Learn, network, and enjoy the festivities at the 2006 Congress in our nation's capital—Washington, DC

AORN Journal,  Dec, 2005  

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Sunday, March 19, to Thursday, March 23, 2006

The AORN Congress is a must-attend education conference and trade show for anyone who wishes to excel as a perioperative RN. Attendees will be able to network with perioperative nurses from the United States and abroad and exchange ideas related to practice issues and strategies. Congress offers sessions and events tailored to staff nurses, managers, nurses in ambulatory settings, nursing students, and faculty members.

Staff nurses, this is the only event with education sessions and exhibits devoted to all aspects of perioperative nursing. Choose from sessions providing the latest on surgical procedures in a variety of clinical practice settings, and discuss practice issues with others who, like you, encounter these issues daily.

Managers, attend exclusive networking events with 2,500 of your peers and industry professionals to improve the delivery of perioperative care. Many education sessions have been specifically designed for perioperative managers and leaders. A half-day session on creative leadership will be offered twice.

Nurses in ambulatory settings, a special education session track has been developed for ambulatory freestanding, hospital-based, and office-based settings. New this year is a fullday session that will explore current issues critical to ambulatory care. Topics to be covered include infection control and sterilization issues; reconstructive procedures after bariatric surgery; care, cleaning, and handling of ophthalmology instruments; and legislation updates.

Students, gain valuable insight into the collaborative relationship between perioperative nurses and surgical industry professionals by visiting the exhibit floor with an experienced perioperative nurse. Observe and practice perioperative procedures to use in your everyday practice, including hand hygiene, gowning, gloving, and skin preparation. Registration is free for students.

Faculty members, attend two sessions developed specifically for faculty members who wish to learn more about the perioperative setting for student nurses. Learn how to integrate the Perioperative Nursing Data Set, a standardized nursing vocabulary, into a perioperative student experience. Free registration for Wednesday, March 22, is available to all full-time regular faculty members of schools of nursing.

Do not miss this educational opportunity. To register for Congress, complete the registration form located in the AORN Congress brochure, or complete an online registration form at http:// www.aorn.org/Congress/2006/attendees/registration.asp.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Pre-Congress education sessions will be held on Saturday, March 18, in the Washington, DC, Convention Center. More programs have been added this year to meet the diverse needs of the AORN membership. Pre-Congress sessions are in-depth programs that will provide you with tools and skills that you can implement immediately. Half-day sessions or two half-day sessions that follow a similar theme are available. Whether you are employed in a hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or a physician's office, you will find information that you need.

The Congress education sessions cover a wide array of topics. You can individualize your session selection based on what you need today or where you want to be in a year. The sessions provide tools and tactics to assist you in delivering safe patient care and explore practice and management issues. You also will have the opportunity to review Research/ Evidence-Based Practice and Clinical Improvement/Innovation posters. Visit the AORN web site at http://www.aorn.org/Congress/2006/attendees/pro gram.asp for the most up-to-date information on the education sessions.

EXHIBITS

Join more than 575 companies at the largest surgical trade show in the country. Exhibits allow attendees to examine and evaluate the latest developments in perioperative equipment, supplies, and services. Be sure to visit the AORN career resource area, which is dedicated to career training and development companies, facilities, and travel nurse companies recruiting personnel. Exhibit hours are

* Tuesday, March 21, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM (please note the time change);

* Wednesday, March 22,10 AM to 3 PM; and

* Thursday, March 23, 10 AM to 1 PM.

EDUCATION ON THE EXHIBIT FLOOR

While visiting the exhibit floor, you will not only see the many products and services available in the perioperative marketplace, but you also will be able to earn continuing education credits. For the past 11 years, HealthStream, in collaboration with AORN and Congress exhibitors, has provided continuing education opportunities on the exhibit floor. These educational activities provide information that will enhance your knowledge and expertise. These topics, specifically focused on perioperative patient care, will be valuable for nurses who are seeking recertification in perioperative professional nursing because of new Competency and Credentialing Institute requirements. Participating exhibitors will provide continuing education at their booths through live 30-minute workshops worth 0.5 contact hours or independent learning print study guides worth one contact hour. Education on the exhibit floor will be organized into tracks to help you target sessions specific to your needs. The tracks will be listed in the Exhibit Guide given to each attendee in his or her registration bag.