- Email: [email protected]
Rekindle the passion by taking advantage of opportunities to change
MARCH 1997, VOL 65, NO 3 PRESIDENT‘S MESSAGE
Rekindle the passion by taking advantage of oppoflunities to change
0
ne of the most exciting aspects of beiig your President this year has been the opportunity to visit chapters and talk with other perioperative nurses. I have seen AORN chapters and individual members in various stages of transition as they navigate the white waters of the health care revolution. Some chapters and members are in the first stage of changedenial-and are trying to conduct business as usual and minimize current realities (eg, chapters are attracting fewer members, health care consumers are demanding quality care that is delivered at affordable prices, reengineering is occurring in work settings). Many chapters and individual members, however, are engaging in nonstop two-way communication to offset ambiguity, counteract confusion, shift attitudes, and keep people on course during these turbulent times. I have seen some chapters and individual members in the second stage of change-resistance. I also have observed chapters and members moving past resistance by engaging in behaviors and activities that allow them to let go of the past, move into the present, and begin thinking about the future. Exploration is the next stage in the change process, and I have witnessed many AORN chapters and members who are asking questions such as “How can this change affect me in a positive way?’ “Do I need new skills for a new role or responsibility?” “Is my resume up to date?” They are
exploring alternatives and clarifying goals as their visions of the future begin to take shape. Many AORN chapters and members are demonstrating commitment to new courses of action. In this final stage of the change process, they are tapping into the energy inherent in the transfonnation of health care and taking advantage of opportunities to ride the waves, rekindle their passion for perioperative nursing, and lead the health care revolution. They are role models for all of us.
Perioperative partnerships. Perioperative nursing and AORN are alive and well in the 30-bed Sweeny (Tex) Community Hospital.The two staff members of the surgery department-Marie Breakiron, RN, CNOR, ONC, and Martha Brown, OR t e c h n i c i s represent the essential partnerships that exist between perioperative nurses and surgical technologists (STs) across this country. Our patients depend on the kind of partnerships that Breakiron and Brown have cultivated. During OR Nurse Week, they demonstrated surgical knot tying and instrument passing for high school students and hospital employees, exhibited posters that identified the roles of perioperative nurses and STs, distributed copies of the brochure You Need and Deserve a Perioperative Nurse, displayed Breakiron’s popular AORN Journal article, “A salute to the nurses of World War II,”’ and encouraged the students to consider perioperative nursing careers and to share the infonna496 AORN JOURNAL
tion with their parents.
Recruitment of nurses. Several chapters have adopted nontraditional approaches to LINDA K. GROAH recruiting new perioperative nurses. AORN of Southwest Louisiana developed a multiyear plan to raise $lO,O00 to endow a nursing scholarship at McNeese State University, Lake Charles, La. The chapter’s principal fundraising method has been an annual “Cutting Edge Duathlon,” which consists of a four-mile run and a 10-mile bicycle ride and generates publicity for the chapter and for penoperative nursing. Members of AORN of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Project Alpha committee were concerned that nursing students frequently spend one day observing surgery and leave without gaining a true picture of perioperative nursing. The committee members created an OR visitors’ handbook to assist students in gaining an understanding of and passion for perioperative nursing. Chapter members have distributed copies of the handbook to clinical nurse educators at hospitals, clinics, and schools of nursing in southeastern Wisconsin and have made themselves available to present seminars about the roles and responsibilities of perioperative nurses. Nursing students who receive the handbook are better prepared for
MARCH 1997, VOL 65, NO 3
research project. They created a their OR experiences, and they use the double doors of the OR by mock OR in a local shopping cenparticipating in the sixth annual this time to ask questions about ter and asked visitors to complete “Make A Difference Day,” which perioperative nursing in addition is sponsored by the Points of Light a questionnaire designed by the to observing surgery. chapter’s research committee Foundation. Members of AORN Public visibility. Several members. Each visitor who comof San Francisco & Marin sought AORN chapters have increased pleted the questionnaire received a a charity that would raise their perioperative nurses’ public visilong-term reminder of the event vision and help them see beyond bility by demonstrating the care what they do every day in the OR. (ie, a “You need and deserve a they provide to patients and comperioperative nurse” magnet). To They decided to support the munities. Members of AORN of fund this activity, the research Make-A-Wish Foundation, an Central Florida selected the topic committee applied for and of