Attend specially assembly meetings, networking groups for education and interaction

JANUARY 2000, VOL 71, NO 1 S P E C I ALT Y A S S E M B L Y MEET1 NG S

Attend specialty assembly meetings, networking groups for education and interaction Saturday, April 1, to Thursday, April 6,2000 0 R ” s 12 specialty assemblies (ie, Advanced Technology: Lasers and Minimally Invasive Surgery; Ambulatory Surgery; Cardiothoracic; Leadership; Neurosurgery; Nurse Educator/Clinical Nurse Specialist; Nurses in Business, Industry & Consulting [BIC]; Perioperative Nurses in Informatics; Orthopedic; Pediatric; RN First Assistant; RuralfSmall Hospital) provide a forum for networking, exploring patient care issues, and promoting specialized education.

immediate OR? Are you interested in seeing that patients have smooth transitions between the physician’s office and the hospital and throughout the recovery period? This group will look at issues regarding scheduling patients for preadmission planning and coordinating patient care through health maintenance organizations or insurance constraints. Penoperafive Nursing Data Set. Are you interested in documenting patient outcomes and risk management issues and implementing the Perioperative Nursing Data Set in a user-friendly format? These topics often are the focus of discussions about validating nursing practice and measuring success. This group will focus on issues that are relevant to managers, educators, and staff nurses. Newer nurses. Are you someone who notices

1

SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

S

pecialty aqsembly meetings will be held on the second and third floors of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Meeting times and rmm numbers are shown in Table 1. Meeting agenda.. are coordinated by the governing councils, and meetings are open to all Congress attendees.

Table 1 SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY BUSINESS MEETINGS

NETWORKING GROUP MEETINGS

Saturday, April 1

N

BIC

etworking group meetings are open to everyone attending Congress. These groups provide an opportunity to talk informally with RNs interested in particular fields or topics. Recognizing that people have a variety of obligations during Congress, networking groups this year are offered at seven different times during three days (Table 2). This is designed to give attendees more options to network with their peers, either in person or via notebooks that will contain what groups discussed during the scheduled sessions. Notebooks may be found in the scheduled rooms until 1 PM, Thursday, April 6. Following are examples of possible discussions during specific meetings. Otoluryngology. If you are excited about new technologies for tonsillectomy, sinus surgery, cochlear implants, or radical neck/largyngectomy procedures, this group may interest you. Discussions vary from pediatric issues to complex reconstructive surgery issues. Case management. Are you working in a unique job that extends your expertise to areas outside the

Mondav, Aoril3 Pediatric

Tuesdav, A ~ r i l 4

Time 1:30 to 2:30 PM

Time 7 to 7:45 AM

Time

Room 395

Room 295

Room

Informatics

11 AM to Noon

295

Ambulatory Surgery

12:30 to 1 :30 PM

296

Cardiothoracic

2to3PM

295

Time

Room

Wednesday, April 5 Advanced Technology

7 to 7:45 AM

396

RN First Assistant

10 to 11:30AM

395

Leadership

Noon to 1 PM

396

Neurosurgery

1 to 2 PM

396

RuraMSmall Hospital

2 to 3 PM

Thursday, April 6 lime Nurse Educator/ Clinical Nurse Specialist 10 to 1 1 AM Orthopedic

140 AORN JOURNAL

1 1:30 AM to 1 PM

395

Room 295 388

JANUARY 2000, VOL 71 NO 1 SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

Table 2 AOR”s mean membership age is 45 years? Do you appreciate the wisdom of an experienced nurse but sometimes want to meet people your own age or who share your level of expertise? This group is designed for nurses who were born after 1965 or who have worked in perioperative nursing for less than two years. We invite you to come and meet with your peers. Research. Do you tend to analyze your practice, wanting to base changes on evidenced-based clinical knowledge? Many nurses are intimidated by research; others are passionate about it. Find out what nurses are investigating and how to get started. Urology. Nurses who attend this group have practices that span from pediatrics to adult transplants, gynecology issues to prostate maladies. Discussions range from lasers, electrosurgery, and scopes to more invasive procedures involving transplants and reconstructive issues. Ophthalmology. Nurses who work with patients with eye disorders deal with unique instruments, fast-paced turnover times, new laser/electrosurgical techniques, microscope maintenance, and purchasing/consignment issues. If this sounds like your practice setting, come to this group and find out more. Women’s issues. Perioperative nurses may f i d themselves in a practice setting that focuses on obstetrics, gynecology, and/or breast cancer-related surgery. Many nurses also have undergone these procedures. Come and share your experience and exchange ideas about women’s health issues. Multicultural nursing. Do you have patients with language or beliefs that differ from the community in which you practice? Are you interested in global strategies for providing perioperative care? Do you witness ethical dilemmas in your practice setting? You are invited to participate in discussions to form a potential new assembly. Plasticlreconstructivesurgery. Whether you practice in an office-based surgery setting or work with trauma or oncology patients who need reconstructive surgery, this group will provide a forum to compare techniques and strategies for providing care. AZternative/complementary therapies. Consumers are becoming more aware of over-thecounter products (eg, herbs, vitamins, minerals, aromatherapy). There is increasing awareness about relaxation, nutrition, and imaging techniques in inpatient and outpatient settings. Come and share

N m O R K I N G GROUPS

Monday, ADfil 3

Time

Room

Otolaryngology

7 to 7:45 AM

386

Case management

7 to 7:45 AM

387

Perioperative Nursing Data Set

Noon to 1 PM

386

Newer nurses

Noon to 1 PM

387

Research

4:45 to 6 PM

386

Urology

4:45 to 6 PM

387

Wednesday, April 5

Time

Room

Ophthalmology

7 to 7:45 AM

386

Women’s issues

7 to 7:45 AM

387

Multicultural nursing

Noon to 1 PM

386

Plasticlreconstructive surgery

Noon to 1 PM

381

Thursday, April 6

Time

Room

Alternative/complementary therapies 7 to 7:45 AM

386

Traveling nurses

7 to 7:45 AM

387

Trauma surgery

Noon to 1 PM

386

Office-based surgery

Noon to 1 PM

387

in a discussion about new trends. Traveling nurses. If you enjoy a variety of practice settings throughout the country, come and meet others who enjoy a nomadic lifestyle. Compare notes about how to adjust to a variety of resources and work cultures. Trauma surgery. Do you find yourself thriving on complex procedures that range from orthopedics to neurosurgery? Share your ideas for organizing personnel, equipment, and supplies for complex, multispecialty procedures. Office-based surgery. Are you feeling alone as you try to implement AORN standards in an officebased practice? Your inventory and personnel issues are unique when you do not have a large corporate structure to help with purchasing contracts and emergency back up. Discussions in this group will help provide resources and develop contacts who can be an asset to your practice long after Congress. A

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