Clinical & RNFA Specialty Conference

New this year - choose from seven course selections per concurrent timeframe to customize your education to your specific needs!

CH = Contact Hour

* Red asterisk indicates speaker and/or title change since original print brochure.

DAY 1
SATURDAY, September 15

7:00 am - 8:00 am        Registration & Continental Breakfast with Sponsors

8:00 am - 8:15 am        Welcome & AORN Update

8:15 am - 9:15 am       General Session   1 CH
                                        Humor Jest for the Health of It
                                        Cheryl Nason, BS, MEd

Stress caused by overwork interferes with objectivity and clouds judgment. Humor, used judiciously, can help an individual maintain the perspective necessary for successful decision making and secure a degree of momentary calm. The role of humor, as a stress reducer, cannot be over-estimated given today's climate of healthcare calamity. Medical research studies support the assertion that humor, laughter, and play relax tense individuals, and that humor may be the ultimate weapon for combating stress and preventing burnout in the nursing professional. Additionally, research has proven that positive emotions such as hope, faith, love, and laughter have a positive effect on physical and mental health, as well as aiding in pain management. Laughter is not only good medicine, but it is also good business.

9:45 am - 11:15 am      Concurrent Sessions  1.5 CH

Session 5432
Hot Topic: SCIP - What it is and its Connections to DVTs
Mary Lynn Weemering, RN, MSN, CNOR
Hospitals are under tremendous pressure to demonstrate their commitment to quality improvement while still operating efficiently.  Research shows that a significant percentage of the nearly 30 milion operations performed in the US each year results in preventable, often life-threatening complications.  This presentation will focus on the meaning of SCIP and the relationship between SCIP and DVT/VTE.

Session 5433
Improving Patient Safety by Standardizing Hand-Off Communication
Gwen Klinkner, RN, MSN, CDE
Did you know that the Joint Commission found that the root cause of two-thirds of serious medical errors was related to ineffective communication? Standardizing how we communicate about patients in our fast-paced, chaotic environments is imperative if we are to improve patient safety. During this session you will learn about strategies and tools you can use to improve communication.

Session 5434
Building Morale Among Yourself and Co-Workers
Vivian Watson, RN, CNOR
This session will discuss factors that contirbute to low morale, roles of emploees and employers in contributing to low morale and effective strategies to enhance morale.

Session 5435
PNDS Café: Bringing it to the Staff Nurse
Joy Don Baker, RN, PhD, CNOR, CNAA
The PNDS is a unique collection of words that represents the concepts of perioperative nursing process, a patient focused model, allowing a myriad of methods for academic educators, managers, and staff development educators to collaborate to advance and enhance perioperative nursing. Collaborating to explore opportunities for student experiences in the perioperative settings, using the Medical Surgical curriculum and the Periop 101 course content.

Session 5436
Procedural Sedation
Cecil King, RN, MS, CNOR
This session will discuss the competency assessment of the RN who provides moderate sedation for procedures. The basic knowledge and skills necessary for the safe and effective administration of pharmacologic agents for moderate sedation/analgesia during operative and invasive procedures in the absence of an anesthesia provider. This session reviews key patient assessment factors, pharmacologic agents used, monitoring parameters and necessary equipment, and potential complications. Minimal core competencies and competency assessment tools will be discussed. In addition, an introduction and review of the revised CBPN Sedation/Analgesia Competency Assessment Module will be provided by the author.

Session 5437
Safety First: IV Conscious Sedation*
Bonnie, Clark, RN, MHA, CASC
The session is for nurses who will be involved with the giving of IV Conscious Sedation.  Safety has to come first.  Assessing good candidates is the first step. Patients matter.  Nurses matter, too.

RNFA Session 5438
Starting Your Own RNFA Practice
Marsha Nelson, RN, CNOR, CRNFA
Kathy Leslie, RN, CRNFA
This session will provide key tips as to how to set up your practice to ensure your success. Topics will include contracts with surgeons and hospitals, what you need to get started, hospital priveleges, billing and reimbursement.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm     Lunch on your own

12:15 pm - 1:45 pm      Concurrent Sessions  1.5 CH

Session 5439 (repeat)
PNDS Café: Bringing it to the Staff Nurse
Joy Don Baker, RN, PhD, CNOR, CNAA
The PNDS is a unique collection of words that represents the concepts of perioperative nursing process, a patient focused model, allowing a myriad of methods for academic educators, managers, and staff development educators to collaborate to advance and enhance perioperative nursing. Collaborating to explore opportunities for student experiences in the perioperative settings, using the Medical Surgical curriculum and the Periop 101 course content.

