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New York Institute and Post-Institute Reflections
NEW YORK INSTITUTE AND POST-INSTITUTE REFLECTIONS Joan Driscoll, R.N. If your chapter is planning or considering an Institute, don’t let the work involved discourage you. It can be done; and the pleasure you will derive from your efforts will more than compensate for your time and trouble. The first chairman of the National Committee on Education, Virginia Schwenderman, stated, “The purpose of an Institute is to provide the OR nurse with an opportunity for continued professional education and growth in order that she may provide adequate and safe nursing care for all patients undergoing surgery . . . ” The NCE was delegated the overall supervision of educational matters of concern to members of AORN. For several years the AORN of New York City requested permission of the Board to hold an NCE Institute. Permission was tabled because there was an urgent need for education programs in outlying regions. Permission for an Institute was finally granted for the Fall of 1967. Both the 1960 and 1965 national Congresses held in New York were successful, and true to form, the inimitable members of the New York City chapter decided to accept the challenge. Contacts with NCE chairman, Lois Harsen, were established, tentative plans were made, and a funding program outlined. Almost impossible deadlines heightened the challenge. Committee chairmen and members knew that for the next eight to ten weeks, they would need to devote their leisure time and energy exclusively to the Institute. The spirit and cooperation of everyone made a burdensome task into a labor of love, and the members worked together as a close knit group. Chapter committees hoped for good atten-
February 1968
dance and got it. A record 993 turned oiit. there were problems-some could not be accommodated at the hotel, others had to stand in small meeting rooms which were already jammed. The New York City chapter worked overtime in the public relations department. Despite inconveniences, the behavior of guests and members was superb. Publicity and promotion was extensive and invitations were sent to nurses in ten state regions while AORN Journal coverage moved nationally. It was indeed gratifying to note that a total of 17 states were represented including those from the far West. At the outset, the New York committee felt a need for group thinking and an advisory program planning committee was selected including Audrey Volker, Frances Reeser, Naomi Nisenson, Ellen Tully, Mary Johnston and Sheila McCabe. They agreed that a worthwhile program should contain several good, well known speakers who could present their material well. In addition, they agreed that good local talent needed to be utilized. Clinical sessions were well presented by staff nurses, instructors and head nurses, even if they never participated before. To have new, untried people participate encourages others for the future. Perfect, first rate performances are not nearly as important as encouraging members of the group to be part of the action. A nurse’s capabilities in this area can never be known until she has been given an opportunity to enact a demonstration which she performs during her working day for much more critical audiences. New faces, new speakers, new approaches are always a bird in hand at any meeting. Evaluation followed the N. Y. experience.
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NCE Regional Institute-round table discussions like this one were very popular. Here, Miss Ellen Tully leads the group in a discussion of Inservice Education.
Members submitted constructive critiques to the NCE committee with a determination to identify mistakes and obsolete directives in the manual, with the hope that future institutes would result in fewer problems and smoother sailing. As a last reflection, tribute must be paid to committee chairmen and advisors who performed their specific assignments and assisted others so well: Ruby Sanches, registration chairman, did an outstanding job of handling, collecting, addressing, stuffing and stamping 6,000 Institute invitations. Anne Sasse, registration co-chairman, took over in. vitation mailing and assisted in supervision of registration. Helen Nolan worked long and diligently at Roosevelt headquarters, collating packets, answering the telephone and maintaining diplomatic relations. Barbara Volpe, publicity and public relations chairman,
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contacted newspapers, press, radio and TV stations. Madeline Hanson, hospitality chairman, with the help of Martha Henry, Vendetta Green and others, did a fine job making signs, directing guests, escorting program participants, and conducting a fine luncheon. Marion Burch, monitorial chairman, directed traflic, props, regulated meetings and acted as housemother to student nurses. Chairman of the day, Frances Reeser, and Audrey Volker served as M.C.’s. Naomi Nisenson, Ellen Tully, Mary Johnston and Sheila McCabe were untiring in their assistance in program planning. Millie LeDuc, Joan Tickner, Rose Lefkowitz, Gwen Bevers, Jane Emory, Van Green, Fran Hadley, Catherine McGilzey and others worked behind the scenes to make the program a success. The hospitality provided by friends of the association will long be remembered.
