Update on the "portable perioperative workshop" - Exhibit Offerings - Brief Article

AORN Journal, March, 2002

At the 2001 Congress in Dallas, the House of Delegates approved a motion that the AORN Board of Directors investigate, develop, and pilot test a portable perioperative workshop for RNs and report their progress to the 2002 House of Delegates. The House of Delegates' discussion on this issue centered around the importance of recruiting RNs into the OR, using the workshop as a way to provide information regarding perioperative nursing and potentially help alleviate the nursing shortage. This type of program would introduce a variety of RNs to the OR.

The Board appointed the following task force members to this project: Debra Fawcett, RN, BSN, MS, chair; Mary Jo Steiert, RN, CNOR; Rick Barber, RN, MS, CNOR; Patricia Mews, RN, MHA, CNOR; Kathleen Gaberson, RN, PhD, CNOR; Kathryn Schroeter, RN, MS, MA, CNOR; and Katherine Halverson Carpenter, RN, MBA, CNOR, staff consultant. Hospitals across the nation were surveyed regarding their interest in a three-day portable perioperative workshop. The overwhelming response indicated that a three-day workshop would not be adequate to cover the necessary content needed. Also, due to staffing issues, hospitals could not afford to send staff members to a three-day workshop.

Based on this survey, the target audience for the pilot is nursing students. The workshop will be pilot tested on Wednesday, April 24, at the 2002 Congress. The content will feature principles of asepsis, gowning/gloving, prepping/draping, principles of sterilization, and professional involvement. The content of the workshop also applies to nursing practice in all practice settings. Interactive learning is planned for the afternoon.

Based on feedback received from nursing students, there is an opportunity to use the material for marketing perioperative nursing in the nursing school curricula; a product could be developed for schools of nursing or for use by clinical sites. The portable perioperative workshop project may generate interest in perioperative nursing in students who may have minimal exposure to the OR in their clinical experience. It also is possible that a program could be developed for chapters to use as a contact hour activity or at career fairs.