evolution in the Army.”’ We hon- ored the Army nurses and paid tribute to the nurses who served in

all branches of military service.

EDUCATION, CONGRESS FOCUS At Congress, nondelegates

could earn a total of 36.8 nursing continuing education contact hours and delegates could earn a total of 26.8 continuing education contact hours. The contact hours were earned by attending face-to- face education sessions and reviewing the research and clini- cal improvement/innovation poster displays. Education activi- ties were offered Sunday through Thursday. Additional contact hours could be earned by taking education activities that were offered on the exhibit floor. Our industry partners are keenly aware of our need for ongoing educa- tion, so they graciously offered workshops for 13.5 contact hours and study guides for a total of 35 contact hours.

Congress also is a place where ideas are born. In addition to videotapes and audiotapes, chap- ter members concocted creative ways to take educational sessions home to be shared with local chapter members.

OTHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Chapters also appreciate the opportunity to use AORN’s approval unit to provide members with continuing education, according to Jane Flowers, RN, MSN, CNOR.’ Thomas Stringer, RN, CNOR, newsletter editor for AORN of San Antonio, Texas, highlights the chapter’s use of the

approval unit with each pro- gram descrip- tion in the monthly newsletter.

For me, the hportance Of SHEllA 1. ALLEN the circular relationship of members, staff members, and industry partners working togeth- er to provide educational opportu- nities for AORN members is exemplified in the following let- ter from Jane Alcock, RN, CNOR, and Tina Reggie, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, of AORN of Southwest Louisiana. I include the letter in its entirety as it com- municates more than just words. It communicates the initiative and ingenuity of our members. The seminar described was a dream of Alcock’s after AORN afforded her the opportunity to hear Leah Curtin, RN, MS, MA, DSc, FAAN, a nurse she admired.

“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is in the doing, not the ge t t ing in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal stan- d a r b e a c h i n g for the highest that is in us- becoming all that we can be, If we do our best, we are a success.”‘ This, in all essence, describes the educational ofSering pre- sented by AORN chapter- 1903 in Lake Charles, La.

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“Creating a Hope-Filled Sustainable Future” was presented as a one-day 6.2 contact hour seminar. It was held at the Lake Charles Civic Center in one of its banquet rooms. Leah Curtin gave an informative and enlighten- ing presentation with the aid of a [Microsoft] PowerPoint projector, which displayed various scenes and portions of her material on a large screen before the audience. The attendees were seated at banquet-sized tables, both for the purpose of taking notes and for comfort. Our target audience was regis- tered nurses and other interested health care providers. Our total num- ber of attendees was 67, consisting mostly of peri- operative registered nurses. Also in attendance were staff nurses and nurse man- agers both from local facil- ities and the surrounding area.

Thanks to the tremen- dous financial support of the medical industry and health care colleagues, what was a dream actually became a reality. Industry exhibits provided those in attendance with an invalu- able Learning experience. With the generosity of spon- sors, we were successful in providing a quality educa- tional presentation.

into four sessions covering various topics, including new knowledge of what cre- ates and inhibits health and professional leadership in

The seminar was divided

turbulent times. Questions by the audience were addressed as they arose. The overall purpose of this seminar presentation was to have this nationally recog- nized speaker in an intimate atmosphere in order that she might enlighten us on the current andfuture trends in health care and a means of survival through- out them all.

Having Leah Curtin, RN, ScD, FAAN, editor-in-chief of Nursing Management for 20 years, publisher of the newsletter Curtin Calls, and author of seven books, as the guest speaker for our seminar was truly a dream come true for our chapter members. This was particu- larly true after having expe- rienced a presentation given by her at a General Session at the AORN Congress in Sun Francisco. Though we have only men- tioned some of Ms Curtin’s accomplishments, it gives a glimpse of the tremendous impact she has made on the nursing world. As a promi- nent nursing leader, Leah Curtain is truly regarded as one who “walks the talk”!

