AORN approves new specialty assembly

AORN Journal, Sept, 2003

A new AORN specialty assembly, the Integrated Health Practices Specialty Assembly, has been approved by AORN's Board of Directors. The purpose of this specialty assembly is to

* enhance communication among nurses who practice holistic nursing or techniques in complementary therapies in perioperative settings;

* promote specialty education sessions on integrated health practices;

* serve as a resource for perioperative nurses who are interested in integrating techniques such as relaxation, nutritional, and mind-body imaging therapy in inpatient or outpatient perioperative settings;

* support self-care techniques among health care providers;

* facilitate research projects that relate to the application of integrated health practices in perioperative settings; and

* promote safe patient care through the application of AORN standards, recommended practices, and guidelines in perioperative settings that use integrated health practices.

Individuals must be AORN members to belong to the Integrated Health Practices Specialty Assembly. Dues for this specialty assembly have been set at $15, which is consistent with most of the other specialty assemblies.

Members can join specialty assemblies online at http://www.aorn.org/SA/SAdues.htm. Individuals joining AORN or those who are renewing their memberships can join specialty assemblies at http://www.aom.org/_results/mbr_app.asp. For more information contact AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1.

Members also have expressed interest in forming new specialty assemblies for

* multicultural nursing,

* nurses in the military or employed in governmental services,

* ophthalmology,

* plastic and reconstructive surgery,

* retired nurses, and

* trauma surgery.

If you are interested in adding your name to the list for a potential new specialty assembly, visit http://www.aorn.org/SA/potential.asp or contact AORN customer service at (800) 755-2676 x 1 and ask to be added to the interest list. Two hundred members must express interest in a potential specialty assembly for formation to be considered. If you have questions about forming a new specialty assembly, contact Bonnie Denholm, RN, MS, CNOR, AORN specialty assembly coordinator, via telephone at (800) 755-2676 x 261 or e-mail bdenholm@aorn.org.