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Networking opportunities at specialty assembly and networking group meetings: Saturday, April 20, to Thursday, April 25, 2002 - Specialty Assembly Meetings

Networking was listed among the top six reasons for joining AORN, according to the AORN 2000 Member/Nonmember Needs Assessment Survey. (1) Surprisingly, many AORN members are not aware of the networking opportunities available through specialty assembly membership and how they can gain enhanced benefits by joining an assembly. Each year at Congress, specialty assemblies gather for business meetings, and networking groups meet to discuss common interests and the potential for forming new assemblies.

SPECIALTY ASSEMBLIES

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In 1992, AORN began creating specialty assemblies to promote communication among RNs with similar professional interests; provide a forum for networking; identify and explore patient care issues; promote specialized education; and support the mission of AORN. Currently, there are six assemblies with a clinical focus and six that focus on a variety of unique aspects of perioperative nursing (Table 1). Following are examples of activities included in each specialty assembly's program of work:

* publishing quarterly newsletters;

* collaborating to offer specialized educational events;

* producing a membership directory;

* developing strategies that support research and the Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS); and

* developing strategies to participate in or increase awareness of AORN's legislative activities.

Following is specific information about the assemblies and examples of possible discussions to be held during meetings at Congress. Refer to Table 2 for meeting times.

Advanced Technology: Lasers & Minimally Invasive Surgery. The more than 225 members who belong to this assembly serve as resources for other health care professionals who are interested in the latest developments in technology, lasers, and minimally invasive surgery. Potential discussions include research studies on pain management, the impact of advanced technology from a staff nurse's point of view, safety issues regarding laser technology, and issues and trends related to minimally invasive surgery.

Ambulatory Surgery. More than 1,175 members belong to this assembly to facilitate the application of research in the ambulatory setting and to promote safe patient care through the application of AORN's standards and recommended practices in the ambulatory setting. Potential discussions include updates on ambulatory payment classifications, a status report on the pain assessment project, and a status report on the development of recommended practices for preoperative and postoperative care.

Cardiothoracic. Approximately 700 members belong to this assembly. One of the goals of assembly members is to promote safe patient care by applying standards, recommended practices, and guidelines in the cardiothoracic perioperative setting. Potential discussions include reviewing research projects and publications regarding cardiac surgery, web site planning, and education planning for future conferences.

Leadership. The more than 1,150 perioperative leaders who belong to this assembly act as a resource network, promote the highest professional standards of practice among perioperative leaders, and facilitate applications of management research. Potential discussions include the nursing shortage, development of a 360-degree evaluation tool, and recent developments on SSM Online.

Neurosurgery. More than 300 members belong to this assembly. They serve as a resource for other neurosurgical perioperative nurses and promote safe patient care through the application of AORN's standards and recommended practices. Potential discussion includes collaborative efforts to focus on geriatric issues and pain assessment, updates on the PNDS and how it relates to neurosurgery, web site planning, and education session planning for future conferences.

Nurse Educator/Clinical Nurse Specialist. More than 600 members belong to this assembly to facilitate research activities and opportunities related to all areas of perioperative practice and to promote the value of the perioperative educator and clinical nurse specialist. Potential discussion includes developing an AORN membership recruiting kit for visits to schools of nursing, designing templates to be used to train students and experienced perioperative nurses, and updating the web page to provide a resource for planning education activities and communicating standards on safe sharps usage and injury prevention.

Nurses in Business, Industry & Consulting. Approximately 400 members belong to this assembly. Their goal is to enhance communication among nurses who work in a variety of health care settings related to perioperative nursing, including management consultants, education specialists, self-employed consultants, industry representatives, health care industry resource consultants, and those involved in scientific and clinical research for industry. Potential discussions include future education sessions and strategies for recruiting associate members.

Orthopedic. The more than 600 members who belong to this assembly promote a dynamic network of orthopedic perioperative nurses who address current trends and issues related to orthopedic nursing. Potential discussions include future education activities, collaborative efforts to focus on geriatric issues, pain assessment, and adherence to the correct site surgery position statement.

Health Care Industry

Networking opportunities at specialty assembly and networking group meetings: Saturday, April 20, to Thursday, April 25, 2002 - Specialty Assembly Meetings

AORN Journal, Jan, 2002

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