Session 5440
CS Education: Clinical Implications on Perioperative Care
Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL, CIS, IAHCSMM
As medical technology has advanced, so has the complexity of the instruments used in surgery. That increased sophistication, coupled with changing standards and regulations, has had a dramatic impact on the CS department. This program examines the impact of CS work quality and service on the OR and reviews educational options for enhancing
the skills and knowledge of CS technicians.

Session 5441
Session Cancelled

Session 5442
Deadly Caring: The Effects of Substance Abuse on Perioperative Care Givers *
Barbara Ezyk, RN, JD and Cecil King, RN, MS, CNOR
Dr. William S. Halsted, widely recognized as the father of modern surgery, had been addicted to morphine until the end of his life. 'Dr Bob' Smith, a surgeon and alcoholic, was the cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous. The American Nurses Association estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of nurses have substance abuse problems. Chemical dependency is a primary chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors that is often progressive and can be fatal.

Session 5443
2007 Patient Safety Potpourri
Kathleen Stoessel, RN, BSN, MS
Patient safety in the perioperative environment is a major concern for patients, healthcare providers and healthcare facilities alike.  Issues such as fire safety, wound contamination, surgical site infection {SSI}, wrong site surgery, pressure ulcers and unintentional hypothermia in surgical patients are a few of these concerns.  This educational program will focus on surgical site infection and pressure ulcers.  The impact of surgical site infection, risk factors associated with SSI and risk reduction strategies for SSI will be addressed.  Additionally the impact of surgical pressure ulcers, contributing factors for their development, and prevention strategies will be discussed.

Session 5444
Diversity and the Challenging Employee
Nanette Hamley-Hanauer, RN, BS, CNOR
Every operating room has some employees that just will not "play well with others." When you have a diverse workforce, the issues can be harder to overcome. Identifying and understanding the cultural and age differences is essential to bring about a solution. This presentation will give the nurse manager and staff alike strategies to deal with the challenging employee. This will include role playing, script development, and information about the cause of the "challenging employee."

RNFA Session 5445 (repeat)
Starting Your Own RNFA Practice
Marsha Nelson, RN, CNOR, CRNFA
Kathy Leslie, RN, CRNFA
This session will provide key tips as to how to set up your practice to ensure your success. Topics will include contracts with surgeons and hospitals, what you need to get started, hospital priveleges, billing and reimbursement.

1:55 pm - 3:25 pm        Concurrent Sessions  1.5 CH

Session 5446 (repeat)
Procedural Sedation
Cecil King, RN, MS, CNOR
This session will discuss the competency assessment of the RN who provides moderate sedation for procedures. The basic knowledge and skills necessary for the safe and effective administration of pharmacologic agents for moderate sedation/analgesia during operative and invasive procedures in the absence of an anesthesia provider. This session reviews key patient assessment factors, pharmacologic agents used, monitoring parameters and necessary equipment, and potential complications. Minimal core competencies and competency assessment tools will be discussed. In addition, an introduction and review of the revised CBPN Sedation/Analgesia Competency Assessment Module will be provided by the author.

Session 5447 (repeat)
Improving Patient Safety by Standardizing Hand Off Communication
Gwen Klinkner, RN, MSN, CNS, CDE
Did you know that the Joint Commission found that the root cause of two-thirds of serious medical errors was related to ineffective communication? Standardizing how we communicate about patients in our fast-paced, chaotic environments is imperative if we are to improve patient safety. During this session you will learn about strategies and tools you can use to improve communication.

Session 5448 (repeat)
CS Education: Clinical Implications on Perioperative Care
Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL, CIS, IAHCSMM
As medical technology has advanced, so has the complexity of the instruments used in surgery. That increased sophistication, coupled with changing standards and regulations, has had a dramatic impact on the CS department. This program examines the impact of CS work quality and service on the OR and reviews educational options for enhancing the skills and knowledge of CS technicians.

Session 5449 (repeat)
Building Morale Among Yourself & Co-workers
Vivian Watson, RN, CNOR
This session will discuss factors that contirbute to low morale, roles of emploees and employers in contributing to low morale and effective strategies to enhance morale.

Session 5450
Evidence Based Practice and the Link to Recommended Practices
Victoria Steelman, RN, PhD, CNOR
Evidence based practice is a process of decision-making based upon the best scientific evidence available. This process enhances the quality of patient care and credibility with other disciplines. This presentation will describe the process of evidence based practice and how it has been applied to the AORN Recommended Practices.

