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President pledges AORN growth
President pledges AORN growth
I am pleased to accept this gavel symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, symbolizing a renewal as well as change. I accept it with the same foresight and dedication set forth by my predecessors over the past quarter of a century. The organization is different now. We have grown and expanded, but remained flexible with age in order to move in any direction we choose. And yet the same basic beliefs of our founders are prevalent today. We cannot forget the heritage of our Association any more than that of our country. I look to build upon the foundation of our past achievements with vigor and vitality, and let everyone understand, whether friend or foe, member or nonmember, that I will not permit the undoing of our philosophy and objectives to which this organization has always been committed and to which we are even more committed today. Let everyone understand whether they wish us well or ill that we will meet our hardships, that we will bear our burdens, that we will support our friends, and that we will oppose our foes to assure the survival of our profession and the success of the Association of Operating Room Nurses. This, fellow members and friends, is my solemn pledge.
Barba J Edwards, AORN president, presented this acceptance speech at the closing session of the 23rd annual Congress in Miami Beach.
1030
To those concerned with membership growth, I share that concern and pledge to seek active recruitment and exposure to attract new members and activate old members. There is strength in numbers and strength is needed in these changing times. To the educational endeavors, both the foundation and unifying force of this Association, I pledge my word that they will remain top priority as today's society demands we keep learning or face the threat of professional deterioration. To our editorial arm, I pledge the support to a continuous upgrading of the Journal, serving to "spread the word" to our membership and abolish any lack of communication concerning the Association's policies, procedures, statements, and other information relative to our specialty and profession. Ignorance of any one member within this Association impairs the security of us all. To those within the Federation of Nursing Specialty Organizations and ANA, whose basic purpose we share, I pledge the loyalty of friendship, to convert our good words into good deeds in alliance for progress towards the ultimate goal of delivering better health care to the people. But let it be known that we will oppose any acts that would negate the professional stature of this Association. To our counterparts in foreign lands, I pledge my best efforts to work closer with them, to promote a freer exchange of ideas, and to investigate the feasibility of a world meeting of theatre nurses and operating room nurses.
AORN Journal, May 1976, V o l 2 3 , No 6
To our colleagues in the American College of Surgeons, the American Association of Anesthesiologists, the American Hospital Association, and the American Medical Association, our best hope in an effort to fulfill our extended role, I renew a pledge of support and seek detente. Let each organization explore what problems unite us rather than belabor those problems that divide us. Let each professional, nurse, physician, and administrator, seek to involve the other in formulating new proposals relative to patient care. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our views, but we shall always expect to find them supporting our goals. United there is little we cannot do in a number of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do to assure quality patient care. And in meeting power challenges such as National Health Insurance legislation, the malpractice dilemma, unionization, and third-paw-payer battles, we could be split assunder. Lastly, to those of you concerned with our legislative activity, or the lack of, I offer a special pledge: the assurance that the AORN Legislative Committee's efforts will be increased to inform us of any relative leyislation on all levels, which is necessary for an informed judgment in our activities. In your hands, more than in mine, my fellow members, will rest the success or' failure of these pledges. I thank you for the many opportunities you have given me for service to AORN and trust that you will find my service in the coming year as worthy; that together we will be strong in our faith and reach these goals. So let us begin anew, and go forth to lead AORN, asking blessings, and knowing that here on earth God's work is truly our own.
Barba J Edwards, RN, MA President
Nurslng favored by veterans Some 25,000 military veterans have been placed in civilian health jobs or training by Operation MEDIHC, Military Experience Directed Into Health Careers. Begun in 1970, it is a cooperative federal-state program to assure that health-skilled military veterans would be utilized in civilian health jobs. Of the total placements, 16,000 entered health jobs, mostly in the allied health and nursing field, and 9,000 entered health education programs. California leads all states in MEDIHC placements with 2,797 and is followed by Texas 2,251 ; New York 1,694; Ohio 1,672; Illinois 1,399; Pennsylvania 1,202; Massachusetts 1,072; Indiana 954; Oklahoma 800; and Colorado 697. New Mexico has placed the highest proportion of its available applicants, 92%. Ranked behind it are: Missouri, 82%; District of Columbia, 81%; Illinois and Kentucky, 78%; Ohio and Nebraska, 74%; Pennsylvania and West Virginia, 71%; and South Carolina and Texas, 70%. Nine of every 10 persons placed were former enlisted men. Two-thirds were in their twenties and 70"/0 had only one tour of military duty. Half had one or more years of college education. The occupation selected by the largest number of those placed in jobs was nursing assistant-aide, 14.2%. Other occupations in which a substantial number were placed were: medical corpsman, 4.9%; medical laboratory technician, 4%; surgical technician, 3.8%; emergency medical technician, 3.5%; licensed practical nurse, 2.9%; radiologic technician, 2.7%; physician assistant, 2.7%; respiratory therapist, 2.5%; medical laboratory technologist, 2%. Fields chosen by those placed in training ranked as follows: registered nursing, 12.2%; premedicine, 8.1%; physician assisting, 5%; radiologic technology, 3.8%; licensed practical nursing, 3.7%; medical laboratory technology, 3.5%; respiratory therapy, 3.4%; psychology, 2.8%; predentistry, 2.7%; and physical therapy, 1.7%.
