Perioperative time capsule

AORN Journal, Feb, 2003

40 YEARS AGO IN THE AORN JOURNAL

In the January/February 1963 issue of the Journal, an article on pediatric surgery asserts that although death of preemies used to be expected, the goal now is 70 to 80 years survival. * According to "News in ORbit," medications take less of the medical dollar than ever before despite rising costs of raw material, research, production, distribution, and advertising. * In a classified advertisement for a surgery supervisor, the recruiting hospital asks those applying to submit a recent photograph. * One article discusses how scrub nurses are being removed from their role to circulate, supervise, and instruct. They are encouraged to pursue higher education, leaving untrained nurses in the scrub role.

30 YEARS AGO IN THE AORN JOURNAL

Tumors are the subject of one article. According to the author, the cause of malignancy is unknown, but several factors, including heredity, physical irritants, x-rays, and viruses, play a part. * In "Q & A," a reader questions whether ether should be used as a prep. The reader is advised that, in accordance with National Fire Protection Association guidelines, it should not. * One author discusses how personnel handled the crisis that occurred when Alabama Gov George C. Wallace was shot and brought to her hospital. * The National Committee on Bylaws discusses its plan to simplify and standardize chapter bylaws. They have developed a formula to be used by each chapter.

20 YEARS AGO IN THE AORN JOURNAL

In the February 1983 Pre-Congress issue, one article highlights Houston, site of the 1983 Congress. Readers learn that Houston is the nation's fourth largest city and that Houston was the first word astronauts transmitted from the moon to the earth. * According to another article, patients with cancer who have a good nutritional status respond better to chemotherapy than do their malnourished counterparts. * Two researchers say that differences between what nursing service personnel expect from new nursing graduates and what graduates themselves expect may contribute to job stress. * Clifford Jordan, RN, AORN's new Executive Director, is the subject of one article.

10 YEARS AGO IN THE AORN JOURNAL

The move of Headquarters to the Highpoint Building in Denver and the reorganization of AORN's staff structure are the focus of one article. * One author discusses the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's bloodborne pathogens final rule, saying health care workers should not get blood or other potentially infectious materials on themselves and must use hazard abatement strategies to protect themselves. * Carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs most frequently in women ages 30 to 50, is the focus of one article. * The Journal reports on the World Health Organization's updated drinking water guidelines, necessary because three billion people worldwide are exposed to pathogens through water.

NEXT MONTH IN THE AORN JOURNAL

The March issue of the Journal will feature one Home Study that discusses abdominal aortic aneurysm and endovascular repair and another that discusses Sjogren's syndrome. Other topics to be discussed in the issue include

* preoperative teaching,

* anesthesia billing,

* magnetic resonance imaging, and

* returning to school.