Her topic, coping with the present in order that we may have a hope-Jilled and sustainable future, was applicable to many aspects of our lives, especially nursing. We feel the experi- ences and knowledge Leah Curtin shared with us were so worthwhile that they will remain with many of us. In fact, many of our members still find themselves cam- menting on this highly

informative speaker. Simply having a nation-

ally renowned, exceptional speaker in our presence was awesome in and of itself. Having been able to work with such a dynamic speaker and have her for- mulate a seminar solely for our chapter was a very moving and exhilarating, as well as educational, eqeri- ence for our chapter mem- bers. We were able to move forward from this experi- ence with much hope and a renewed sense of what peri- operative nursing is really all about.5

As you can see, this experience epitomizes what we can accom- plish by working together. The connections that were forged dur- ing this effort have lasting value. The circle began with the connec- tion to Dr Curtin at Congress. It moved forward as chapter mem- bers connected to industry part- ners for a winiwin opportunity for all parties. The circle of connec- tion continued as the seminar was presented and members connected in an atmosphere of positive syn- ergy and professional growth. This circle of care was completed as attendees were strengthened by personal growth, rejuvenated, and prepared to more fully meet the needs of their patients.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM In addition to other means of

obtaining contact hours, AORN is proud to have a university certificate program. The certifi- cate program is conducted in cooperation with the University of Colorado School of Nursing, Denver, and it is designed for clinical educators, regardless of

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specialty. Nurses earn contact hours and academic credit simul- taneously. Education offered in distance learning modalities cre- ates new and exciting opportuni- ties for members to continue per- sonal and professional growth.

AORN FOUNDATIONIS ROLE

tance for AORN members to ful- fill the education component of the Association’s mission. During the last three years, the Foundation has helped chapter leaders from an average of 300 chapters per year participate in the AORN Leadership Conference. During the past three years, funding was awarded for

The Foundation provides assis-

Congress attendance for repre- sentatives from 180 chapters,

rn 200 chapter education pro- grams,

8 education programs for 10 state councils,

8 education grants for 200 indi- vidual members, and

I academic scholarships for 450 members.6 When we support the Founda-

tion, we assist our peers and our- selves. Education is one of the primary values of AORN to members. By supporting the

N O T E S

launched at Opening Session,” Congress News, 12 March 200 1, 1.

1. “48th annual AOFW Congress

2. Ibid, 3. J Flowers, interview by Sheila

Allen, Baton Rouge, La, December 2000.

A Treasury of Success Ideas 4. W Davis, The Best of Success:

endeavors of the Foundation, we become an integral part of the mechanism that encourages and fosters advanced education, con- tinuing education, and education through research. Contributors from outside the Association con- sider member contributions an important factor in their decision to support the Foundation. In their eyes, member contributions demonstrate commitment to the goals and values of the Foundation.

At Congress, member and chapter contributions totaled more than $13,000. Seven state councils and 125 chapters generously donated. During this meeting, 614 new donor members gave to the Foundation, and 964 members contributed to the Every Member Campaign to date.’ It is clear that the members of AORN value the services provided by our Foundation and appreciate the dedication and commitment of its Board of Trustees, which is com- posed of nursing, business, and industry leaders.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

CS, AORN research director, reminds us that

Suzanne C. Beyea, RN, PhD,

(Lombard, Ill: Celebrating Excellence Publications, 1992) 29 1.

5. J Alcock, T Reggie, personal communication with the author, Baton Rouge, La, January 2001.

6. T Barlow, personal cornrnuni- cation with the author, Baton Rouge, La, February 200 1.

7. Ibid. 8. S C Beyea, “Recent changes

Perioperative nurses must stay alert and remain well positioned to address the economic, social, political, environmental, and techno- logical forces at work in surgical settings. . . . There has never been a more criti- cal time to examine and validate the contributions of nurses to quality patient care and positive patient outcomes regardless of the setting or specialty.R

The commitment to life-long learning can be readily seen at Congress, as members seek to sharpen their knowledge and skills for their personal and professional growth. During the Jerry G. Peers Lectureship at Congress 2001, speaker Keith Harrell gave us a “pumped up” attitude tune-up. He reminded attendees that nursing is a profession that is “second to none.” He energized, positively reinforced, and infused us with the joy of perioperative nur~ing .~

SHEILA 1. ALLEN RN, BSN, CNOR, CRNFA

PRESIDENT

Editoh note: Powerpoint is a trodsmork of Microsoft Cop, Redmond, Wush.

and current issues in perioperative nursing,” sixth ed, J M Dochterman, H K Grace, eds (St Louis, Mo: Mosby 2001) 206.

9. K Harrell, “Attitude is every- thing,” Jerry G. Peers Lectureship, AORN Congress, Dallas, 13 March 2001.

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