Session 5451 (repeat)
Diversity and the Challenging Employee
Nanette Hamley-Hanauer, RN, BS, CNOR
Every operating room has some employees that just will not "play well with others." When you have a diverse workforce, the issues can be harder to overcome. Identifying and understanding the cultural and age differences is essential to bring about a solution. This presentation will give the nurse manager and staff alike strategies to deal with the challenging employee. This will include role playing, script development, and information about the cause of the "challenging employee."

RNFA Session 5452
Eye Instrumentation Updates
Barbara Harmer, RN, BSN, MHA
This course will feature an update on TASS (Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome) and discuss the recent recommendations from the TASS taskforce. 

3:35 pm - 5:05 pm        Concurrent Sessions  1.5 CH

Session 5453 (repeat)
Deadly Caring: The Effects of Substance Abuse on Perioperative Care Givers *
Barbara Ezyk, RN, JD and Cecil King, RN, MS, CNOR
Dr. William S. Halsted, widely recognized as the father of modern surgery, had been addicted to morphine until the end of his life. 'Dr Bob' Smith, a surgeon and alcoholic, was the cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous. The American Nurses Association estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of nurses have substance abuse problems. Chemical dependency is a primary chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors that is often progressive and can be fatal.

Session 5454 (repeat)
Hot Topic: SCIP - What it is and its Connections to DVTs
Mary Lynn Weemering, RN, MSN, CNOR
Hospitals are under tremendous pressure to demonstrate their commitment to quality improvement while still operating efficiently.  Research shows that a significant percentage of the nearly 30 milion operations performed in the US each year results in preventable, often life-threatening complications.  This presentation will focus on the meaning of SCIP and the relationship between SCIP and DVT/VTE.

Session 5455 (repeat)
2007 Patient Safety Potpourri
Kathleen Stoessel, RN, BSN, MS
Patient safety in the perioperative environment is a major concern for patients, healthcare providers and healthcare facilities alike.  Issues such as fire safety, wound contamination, surgical site infection {SSI}, wrong site surgery, pressure ulcers and unintentional hypothermia in surgical patients are a few of these concerns.  This educational program will focus on surgical site infection and pressure ulcers.  The impact of surgical site infection, risk factors associated with SSI and risk reduction strategies for SSI will be addressed.  Additionally the impact of surgical pressure ulcers, contributing factors for their development, and prevention strategies will be discussed.

Session 5456
Safety First: IV Conscious Sedation*
Bonnie, Clark, RN, MHA, CASC
The session is for nurses who will be involved with the giving of IV Conscious Sedation.  Safety has to come first.  Assessing good candidates is the first step. Patients matter.  Nurses matter, too.

Session 5457
On Call: Alert or Unsafe *
Trudy Kenyon, RN, CNOR and Karen White, RN, MBA, CNOR
In 2005, AORN and its members decided to take a stand on issues related to safe work and on call practices. It was determined that "a change of culture is needed to recognize exhaustion as an unacceptable risk to patients and perioperative personnel safety."  A survey was conducted in 2006 by the On-Call electronic taskforce regarding the factors affecting call and creative staffing solutions to meet AORN's recommendations in both the Guidance and Position Statements on Safe Work / On Call practices. This session will address the results of the survey and the issues surrounding safe patient and work practices.

Session 5458
Patient Safety Update & Recommended Practice Implementation
Alice Comish, RN, BSN, CNOR
AORN’s Recommended Practices were developed as guidelines for achieving optimal patient care in the perioperative setting. All of these directly or indirectly promote patient safety and infection control.  This presentation identifies innovative strategies for implementing Recommended Practices in settings where operative and other invasive procedures are performed.  Management, education, and staff perspectives are explored.

Session 5473
Anti-Aging for the Perioperative Nurse*
Edward Dickerson, MD
Early morning hours, extending workdays due to surgeon underestimating OR time, and always caring for the others can lead to accelerated appearance of aging.  Now its time for you and someone else to take care of you.