AORN Journal, May 1976, Vol23, No 6
1031
I am pleased to accept this gavel symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, symbolizing a renewal as well as change. I accept it with the same foresight and dedication set forth by my predecessors over the past quarter of a century. The organization is different now. We have grown and expanded, but remained flexible with age in order to move in any direction we choose. And yet the same basic beliefs of our founders are prevalent today. We cannot forget the heritage of our Association any more than that of our country. I look to build upon the foundation of our past achievements with vigor and vitality, and let everyone understand, whether friend or foe, member or nonmember, that I will not permit the undoing of our philosophy and objectives to which this organization has always been committed and to which we are even more committed today. Let everyone understand whether they wish us well or ill that we will meet our hardships, that we will bear our burdens, that we will support our friends, and that we will oppose our foes to assure the survival of our profession and the success of the Association of Operating Room Nurses. This, fellow members and friends, is my solemn pledge.
Barba J Edwards, AORN president, presented this acceptance speech at the closing session of the 23rd annual Congress in Miami Beach.
1030
To those concerned with membership growth, I share that concern and pledge to seek active recruitment and exposure to attract new members and activate old members. There is strength in numbers and strength is needed in these changing times. To the educational endeavors, both the foundation and unifying force of this Association, I pledge my word that they will remain top priority as today's society demands we keep learning or face the threat of professional deterioration. To our editorial arm, I pledge the support to a continuous upgrading of the Journal, serving to "spread the word" to our membership and abolish any lack of communication concerning the Association's policies, procedures, statements, and other information relative to our specialty and profession. Ignorance of any one member within this Association impairs the security of us all. To those within the Federation of Nursing Specialty Organizations and ANA, whose basic purpose we share, I pledge the loyalty of friendship, to convert our good words into good deeds in alliance for progress towards the ultimate goal of delivering better health care to the people. But let it be known that we will oppose any acts that would negate the professional stature of this Association. To our counterparts in foreign lands, I pledge my best efforts to work closer with them, to promote a freer exchange of ideas, and to investigate the feasibility of a world meeting of theatre nurses and operating room nurses.
AORN Journal, May 1976, V o l 2 3 , No 6
To our colleagues in the American College of Surgeons, the American Association of Anesthesiologists, the American Hospital Association, and the American Medical Association, our best hope in an effort to fulfill our extended role, I renew a pledge of support and seek detente. Let each organization explore what problems unite us rather than belabor those problems that divide us. Let each professional, nurse, physician, and administrator, seek to involve the other in formulating new proposals relative to patient care. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our views, but we shall always expect to find them supporting our goals. United there is little we cannot do in a number of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do to assure quality patient care. And in meeting power challenges such as National Health Insurance legislation, the malpractice dilemma, unionization, and third-paw-payer battles, we could be split assunder. Lastly, to those of you concerned with our legislative activity, or the lack of, I offer a special pledge: the assurance that the AORN Legislative Committee's efforts will be increased to inform us of any relative leyislation on all levels, which is necessary for an informed judgment in our activities. In your hands, more than in mine, my fellow members, will rest the success or' failure of these pledges. I thank you for the many opportunities you have given me for service to AORN and trust that you will find my service in the coming year as worthy; that together we will be strong in our faith and reach these goals. So let us begin anew, and go forth to lead AORN, asking blessings, and knowing that here on earth God's work is truly our own.
Barba J Edwards, RN, MA President
Nurslng favored by veterans Some 25,000 military veterans have been placed in civilian health jobs or training by Operation MEDIHC, Military Experience Directed Into Health Careers. Begun in 1970, it is a cooperative federal-state program to assure that health-skilled military veterans would be utilized in civilian health jobs. Of the total placements, 16,000 entered health jobs, mostly in the allied health and nursing field, and 9,000 entered health education programs. California leads all states in MEDIHC placements with 2,797 and is followed by Texas 2,251 ; New York 1,694; Ohio 1,672; Illinois 1,399; Pennsylvania 1,202; Massachusetts 1,072; Indiana 954; Oklahoma 800; and Colorado 697. New Mexico has placed the highest proportion of its available applicants, 92%. Ranked behind it are: Missouri, 82%; District of Columbia, 81%; Illinois and Kentucky, 78%; Ohio and Nebraska, 74%; Pennsylvania and West Virginia, 71%; and South Carolina and Texas, 70%. Nine of every 10 persons placed were former enlisted men. Two-thirds were in their twenties and 70"/0 had only one tour of military duty. Half had one or more years of college education. The occupation selected by the largest number of those placed in jobs was nursing assistant-aide, 14.2%. Other occupations in which a substantial number were placed were: medical corpsman, 4.9%; medical laboratory technician, 4%; surgical technician, 3.8%; emergency medical technician, 3.5%; licensed practical nurse, 2.9%; radiologic technician, 2.7%; physician assistant, 2.7%; respiratory therapist, 2.5%; medical laboratory technologist, 2%. Fields chosen by those placed in training ranked as follows: registered nursing, 12.2%; premedicine, 8.1%; physician assisting, 5%; radiologic technology, 3.8%; licensed practical nursing, 3.7%; medical laboratory technology, 3.5%; respiratory therapy, 3.4%; psychology, 2.8%; predentistry, 2.7%; and physical therapy, 1.7%.
AORN Journal, May 1976, Vol23, No 6
1031