Educational opportunities from the Center for Perioperative Education

AORN is the premier provider of perioperative continuing education. To ensure that you are registering for an AORN event, look for the AORN name and logo. If you are unclear whether the event is sponsored by AORN, call AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1.

NURSING COURSE 101

The AORN Center for Perioperative Education's Perioperative Nursing Course 101 is presented in a scripted, modular format and contains posttests, bibliographies, handouts, glossaries, required reading assignments, recommended videotapes, guidelines for preceptors, a final examination, and contact hours. Visual aids are provided in PowerPoint format on CD-ROM. Among the 25 topics included are scrubbing, gowning, and gloving; skin preparation; positioning; sterilization and disinfection; and surgical draping. The course also includes an education module for preceptors. For a brochure, call AORN customer service, or register to preview the course in a facilitator seminar. Registrations must be received two weeks before the seminar date. Visit http://www.aom.org/education/periop101.htm for seminar dates and an order form.

AORN CONFERENCES

AORN Multispecialty Conference and Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association (FASA) Annual Nurses Seminar.

Sept 26-29, 2002, Hyatt Regency, St Louis.

As a nursing professional, it is difficult to stay current with skills, the latest trends, and issues that apply specifically to your profession. AORN and FASA have joined together to provide comprehensive education in one location. Attendees will gain knowledge specific to their specialties.

This conference is designed for administrators; OR directors; managers of inpatient units, ambulatory surgery centers, and rural/small hospitals; educators; clinical specialists; consultants; industry representatives; and anyone involved with nursing informatics. A special presentation titled "Laser Concepts in Health Care" will be given on Sunday.

AORN Multispecialty Conference.

Oct 10-13, 2002, Alexis Park Resort, Las Vegas.

The education content included in this conference will relate to clinical practice issues. Specialty areas included are advanced technology, cardiothoracics, neurosurgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, and RN first assistants. A special presentation titled "Patient Safety Begins with Staff Education: Lasers in the OR" will be given on Sunday.

Preparation for CNOR Certification.

Nov 2-3, 2002, Sheraton International Hotel at Baltimore/ Washington International Airport, Baltimore.

This program will alleviate the fear of taking the CNOR examination by walking participants through the test's format and subject areas. The subject areas will be related to clinical situations with which OR nurses are familiar. The program also will provide effective test-taking strategies and a framework for participants to develop their own plan for continued preparation for the examination.

Quest for Knowledge.

Nov 22-23, 2002, Park Hyatt, Philadelphia.

This conference is held in partnership with AORN of Philadelphia. Conference topics include the latest in cardiovascular surgery, bioterrorism, and patient safety.

Seventh Conference on Infectious Diseases.

Dec 2-4, 2002, Kimberly-Clark Corporate Facility, Roswell, Ga.

This conference brings together a nationally recognized faculty of leading infectious disease professionals. The format will provide attendees the opportunity to obtain the latest information on emerging infectious disease threats, prevention strategies to protect patients and staff members, and ways to decrease morbidity and mortality related to nosocomial infections, including surgical site infections. Attendance is limited to 84 registrants.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT HOURS

Contact hour opportunities may be used independently or to educate other perioperative staff members. Perioperative nurses can earn continuing education contact hours by purchasing and viewing the following material.

INTERNET

Visit http://www.aorn.org/education for the latest quality continuing education. Home Study Programs published since November 2000 now are available online. Use these programs to earn contact hours and stay abreast of the latest nursing information.

Coming soon. The third offering of AORN's online Ambulatory Surgery Administrator Certificate Program starts with an introductory meeting in early 2003 at AORN Headquarters in Denver. This program is ideal for those who are new to the business of ambulatory surgery and provides the skills and tools needed to manage every aspect of an ambulatory surgery practice, from daily operations to regulatory requirements.

Free contact hour. Learn about the Perioperative Nursing Data Set, test your knowledge, and receive one free contact hour. Visit http://www.aom.org/PNDS/default.htm, complete the course, and print your one contact hour certificate online.

CD-ROM

The following education themes are available on CD-ROM:

* critical issues in the perioperative practice setting and

* safety in the perioperative setting.

There are five to six education sessions on each CD-ROM. All sessions presented on safety in the perioperative setting apply toward the four contact hours needed for the 10% professional liability credit available to AORN members. The CD-ROM activities are available through Virtual Factory, Inc. For more information or to order, call (617) 578-9127 x 13 or send an e-mail to mark@virtualfactory.com.

