Time flies … completing the circle - President's Message - AORN, Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses

AORN Journal,  April, 2002  by Sheila L. Allen

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

EDUCATION UPDATE AND CONGRESS

Education is another important part of AORN's mission. Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, education program professional, Center for Perioperative Education, recently shared the results of contact hour opportunities offered by AORN from July 2000 to June 2001. AORN offered 347 independent study contact hours and awarded 72,390 hours. The Association also offered 246.1 contact hours through face-to-face programs and awarded 121,130 hours.

At Congress this year, in addition to our usual opportunities, members and staff members have crafted exciting events and programs for managers and students. Our program sessions include "hot topics," which will remain unnamed until the hottest of topics are identified. The AORN Board of Directors listened to the members and worked with staff members to return events that you deemed valuable, such as the Candidates' Reception and the Closing Dinner. In addition this year, those attending the business sessions at Congress (eg, House of Delegates, Forums) will be given a home study packet that provides them an opportunity to achieve an equitable number of contact hours to Congress attendees not participating in business sessions. We value your input, so please take advantage of evaluation forms to share your ideas with us.

In addition, the greatly anticipated publication of the history project will premier at Congress 2002. Our thanks to Ellen Murphy, RN, JD, FAAN; Laurie Glass, RN, PhD, FAAN; and all the other members and staff members who have made this dream a reality.

Our meetings and exhibit staff members, who are led by Jody Zeman and Christine Lindmark, are professional beyond compare. They work closely with the Exhibitors' Advisory Committee and other industry colleagues to continually create miracles. Each year they produce exciting, diverse events that serve to transform a convention center into an environment to stimulate our pride and rejuvenate our spirit.

REPRESENTATION

This year AORN's Board of Directors, Headquarters staff members, and members have represented you at a number of health care meetings and events. This interaction provides opportunities to collaborate with other nurses, health care colleagues, policy makers, and regulators to articulate the value of perioperative nursing and forge relationships that enhance the work of the Association.

At the World Conference on Surgical Patient Care in New Zealand, September 2001, I had the honor to be elected for a three-year term as secretary of the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN). I join Brenda Ulmer, RN, MN, CNOR, on the board as this group works to improve surgical patient care around the world. I am grateful to all of our international nursing colleagues who have so warmly welcomed us and treated us to their gracious hospitality. We have been blessed.

ROUNDING IT OUT

This listing of accomplishments provides only a snapshot of the accomplishments we have made during the past year. We can learn some valuable lessons from crayons--some are sharp, some are dull, some are pretty, and some have strange names. All are different colors, yet they exist in the same box. Perioperative nurses come in all sizes and shapes and serve patients in different ways, but we all exist as perioperative RNs. Together, we have accomplished many things, but our most effective acts are involved with patient care. We make a difference.