30 years ago in the Aorn Journal

AORN Journal, July, 2007

The "President's Message" announces that the AORN Board has decided to reevaluate the Association's position that RNs should not act as first assistants and has appointed a committee to study this function. * An announcement from the American Nurses Association proclaims May 1977 to June 1978 to be "the year of the nurse." * An article on communicating with patients who are hearing-impaired states that per a recent census, 13 million people in the United States have a significant hearing impairment and almost two million cannot hear or understand speech.

* A news item reports that hemorrhoids can be effectively removed by ligation with rubber bands, virtually eliminating postoperative pain and the need for a hospital stay.