5:20 pm - 6:30 pm        Evening Reception
                                           Network with your peers and conference speakers

DAY 2
SUNDAY, September 16

7:00 am - 8:00 am         Registration & Continental Breakfast, AORN Resource Exhibits

7:00 am - 8:00 am         Concurrent Networking Sessions*

Cardiothoracic
Federal Nurses
General
Integrated Health Practices
Minimally Invasive Sugery
Neurology
Orthopedic
Opthalmology
Pediatric
RN First Assistant

8:25 am - 9:55 am        Concurrent Sessions  1.5 CH

Session 5460
Clinical Updates: Tissue Banking
Victoria Steelman, RN, PhD, CNOR
The use of allograft tissue has increased dramatically over the past 15 years. In 2005, over 800,000 tissue transplantation procedures were performed to include use in spinal fusion, joint reconstruction, trauma, sports medicine, and dental applications. Musculoskeletal human tissue transplants have a long history of safe, effective clinical use. The FDA, AATB, JCAHO, and other governmental authorities regulate tissue banks in the USA. Tissue donors are screened and tested for hepatitis, HIV, and other infectious diseases. Tissues are recovered, processed, and preserved to maintain the tissue's natural characteristics using validated methods to ensure no contamination, cross-contamination occurs, and to assure patient safety.

Session 5461
AAMI Standards Update
Martha Young, BS, MS, CSPDT
This session will discuss the development of policies and procedures for nonimplant and implant loads, for routine sterilizer efficacy testing, for sterilizer qualification testing and for product testing.

Session 5462
Preoperative Readiness of the Diabetic Patient: Implications During Surgery
Gwen Klinkner, RN, MSN, CNS, CDE
The number of patients with diabetes is on the rise. How we care for these patients before, during, and after surgery has intensified in recent years in light of the evidence for tight glycemic control. This session reviews the evidence and discusses strategies to improve clinical outcomes for the surgical patient.

Session 5463
Advances in Neurosurgery: Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and its Role in Pediatric Neurosurgery
Jeanne Richards, RN and Christine E. Smith, RN, BSN, CNOR, CNA

Session 5464
Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting: Effects of Surgery
Linda Wilson, RN, PhD, CPAN, CAPA, BC

Session 5465
Bariatrics Basics*
Jo Wiggens, RN, MSN, ARNP
This course is designed to educate healthcare providers regarding the epidemic of obesity/morbid obesity; co-morbid conditions associated with obesity/morbid obesity; surgical interventions available to treat this disease; potential complications with the surgeries; and expected outcomes.

RNFA Session 5466
Hot Topic: RNFA Competencies *
Barbara Firlit, RN, BS, CNOR, CRNFA, Nikki Collier, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, and Byron Burlingame, RN, MSN, CNOR
This presentation will focus on the RNFA competencies, how they have been updated to include the PNDS language, and how they may be used by the RNFA education programs and facilities employing the RNFA.

9:55 am - 10:10 am       Break

10:10 am - 11:40 am     Concurrent Sessions  1.5 CH

Session 5467 (repeat)
Clinical Updates: Tissue Banking
Victoria Steelman, RN, PhD, CNOR
The use of allograft tissue has increased dramatically over the past 15 years. In 2005, over 800,000 tissue transplantation procedures were performed to include use in spinal fusion, joint reconstruction, trauma, sports medicine, and dental applications. Musculoskeletal human tissue transplants have a long history of safe, effective clinical use. The FDA, AATB, JCAHO, and other governmental authorities regulate tissue banks in the USA. Tissue donors are screened and tested for hepatitis, HIV, and other infectious diseases. Tissues are recovered, processed, and preserved to maintain the tissue's natural characteristics using validated methods to ensure no contamination, cross-contamination occurs, and to assure patient safety.

Session 5468 (repeat)
AAMI Standards Update
Martha Young, BS, MS, CSPDT
This session will discuss the development of policies and procedures for nonimplant and implant loads, for routine sterilizer efficacy testing, for sterilizer qualification testing and for product testing.

Session 5469
Recall-Cardiac Emergency Protocol: ACLS in the OR
Mary Renee Khalar, RN, BSN, MBA, CNOR
Patient safety in the perioperative setting includes the ability to remember emergency protocols during crisis situations. Cardiac arrest, whether from Ventricular Fibrillation/Ventricular Tachycardia, Asystole, or PEA are generally low volume in most OR’s. Due to the sporadic occurrence of these emergencies, it is often difficult to remember treatment protocols. This program uses an education technique, the Window Pane Learning Grid, which stimulates all forms of learning preferences. Using the “Grid” to review the emergency protocols will fuel staff members’ different learning preferences to increase retention and recall of the algorithms.