healthy living and hosted a pos- organization that grants wishes to itive parenting seminar for chapter terminally ill children. The chapter received an award from the AORN Chapter Small Grant Proplans to continue supporting this members and the public. They gram. Committee members plan to foundation as a demonstration of sent press releases to local newsshare the results of this project the caring connection between papers and invited ST students through an OR Nurse Week poster perioperative nurses and patients. from a technical college. The Members of AORN of Upstate display at the 1997 Congress and a response to these marketing techposter presentation at the 1997 New York formed a committee, niques was overwhelming: the Tucson Nurse Week conference. seminar reached maximum capac- which they call “The Volunteer They also hope to present the ity, and attendees requested copies Connection.” Each month, comresults in a research poster display mittee members identify one of the videotape presentation and at the 1998 AORN Congress. agency or charity in Rochester, inquired about the seminar For the past several years, NY,and they describe the agency planned for 1997. members of AORN of Greater and its specific needs in the chapMembers of AORN of South Cincinnati & Hamilton have creatter newsletter. At the chapter’s Palm Beach participated in the ed an OR Nurse Week display at monthly meetings, members conUnited Way “Adopt-A-Family” tribute money or articles requested the local natural history museum. project for the 1996 Christmas The media coverage generated by by the agency, and committee holidays. This project focused on families who had short-term needs members purchase additional sup- previous displays resulted in the chapter’s being invited to exhibit at plies and deliver them to the and were trying to “get back on the 1lth annual “All About Kids” agency. To date, the chapter has their feet.” Members contributed convention. More than 4,000 peofunds to purchase gifts and Christ- helped a homeless shelter, a resiple walked through the field OR of dent home for pregnant and postmas dinners for the chapter’s the chapter’smobile army surgical partum women, an adult care adopted family. According to community, and a hospice agency. hospital unit, which received the Chapter President Debra A. “best of show” award. Many chilTwo chapters used OR Nurse Proulx, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, dren and parents expressed interest Week to share information about involvement in this project helped in perioperative nursing careers perioperative nursing with their chapter members reflect on how after viewing the exhibit, and a communities. Members of AORN fortunate they are to be nurses, local school teacher videotaped the and it unified them as giving nurs- of Fort Wayne blitzed the media exhibit activities to use with school with information about perioperaes who care for and about other staff members. tive nursing during OR Nurse people. “It’s nice to know there AORN of Greater Canton Week and distributed personalare such kind, generous people in sponsored a float in the Profesized, ribbon-festooned AORN this world,” the adopted family sional Football Hall of Fame festimembership applications to peristated. “Your generous gifts val grand parade. The theme of operative nurses who had not changed what would have been a the float was “Heroes Behind the joined the Association. Members very sad time to a wonderful Mask,” and it portrayed a football of AORN of Southern Arizona Christmas.” player being injured, undergoing Two AORN chapters extended conducted a simultaneous public an arthroscopy procedure, and information campaign and their “scopes of practice” beyond 498 AORN JOURNAL
MARCH 1997, VOL 65, NO 3
returning to the sport with the support of penoperative nurses. Creating the float renewed members’ commitment to the chapter and its activities and increased their visibility in the community. Member recruitment. Several chapters have taken proactive steps to reverse the trends of diminished resources, decreased membership, and fewer people available to do the work. To reenergize its members, AORN of The Palm Beaches Florida have participated in community events and reorganized chapter meetings. By moving chapter meetings to one central, accessible location and offering free continuing education sessions on Saturday mornings, membership and attendance at chapter meetings have increased significantly. The chapter leaders attribute this success to members being able to choose how and when they can be involved in chapter activities. AORN of Bluegrass Central Kentucky kicked off its September 1996 membership drive by offering a complimentary buffet dinner before the chapter meeting and free chapter dues for one year to nurses who joined AORN that evening. The chapter’s membership committee also sends reminder cards to nurses whose memberships are due to expire and continually recruits new members. AORN of East Tennessee set a goal of recruiting 25 new members for the 1996-1997 chapter year. At its September 1996 meeting, the chapter held a drawing and gave away nine one-year free AORN memberships to nurses who never had belonged to the Association. The chapter recruited an additional 18 new members in 1996 through other creative activities and now is working to entice younger nurses to join AORN.
