Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Congress officially opened
with lively ceremony
View a slideshow of photos from the event.
Attendees entered the Arena for Opening Session on Sunday to the lively strains of The Laryngospasms, a group of singing nurse anesthestists who transformed old favorites into anesthesia- and surgery-related parodies (Mr Sandman became Mr Gas Man and Breaking Up Is Hard to Do became Waking Up Is Hard to Do). The atmosphere took a more formal turn as President Mary Jo Steiert, RN, BSN, CNOR, led the opening procession of AORN dignitaries, volunteers, award winners, and association partners into the room and declared the 55th AORN Congress in session.
In lieu of an invocation, Norrie MacIlraith, RN, MS, CNS, a member of the Integrated Health Practices Specialty Assembly, led the group in a centering exercise. She invited attendees to breathe deeply and "feel the energy and light rising . . . from the very core of the earth" and to "bring the energy and light through our toes, our legs . . . and our heart." After the Blue Eagles Honor Guard from March Air Reserve Base presented the colors, Steiert's daughters Jessica and Megan sang the National Anthem.
Janette Gavin, RN, BSN, the Congress volunteer coordinator welcomed attendees to warm and "what I thought would be sunny" Southern California. She urged attendees to make the most of their free time by attending the Congress social events as well as exploring the attractions Anaheim has to offer. The Congress volunteers can be recognized by their bright blue shirts and are available to answer questions and help direct volunteers to their destinations.
President Steiert welcomed guests from the Nursing Alliance and representatives from the nursing organizations of other countries and international organizations. She then welcomed representatives of other surgical team members. Dr Gerald Healy, president of the American College of Surgeons; Jeffrey Beutler, chair of the Coucil on Surgical and Perioperative Safety; and James Harrison, President of the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses, brought greetings from their respective organizations.
American Nurses Association (ANA) President Becky Patton, RN, MSN, CNOR, received a standing ovation after announcing an exciting new partnership between AORN and the ANA. As of July 1, 2008, all AORN members will recieve individual, affiliate, non-voting status in the ANA. "Our profession is so fragmented," said Patton, "this partnership will ensure a strong voice on capital hill and in the state legislatures." The ANA membership will give AORN members access to ANA policy statements, public archives, and publications.
Robin Lazenby, RN, BSN, MS, CNOR, President of the Competency & Credentialing Institute recognized all the nurses with CNOR and CRNFA certifications. She announced that they are part of the largest group ever, with 31,000 CNORs and 1,300 CRNFAs.
CMDR Maureen Pennington, RN, MSN, CNOR, was recognized for having received the Minerva Award for excellence in service in the perioperative community and worldwide. In 2006, Pennington was the first nurse assigned to oversee a field hospital in Iraq, managing makeshift trauma units only minutes from the fighting.
Victorian Steelman, RN, PhD, CNOR, FAAN, winner of the Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing, spoke about herself as a 19-year old surgical technologist who "thought goals were what we were going to do on the weekend" until she heard the "best of the best" nurses at her facility talk about AORN meetings and Congress. They helped her decide to go back to school and gave her guidance and encouragement. Shortly, thereafter, she learned about perioperative nursing from a personal perspective when her mother underwent emergency surgery. She gave several examples of perioperative nurses who still inspire her today. These nurses had taken extraordinary measures to stop a sequence of events that could have resulted in severe patient harm. She ended by thanking the attendees "for letting me be one of you . . . and for letting me know I made the right [career] choice."
President Steiert next presented the Jerry G. Peers Distinguished Service Award to Vivian Watson, RN, CNOR, describing her as someone with a "spirit that embodies the true meaning of AORN." "When you have passion for something, it marks your life forever," said Watson. She said she had had the honor of meeting Jerry Peers and the experience made her want to do more.
President Steiert thanked her employer The Medical Center of Aurora and her team for their support of her activities during the past year. She also thanked her family members who were present in the audience.
The Laryngospasms retook the stage, and President Steiert surprised the highly entertained crowd by reappearing on stage in blue scrubs and dancing with the band to "Devil With the Blue Scrubs" on before leading the procession of Board members out of the Arena.