Session 5470
Malignant Hyperthermia Updates
Mary Asher, RN, MSN
Have you ever had to care for a patient having a Malignant Hyperthermia Crisis? The thought of this send shivers through all nurses working within surgery. Attending this session will help you develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage an MH crisis. Find out what your role is this extreme emergency situation is. Learn what triggers an MH crisis and the signs and symptoms of this metabolic syndrome. Become familiar with Dantrolene and how to mix this important medication. Learn how to be proactive in the situation instead of just being reactive and assist your patient in surviving this anesthesia emergency. Learn the latest on testing for this syndrome and develop your own “ABC’s” for managing an MH crisis.

Session 5471 (repeat)
Preoperative Readiness of the Diabetic Patient: Implications During Surgery
Gwen Klinkner, RN, MSN, CNS, CDE
The number of patients with diabetes is on the rise. How we care for these patients before, during, and after surgery has intensified in recent years in light of the evidence for tight glycemic control. This session reviews the evidence and discusses strategies to improve clinical outcomes for the surgical patient.

Session 5472 (repeat)
Advances in Neurosurgery: Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and its role in Pediatric Neurosurgery
Jeanne Richards, RN and Christine E. Smith, RN, BSN, CNOR, CNA

RNFA Session 5459 (repeat)
Eye Instrumentation Updates *
Barbara Harmer, RN, BSN, MHA
This course will feature an update on TASS (Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome) and discuss the recent recommendations from the TASS taskforce. 

11:40 am - 12:45 pm     Lunch on your own

12:45 pm - 2:15 pm      Concurrent Sessions  1.5 CH

Session 5474 (repeat)
Malignant Hyperthermia Updates
Mary Asher, RN, MSN
Have you ever had to care for a patient having a Malignant Hyperthermia Crisis? The thought of this send shivers through all nurses working within surgery. Attending this session will help you develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage an MH crisis. Find out what your role is this extreme emergency situation is. Learn what triggers an MH crisis and the signs and symptoms of this metabolic syndrome. Become familiar with Dantrolene and how to mix this important medication. Learn how to be proactive in the situation instead of just being reactive and assist your patient in surviving this anesthesia emergency. Learn the latest on testing for this syndrome and develop your own “ABC’s” for managing an MH crisis.

Session 5475 (repeat)
Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting: Effects of Surgery
Linda Wilson, RN, PhD, CPAN, CAPA, BC

Session 5476 (repeat)
Recall-Cardiac Emergency Protocol: ACLS in the OR
Mary Renee Khalar, RN, BSN, MBA, CNOR
Patient safety in the perioperative setting includes the ability to remember emergency protocols during crisis situations. Cardiac arrest, whether from Ventricular Fibrillation/Ventricular Tachycardia, Asystole, or PEA are generally low volume in most OR’s. Due to the sporadic occurrence of these emergencies, it is often difficult to remember treatment protocols. This program uses an education technique, the Window Pane Learning Grid, which stimulates all forms of learning preferences. Using the “Grid” to review the emergency protocols will fuel staff members’ different learning preferences to increase retention and recall of the algorithms.

Session 5477 (repeat)
Bariatrics Basics*
Jo Wiggens, RN, MSN, ARNP
This course is designed to educate healthcare providers regarding the epidemic of obesity/morbid obesity; co-morbid conditions associated with obesity/morbid obesity; surgical interventions available to treat this disease; potential complications with the surgeries; and expected outcomes.

Session 5478
OSHA Hot Topics*
Ron McGill

Session 5479 (repeat)
Perioperative Nursing for the Ambulatory Head/Neck and Facial Plastic Surgery Patient*
Edward Dickerson, MD
With little room to even watch the procedures and limited experience for many perioperative nurses this group of patients presents a unique challenge.  This informative session will focus on the topics unique to the Head/Neck (ENT) and Facial Plastic surgery patient.

RNFA Session 5480 (repeat)
Hot Topic: RNFA Competencies *
Barbara Firlit, RN, BS, CNOR, CRNFA, Nikki Collier, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, and Byron Burlingame, RN, MSN, CNOR
This presentation will focus on the RNFA competencies, how they have been updated to include the PNDS language, and how they may be used by the RNFA education programs and facilities employing the RNFA.

2:25 pm - 3:25 pm        Closing General Session  1 CH
                                          Empowering the Staff Nurse
                                          Vivian Watson, RN, CNOR
Values, beliefs and attitude are all essential ingredients to success.  Vivian Watson will discuss behaviors that enhance personal and professional growth as well as critical ingredients needed to achieve success.