Chapter reengineering. AORN of Greater Houston reengineered its chapter to improve the use of its resources. It reduced the number of chapter committees from 13 to eight, revamped its delegate selection process, and changed the
We can rekindle our passion by expanding our roles and making commitments to new courses of action. way it elects officers. When the chapter’s president-elect resigned, chapter members approved the appointment of two past presidents to serve as copresidents. AORN of Greater Houston invited AORN of Brazos Bend, AORN of North Harris-Montgomery County, and AORN of The Bay Area of Texas to discuss possible collaborative efforts, and this discussion led to the formation of the Houston Quadraplex. Each chapter maintains its individual identity, but they hold collaborative workshops with each chapter sharing the workload and resources. The Houston Quadraplex plans to collaborate on resolving clinical issues, sponsoring programs, conducting research, developing OR training programs, creating a website, publishing a newsletter, and standardizing perioperative competencies. Members of AORN of Greater Houston have embraced these reengineering changes and collab499 AORN JOURNAL
orative efforts, and members of the other three chapters are equally enthusiastic about the potential of the Quadraplex . Political activity. Members of AORN of Central Arkansas have established effective communications with their state nurses association to work on general and legislative issues that concern all nurses in Arkansas. Members of the chapter’s legislative committee agreed to join the Arkansas Nurses Association, and, as a result of their collective action, a bill that would have registered STs was defeated. Two chapter members have been invited to speak at the state nurses association meeting, one chapter member gave a speech about penoperative nursing at the state nursing student association meeting, and a district president of the state nurses association now attends the AORN of Central Arkansas chapter meetings. CONCLUSION AORN chapter members and perioperative nurses in many facilities are rekindling their passion for perioperative nursing by expanding their roles to encompass case management and patient and family member education and by using patient-focused care concepts to restructure the care provided in surgical suites. They are demonstrating commitment to new courses of action and are taking advantage of opportunities to ride the waves of change. These are the heroes of perioperative nursing. They are our role models. The torches of their rekindled passion bum brightly. LINDA K. GROAH RN, MS, CNOR, CNAA PRESIDENT NOTE 1. M Breakiron, “A salute to the nurses of World War D,” AORNJournal62 (November 1995) 7 10-721.
Rekindle the passion by taking advantage of oppoflunities to change
0
ne of the most exciting aspects of beiig your President this year has been the opportunity to visit chapters and talk with other perioperative nurses. I have seen AORN chapters and individual members in various stages of transition as they navigate the white waters of the health care revolution. Some chapters and members are in the first stage of changedenial-and are trying to conduct business as usual and minimize current realities (eg, chapters are attracting fewer members, health care consumers are demanding quality care that is delivered at affordable prices, reengineering is occurring in work settings). Many chapters and individual members, however, are engaging in nonstop two-way communication to offset ambiguity, counteract confusion, shift attitudes, and keep people on course during these turbulent times. I have seen some chapters and individual members in the second stage of change-resistance. I also have observed chapters and members moving past resistance by engaging in behaviors and activities that allow them to let go of the past, move into the present, and begin thinking about the future. Exploration is the next stage in the change process, and I have witnessed many AORN chapters and members who are asking questions such as “How can this change affect me in a positive way?’ “Do I need new skills for a new role or responsibility?” “Is my resume up to date?” They are
exploring alternatives and clarifying goals as their visions of the future begin to take shape. Many AORN chapters and members are demonstrating commitment to new courses of action. In this final stage of the change process, they are tapping into the energy inherent in the transfonnation of health care and taking advantage of opportunities to ride the waves, rekindle their passion for perioperative nursing, and lead the health care revolution. They are role models for all of us.
Perioperative partnerships. Perioperative nursing and AORN are alive and well in the 30-bed Sweeny (Tex) Community Hospital.The two staff members of the surgery department-Marie Breakiron, RN, CNOR, ONC, and Martha Brown, OR t e c h n i c i s represent the essential partnerships that exist between perioperative nurses and surgical technologists (STs) across this country. Our patients depend on the kind of partnerships that Breakiron and Brown have cultivated. During OR Nurse Week, they demonstrated surgical knot tying and instrument passing for high school students and hospital employees, exhibited posters that identified the roles of perioperative nurses and STs, distributed copies of the brochure You Need and Deserve a Perioperative Nurse, displayed Breakiron’s popular AORN Journal article, “A salute to the nurses of World War II,”’ and encouraged the students to consider perioperative nursing careers and to share the infonna496 AORN JOURNAL
tion with their parents.
