Specialty assemblies meet during Congress to plan future projects, change officers, and develop collaborative activities; Sunday, April 21, to Thursday, April 25, 2002 - Specialty Assemblies

AORN Journal,  July, 2002  by Deb Warren

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The 12 specialty assemblies held business meetings during Congress week to discuss future business, change governing council members, and develop future projects. This year, a challenge was set by the Rural/Small Hospital Specialty Assembly for all specialty assemblies to sponsor a table at the 2003 AORN Foundation Black Tie Gala.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY MEMBERS DISCUSS CURRENT ISSUES

The Advanced Technology: Lasers and Minimally Invasive Surgery Specialty Assembly met on Tuesday morning, April 23, to discuss future activities. Chair Judy A. Chamberlain, RN, MSN, CNOR, introduced the governing council members and promoted the 2002 fall Multispecialty Conference, Sept 26 to 29, in St Louis. Chamberlain also announced that the governing council will change members at the fall meeting.

There was active discussion about the next research project regarding postoperative pain with or without the use of an ultrasonic scalpel. Three new members joined the Advanced Technology: Lasers and Minimally Invasive Surgery Specialty Assembly during the 2002 Congress. In closing, Chamberlain spoke of her experience as chair, saying, "Our specialty assembly can only grow through the diversity of our members."

AMBULATORY SURGERY SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Outgoing chair Beverly A. Kirchner, RN, BSN, CNOR, began the Ambulatory Surgery Specialty Assembly business meeting on Wednesday afternoon, April 24, with introductions of the incoming and outgoing governing council members. She also introduced Teryl L. Woodwick Sides from Augustine Medical and recognized that company's continued support of the Ambulatory Surgery Specialty Assembly newsletter.

Kirchner celebrated the many successes the Ambulatory Surgery Specialty Assembly had this year. Members of the governing council worked hard to participate in the Ambulatory Surgery Administrator Certificate program, Jan 11 to 12, 2002; develop pain assessment tools; and promote preoperative and postoperative assessment recommended practices. The pain project initiated last year in collaboration with other specialty assemblies will continue next year. Vicki L. Johnson, RN, CNOR, from the Rural/Small Hospital Specialty Assembly told attendees how exciting it was to participate in this project.

AORN perioperative nursing specialist Ramona L. Conner, RN, MSN, talked about the progress on Ambulatory Surgery: Principles and Practices and encouraged members to suggest additions. Incoming newsletter editor Elaine M. Kohan, RN, CNOR, acknowledged the authors of the 2001 newsletter articles and thanked them for their contributions. Incoming chair Jane A. Kusler-Jensen, RN, MBA, CNOR, presented Kirchner with a beautiful clock in recognition of her enthusiasm and support of the Ambulatory Surgery Specialty Assembly this past year.

Sonia K. Barness, RN, BS, CNOR, will be leaving the governing council this year, and she was recognized as a founding member of the Ambulatory Surgery Specialty Assembly. The Ambulatory Surgery Specialty Assembly has contributed $250 to the AORN Foundation in her name. Barness said, "I started on this Ambulatory Surgery Specialty Assembly because that's what I do. It's been a great way to go."

CARDIOTHORACIC SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY: GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT CURRENT ISSUES

The Cardiothoracic Specialty Assembly convened Tuesday afternoon, April 23, with chair Holly J. Buchanan, RN, CNOR, introducing governing council members. Buchanan also introduced Bob Alm from Augustine Medical and recognized that company for its continued support of the newsletter.

There was lively discussion about doing separate counts for chest and leg procedures or doing a single count for both. There also was great discussion about autotransfusion device reaction. During a drawing of names of members in attendance, Terry Logan, Anne Marie Herlehy, RN, and Angela D. Whitfield, RN, CNOR, won complimentary copies of the AORN history book, AORN--Emergence and Growth.

INFORMATICS--LEADING AORN INTO THE FUTURE

The Perioperative Nursing Informatics Specialty Assembly met Wednesday afternoon, April 24. Chair Mary K. Thurmond, RN, CNOR, started the business meeting by introducing the incoming and outgoing governing council members. Thurmond also promoted the newsletter and asked members to submit articles for publication.

Thurmond thanked iPath, now GE Medical System Information, representatives Tabatha Shuster, Beth Kaylor, Kathy Gretter, and Joe Smith for providing lunch. Also recognized for their involvement in the Perioperative Nursing Informatics Specialty Assembly newsletter was MSM, which has been an advertiser for several years.

Vice chair Suzanne M. Whitmer, RN, CNOR, MEd, formally thanked the 2001 authors who wrote articles for the newsletter. Chair-elect Lynn M. Geren, RN, MSN, CNOR, invited members to communicate their education needs and get involved in the governing council. Geren also asked for nominations for national office.

Curtis N. Dikes, RN, MSN, ACNP-CS, spoke about the nursing informatics program offered by Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC, which is a continuing post-master's certification program for advanced practice nursing and an online MSN program in nursing informatics. After networking on informatics issues, Thurmond closed the meeting by thanking White Star for donating the door prizes.