AORN Journal
Miss Fran Hadley, R.N., standing far right, conducts a round table discussion on Fiberoptics at the N . Y . Institute.
M r . Charles Riall, director of professional relations, Davis and Geck, pins corsage on Barbara Volpe, publicity chairman, in honor o f her birthday.
Miss ] d i e E. Miale. Journal editor (second from left) conducts a workshop on Writing Skills.
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February 1968
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February 1968
dance and got it. A record 993 turned oiit. there were problems-some could not be accommodated at the hotel, others had to stand in small meeting rooms which were already jammed. The New York City chapter worked overtime in the public relations department. Despite inconveniences, the behavior of guests and members was superb. Publicity and promotion was extensive and invitations were sent to nurses in ten state regions while AORN Journal coverage moved nationally. It was indeed gratifying to note that a total of 17 states were represented including those from the far West. At the outset, the New York committee felt a need for group thinking and an advisory program planning committee was selected including Audrey Volker, Frances Reeser, Naomi Nisenson, Ellen Tully, Mary Johnston and Sheila McCabe. They agreed that a worthwhile program should contain several good, well known speakers who could present their material well. In addition, they agreed that good local talent needed to be utilized. Clinical sessions were well presented by staff nurses, instructors and head nurses, even if they never participated before. To have new, untried people participate encourages others for the future. Perfect, first rate performances are not nearly as important as encouraging members of the group to be part of the action. A nurse’s capabilities in this area can never be known until she has been given an opportunity to enact a demonstration which she performs during her working day for much more critical audiences. New faces, new speakers, new approaches are always a bird in hand at any meeting. Evaluation followed the N. Y. experience.
63
NCE Regional Institute-round table discussions like this one were very popular. Here, Miss Ellen Tully leads the group in a discussion of Inservice Education.
Members submitted constructive critiques to the NCE committee with a determination to identify mistakes and obsolete directives in the manual, with the hope that future institutes would result in fewer problems and smoother sailing. As a last reflection, tribute must be paid to committee chairmen and advisors who performed their specific assignments and assisted others so well: Ruby Sanches, registration chairman, did an outstanding job of handling, collecting, addressing, stuffing and stamping 6,000 Institute invitations. Anne Sasse, registration co-chairman, took over in. vitation mailing and assisted in supervision of registration. Helen Nolan worked long and diligently at Roosevelt headquarters, collating packets, answering the telephone and maintaining diplomatic relations. Barbara Volpe, publicity and public relations chairman,
64
contacted newspapers, press, radio and TV stations. Madeline Hanson, hospitality chairman, with the help of Martha Henry, Vendetta Green and others, did a fine job making signs, directing guests, escorting program participants, and conducting a fine luncheon. Marion Burch, monitorial chairman, directed traflic, props, regulated meetings and acted as housemother to student nurses. Chairman of the day, Frances Reeser, and Audrey Volker served as M.C.’s. Naomi Nisenson, Ellen Tully, Mary Johnston and Sheila McCabe were untiring in their assistance in program planning. Millie LeDuc, Joan Tickner, Rose Lefkowitz, Gwen Bevers, Jane Emory, Van Green, Fran Hadley, Catherine McGilzey and others worked behind the scenes to make the program a success. The hospitality provided by friends of the association will long be remembered.
AORN Journal
Miss Fran Hadley, R.N., standing far right, conducts a round table discussion on Fiberoptics at the N . Y . Institute.
M r . Charles Riall, director of professional relations, Davis and Geck, pins corsage on Barbara Volpe, publicity chairman, in honor o f her birthday.
Miss ] d i e E. Miale. Journal editor (second from left) conducts a workshop on Writing Skills.
c
February 1968
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