Recruitment of nurses. Several chapters have adopted nontraditional approaches to LINDA K. GROAH recruiting new perioperative nurses. AORN of Southwest Louisiana developed a multiyear plan to raise $lO,O00 to endow a nursing scholarship at McNeese State University, Lake Charles, La. The chapter’s principal fundraising method has been an annual “Cutting Edge Duathlon,” which consists of a four-mile run and a 10-mile bicycle ride and generates publicity for the chapter and for penoperative nursing. Members of AORN of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Project Alpha committee were concerned that nursing students frequently spend one day observing surgery and leave without gaining a true picture of perioperative nursing. The committee members created an OR visitors’ handbook to assist students in gaining an understanding of and passion for perioperative nursing. Chapter members have distributed copies of the handbook to clinical nurse educators at hospitals, clinics, and schools of nursing in southeastern Wisconsin and have made themselves available to present seminars about the roles and responsibilities of perioperative nurses. Nursing students who receive the handbook are better prepared for
MARCH 1997, VOL 65, NO 3
research project. They created a their OR experiences, and they use the double doors of the OR by mock OR in a local shopping cenparticipating in the sixth annual this time to ask questions about ter and asked visitors to complete “Make A Difference Day,” which perioperative nursing in addition is sponsored by the Points of Light a questionnaire designed by the to observing surgery. chapter’s research committee Foundation. Members of AORN Public visibility. Several members. Each visitor who comof San Francisco & Marin sought AORN chapters have increased pleted the questionnaire received a a charity that would raise their perioperative nurses’ public visilong-term reminder of the event vision and help them see beyond bility by demonstrating the care what they do every day in the OR. (ie, a “You need and deserve a they provide to patients and comperioperative nurse” magnet). To They decided to support the munities. Members of AORN of fund this activity, the research Make-A-Wish Foundation, an Central Florida selected the topic committee applied for and of healthy living and hosted a pos- organization that grants wishes to itive parenting seminar for chapter terminally ill children. The chapter received an award from the AORN Chapter Small Grant Proplans to continue supporting this members and the public. They gram. Committee members plan to foundation as a demonstration of sent press releases to local newsshare the results of this project the caring connection between papers and invited ST students through an OR Nurse Week poster perioperative nurses and patients. from a technical college. The Members of AORN of Upstate display at the 1997 Congress and a response to these marketing techposter presentation at the 1997 New York formed a committee, niques was overwhelming: the Tucson Nurse Week conference. seminar reached maximum capac- which they call “The Volunteer They also hope to present the ity, and attendees requested copies Connection.” Each month, comresults in a research poster display mittee members identify one of the videotape presentation and at the 1998 AORN Congress. agency or charity in Rochester, inquired about the seminar For the past several years, NY,and they describe the agency planned for 1997. members of AORN of Greater and its specific needs in the chapMembers of AORN of South Cincinnati & Hamilton have creatter newsletter. At the chapter’s Palm Beach participated in the ed an OR Nurse Week display at monthly meetings, members conUnited Way “Adopt-A-Family” tribute money or articles requested the local natural history museum. project for the 1996 Christmas The media coverage generated by by the agency, and committee holidays. This project focused on families who had short-term needs members purchase additional sup- previous displays resulted in the chapter’s being invited to exhibit at plies and deliver them to the and were trying to “get back on the 1lth annual “All About Kids” agency. To date, the chapter has their feet.” Members contributed convention. More than 4,000 peofunds to purchase gifts and Christ- helped a homeless shelter, a resiple walked through the field OR of dent home for pregnant and postmas dinners for the chapter’s the chapter’smobile army surgical partum women, an adult care adopted family. According to community, and a hospice agency. hospital unit, which received the Chapter President Debra A. “best of show” award. Many chilTwo chapters used OR Nurse Proulx, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, dren and parents expressed interest Week to share information about involvement in this project helped in perioperative nursing careers perioperative nursing with their chapter members reflect on how after viewing the exhibit, and a communities. Members of AORN fortunate they are to be nurses, local school teacher videotaped the and it unified them as giving nurs- of Fort Wayne blitzed the media exhibit activities to use with school with information about perioperaes who