Awards Dinner honors winners of perioperative nursing achievement awards; Saturday, March 22, 2003 - Awards - Association of periOperative Registered Nurses conference

AORN Journal, June, 2003 by Nancy K. Kuehl

On a pleasant Chicago evening, AORN members gathered for the Awards Dinner at the Chicago Hilton to honor the winners of AORN's annual awards. After welcoming attendees, AORN President Donna Watson, RN, MSN, CNOR, ARNP, FNP-C, turned the podium over to former AORN Executive Director Lola Fehr, RN, MS, CAE, FAAN. Fehr entertained and delighted the group with her comments, which were couched in terms of Dr Suessisms. "Children's stories have meaning for adults, as well," said Fehr as she told popular Dr Suess stories and related them to the world of perioperative nursing. She encouraged attendees to take the time to pursue their dreams and to look at things in new ways. "In this day and age of health care, we have to do things we've never thought of before," said Fehr. She concluded by reminding attendees, "We must hang on to the glee."

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

President Watson returned to the podium to present the 2003 Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing to Kay Ball, RN, BSN, MSA, CNOR, FAAN. The AORN Award for Excellence honors a member of AORN whose work and accomplishments have had global implications on perioperative nursing in the areas of practice, education, and research. Ball, who has been a perioperative nurse and an AORN member for 27 years, served as the Association's President from 1992 to 1993.

Ball was nominated in part because of her ability to unleash the power of the written and verbal word. Her lectures and writings have been used globally by perioperative nurses. Her accounts of nursing's response to the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks appeared in US, British, and Swedish nursing journals.

In addition, Ball represented nurses in perioperative and specialty practice in 1994 when federal health care reform initiatives were being considered. Currently, she chairs the Ohio Nurses Association Health Policy Council, and she is the only health care provider who serves on the campaign team of Ohio Representative Jon Peterson (R-Delaware). "Her persistence in promoting legislation to enhance perioperative nursing has directly helped to advance surgical patient care," said Watson.

A supportive letter from Rep Peterson says, "Kay Ball epitomizes the type of accomplished individual this award was intended to honor." Another colleague wrote "I believe her greatest asset is that she has the strength to care.... She has put herself on the line, and with true determination, has fought for those things which make good health care a valued commodity."

In her acceptance remarks, Ball said she was honored to receive the award and she thanked her local chapter, AORN of Central Ohio; Rep Peterson; and her family members. She told attendees that "Balance is needed to achieve excellence. Pay attention to those things that are essential to your happiness."

OTHER AWARDS

A number of other individual awards also were presented during the evening. Willingness to listen, responsiveness to employee and patient needs, and empowerment are the qualities that won Cynthia Kuperus, RN, MBA, CRNFA, the Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Nursing Management Award. The nomination letter cited her accomplishments in turning her department into a place that furthers professional growth and higher education and encourages staff members to remain rather than seek opportunities elsewhere and to come to work feeling good about themselves and their leader.

Raphael "Ray" Landreneau, RN, BSN, CNOR, earned the Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Clinical Nursing Education Award by organizing monthly meetings of specialty nursing organizations and the local American Nurses Association chapter in his community. He also wrote a one-act play that is designed to educate high school students about the role of perioperative nurses. His colleagues describe him as an energetic and caring leader.

Carolyn Bauer, RN, CNOR, the winner of the award for Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Clinical Nursing Practice, is a volunteer with Operation Smile, and she travels to underdeveloped countries to repair broken smiles under primitive conditions. While working in foreign countries, she has taught nurses AORN's standards and how to apply them in their settings.

Michelle Byrne, RN, MS, PhD, CNOR, who received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Academic Nursing Education, has made significant contributions to integrating perioperative nursing into the curriculum and educational experience of nursing students. She also has introduced students and professional colleagues to all aspects of perioperative nursing and created enthusiasm for this arena of nursing practice.

Elke Guillot, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, provides emotional and educational support to patients diagnosed with breast cancer and their family members. She collaborated with other health care providers to write a booklet titled, A Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer Surgery, which provides patients with up-to-date information about their perioperative care. This education coupled with the physical and emotional support offered by Guillot has resulted in a better surgical experience for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. For these reasons, Guillot received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Nursing Patient Education.