VIDEOTAPES

A number of educational videotapes are available through the AORN perioperative nursing videotape library. Videotapes available for purchase address several issues, including:

* clinical topics,

* communication/conflict resolution,

* infection control,

* patient/family education topics, and

* patient/staff member safety.

Update your videotape library. Three videotapes were updated in 2001, including

* 1880--Traffic Patterns in the Perioperative Practice Setting (replaced 1440),

* 1881--Perioperative Nursing Care of the Intravenous Moderate Sedation Patient (replaced 1813), and

* 1917--Reducing Radiological Exposure (replaced 1358). Watch for updates of the following videotapes this fall:

* 1816--The Steam Sterilization Process: Old Faithful;

* 1817--Safely Positioning the Surgical Patient; and

* 1853--Minimally Invasive Surgery Tips, Tools, and Techniques for the Perioperative Nurse.

For a catalog, call AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1 or Cine-Med at (800) 633-0004, or visit http://www.cine-med.com.

Videotape independent studies available. The following twelve videotape/independent studies, worth 1.2 contact hours each, are available from the Sixth Conference on Infectious Diseases:

* Antibiotic Resistance;

* Bioterrorism;

* Can Glove Powder Alter the Risk of Infection;

* Disinfection and Sterilization;

* Hand Hygiene and Antisepsis;

* Hepatitis C;

* Medical Malpractice;

* Nosocomial Aerosols in the OR Environment;

* Outbreak Investigations;

* Preventing Antibiotic-Resistant Infections by Preventing Patient-to-Patient Spread;

* Processing Implications of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD); and

* Surgical Site Infection: Old Problem, New Look.

The deadline to apply for contact hours for these independent studies is Dec 31, 2003. These videotapes may be purchased from AORN customer service.

PRINT

An independent study program based on AORN's 2002 Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guidelines is available for contact hour application. A minimum score of 80% is necessary to earn 25 contact hours. The deadline for submitting the posttest is March 31, 2003. A print independent study, Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia, also is available for 1.5 contact hours. The contact hour fee is included in the purchase price.

Remember, contact hours also may be obtained through Home Study Programs in the AORN Journal. New Home Studies are printed each month.

Three new print independent studies available. The following independent studies are available for purchase:

* 02085--The Many Aspects of Teamwork (1 contact hour),

* 02086--Methods for Improving Patient Care (3.5 contact hours), and

* 02087--Transfusion is Not the Only Option (5.5 contact hours).

Purchase price includes hand-outs, scan sheets, and the contact hour fee for one person. The deadline to apply for contact hours for these independent studies is April 30, 2005. These studies may be purchased by calling AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1.

EDUCATION MODULES

Each education module contains a printed study guide. Visual aids are formatted in PowerPoint and available on CD-ROM only. Contact hours for the following education modules are available through June 30, 2003:

* Care of the Elderly Patient,

* Care of the Pediatric Patient,

* Cultural Tolerance and Acceptance,

* Implementing an Event Related Sterility Maintenance Policy,

* Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia,

* Laser Safety,

* Latex Allergy, and

* Positioning the Surgical Patient. Specialty modules also are available through June 30, 2003. They include the following specialties:

* cardiovascular,

* neurosurgery,

* ophthalmology,

* orthopedics,

* otorhinolaryngology,

* pediatrics, and

* plastic/reconstructive surgery.

To order a brochure, call AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1.

REGISTRATION

Single-day attendance is possible at most activities. Fees vary, and details of refunds and substitutions are specific to each event. Brochures are mailed for each activity. To receive a brochure, call AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1. AORN ensures that no individual with a mobility, visual, or hearing disability is excluded, denied services, or otherwise treated differently from other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids or services. For up-to-the-minute information, visit the Center for Perioperative Education on AORN Online at http://www.aom.org/education.

ACCREDITATION

AORN is accredited as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC's) Commission on Accreditation. AORN recognizes these activities as continuing education for RNs. This recognition does not imply that AORN or the ANCC approves or endorses products mentioned in the activity. AORN has provider numbers for Alabama (ABNP0075) and California (CEP13019).

AON CONFERENCES

AORN Multispecialty Conference and Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association Annual Nurses Seminar

* St Louis--Sept 26-29, 2002

AORN Multispecialty Conference

* Las Vegas--Oct 10-13, 2002

Preparation for CNOR Certification

* Baltimore--Nov 2-3, 2002

Quest for Knowledge

* Philadelphia--Nov 22-23, 2002

Seventh Conference on Infectious Diseases

* Roswell, Ga--Dec 2-4, 2002

Editor's note: PowerPoint is o registered trademark of Microsoft Corp, Redmond, Wash.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group