care for and about other staff members. tive nursing during OR Nurse people. “It’s nice to know there AORN of Greater Canton Week and distributed personalare such kind, generous people in sponsored a float in the Profesized, ribbon-festooned AORN this world,” the adopted family sional Football Hall of Fame festimembership applications to peristated. “Your generous gifts val grand parade. The theme of operative nurses who had not changed what would have been a the float was “Heroes Behind the joined the Association. Members very sad time to a wonderful Mask,” and it portrayed a football of AORN of Southern Arizona Christmas.” player being injured, undergoing Two AORN chapters extended conducted a simultaneous public an arthroscopy procedure, and information campaign and their “scopes of practice” beyond 498 AORN JOURNAL
MARCH 1997, VOL 65, NO 3
returning to the sport with the support of penoperative nurses. Creating the float renewed members’ commitment to the chapter and its activities and increased their visibility in the community. Member recruitment. Several chapters have taken proactive steps to reverse the trends of diminished resources, decreased membership, and fewer people available to do the work. To reenergize its members, AORN of The Palm Beaches Florida have participated in community events and reorganized chapter meetings. By moving chapter meetings to one central, accessible location and offering free continuing education sessions on Saturday mornings, membership and attendance at chapter meetings have increased significantly. The chapter leaders attribute this success to members being able to choose how and when they can be involved in chapter activities. AORN of Bluegrass Central Kentucky kicked off its September 1996 membership drive by offering a complimentary buffet dinner before the chapter meeting and free chapter dues for one year to nurses who joined AORN that evening. The chapter’s membership committee also sends reminder cards to nurses whose memberships are due to expire and continually recruits new members. AORN of East Tennessee set a goal of recruiting 25 new members for the 1996-1997 chapter year. At its September 1996 meeting, the chapter held a drawing and gave away nine one-year free AORN memberships to nurses who never had belonged to the Association. The chapter recruited an additional 18 new members in 1996 through other creative activities and now is working to entice younger nurses to join AORN.
Chapter reengineering. AORN of Greater Houston reengineered its chapter to improve the use of its resources. It reduced the number of chapter committees from 13 to eight, revamped its delegate selection process, and changed the
We can rekindle our passion by expanding our roles and making commitments to new courses of action. way it elects officers. When the chapter’s president-elect resigned, chapter members approved the appointment of two past presidents to serve as copresidents. AORN of Greater Houston invited AORN of Brazos Bend, AORN of North Harris-Montgomery County, and AORN of The Bay Area of Texas to discuss possible collaborative efforts, and this discussion led to the formation of the Houston Quadraplex. Each chapter maintains its individual identity, but they hold collaborative workshops with each chapter sharing the workload and resources. The Houston Quadraplex plans to collaborate on resolving clinical issues, sponsoring programs, conducting research, developing OR training programs, creating a website, publishing a newsletter, and standardizing perioperative competencies. Members of AORN of Greater Houston have embraced these reengineering changes and collab499 AORN JOURNAL
orative efforts, and members of the other three chapters are equally enthusiastic about the potential of the Quadraplex . Political activity. Members of AORN of Central Arkansas have established effective communications with their state nurses association to work on general and legislative issues that concern all nurses in Arkansas. Members of the chapter’s legislative committee agreed to join the Arkansas Nurses Association, and, as a result of their collective action, a bill that would have registered STs was defeated. Two chapter members have been invited to speak at the state nurses association meeting, one chapter member gave a speech about penoperative nursing at the state nursing student association meeting, and a district president of the state nurses association now attends the AORN of Central Arkansas chapter meetings. CONCLUSION AORN chapter members and perioperative nurses in many facilities are rekindling their passion for perioperative nursing by expanding their roles to encompass case management and patient and family member education and by using patient-focused care concepts to restructure the care provided in surgical suites. They are demonstrating commitment to new courses of action and are taking advantage of opportunities to ride the waves of change. These are the heroes of perioperative nursing. They are our role models. The torches of their rekindled passion bum brightly. LINDA K. GROAH RN, MS, CNOR, CNAA PRESIDENT NOTE 1. M Breakiron, “A salute to the nurses of World War D,” AORNJournal62 (November 1995) 7 10-721.