IN FOCUS
INTERNATIONAL NURSING
Keeping a global perspective
An international summit at Congress 2010 is just one way AORN is enabling worldwide partnerships among perioperative professionals
By Ruth P. Shumaker, RN, BSN, CNOR
AORN International Relations Committee
Every day perioperative nurses around the world save lives and improve patient outcomes in a wide variety of practice settings. Collaborating with these nurses serves to improve perioperative nursing for each of us. In our efforts to continue strengthening worldwide partnerships with international colleagues, AORN is planning an international summit to be held prior to the association’s annual Congress in Denver next March.
International Summit
In the past, AORN has held a bi-annual world conference meeting with international perioperative nurses, but times are changing and now AORN’s annual Congress will become a stronger international event in order to consolidate our efforts to meet the needs of the global community at our yearly meeting.
At the 2010 Congress in Denver, an International Summit will be held March 13-14. Speakers will consist of both international and U.S. nurses. Educational topics will cover: workplace safety, smoke plume, harassment and bullying, surgical scrub and hand washing, sharps safety, risk of bloodborne pathogens, and collaboration from a global perspective. The summit will wrap up with a round table networking discussion of issues important to all perioperative nurses.
As part of these efforts, we are also fostering international relationships with the International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Perioperative Nurses and the World Health Organization in bringing patient safety initiatives to the world-wide stage. Registration information for the International Summit can be found by visiting aorncongress.org. Congress orientation for our international summit attendees will be conducted on Sunday, March 14.
Connecting at Congress
Attendees can also connect with international colleagues at Congress in other ways.
For example:
- International Colleagues will be wearing special ribbons identifying them, so you can introduce yourself and offer assistance if needed.
- Volunteer opportunities to offer an hour or two during Congress to greet international nurses in the registration area, escort them to a reserved seating area at opening session and serve as hosts are needed.
- The International Relations Committee is creating a directory of Congress attendees who are multilingual. To participate in the directory, send an e-mail to ksimkins@aorn.org that include languages you speak and if you are willing to assist the committee in helping international guests.
- The committee is also working with several local hospitals in the Denver area to arrange facility tours for our international guests.
Serving the global community
AORN has also been working in other ways throughout the year to foster and strengthen ties with international perioperative nurses.
As part of our international strategy, this year AORN entered into a collaborative relationship with Mercy Ships to bring our members’ attention to volunteer opportunities in a part of the world that lacks a healthcare infrastructure.” Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Earlier this year AORN President Patrick Voight, RN, BSN, MSA, CNOR made a visit to the Africa Mercy ship to learn more about the mission.
In his June President’s message about the mission in the AORN Journal, President Voight said, “The overall experience was one that I will never forget. I admire volunteers who gave up from two weeks to many years of their lives to provide health care to the world’s poorest.” Upon the completion of his presidency, President Voight has made the personal resolution to go back and volunteer on the ship.
On the home front
This year President Voight appointed a diverse group of members to lead AORN’s International Relations Committee. Composed of nurses from around the world, America, industry, liaisons from AORN’s board of directors and AORN staff consultants, the committee is continuing to build on AORN’s international work. The committee consists of international members from Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Chairing the committee is Mary Jo Steiert, RN, BSN, CNOR, past AORN president and secretary for the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN). Jane Reid, RGN,MSc,DPNS,PGCEA, President of the IFPN, also serves on the committee. Industry partners serving on the committee represent global companies.
Looking back
AORN has a long history of international collaboration, starting back in the early 1950s. By the end of the 1960s, there were annual exchange visits between the AORN president and the president of the United Kingdom’s National Association of Theatre Nurses (now the Association for Perioperative Practice) for their respective annual conferences.
A world conference of operating room nurses was first suggested by AORN’s 1976-1977 President Barba J. Edwards, RN, MA, who envisioned that someday OR nurses from all over the world would come together as colleagues. The first AORN World conference was held in the city of Manila, in the Phillippines, with 1,055 attendees. World Conference offered opportunities similar to AORN’s Congress, but on an international scale. AORN’s international involvement and commitment to world-wide partnerships has continuously emerged as a strong focus for AORN.
Speaking out
Through AORN publications, including AORN Journal, AORN has communicated increased cultural sensitivity and global perspectives. One of the main themes of these publications is that, although perioperative nurses around the world implement a variety of practices for unique individuals, we are caring for patients who have universal human needs for emotional support, safety, and education.
In 1999 the AORN board of directors voted to budget for one international trip per board member every two years. The experience of attending these meetings and learning about international nursing politics has proved to be invaluable for fostering board representatives with a global base of knowledge. These meetings also provide an excellent opportunity to increase the global recognition of AORN to participate in activities that strengthen perioperative nursing throughout the world. Today AORN remains committed to participating in international meetings.
Our commitment to the development of collaboration across countries will be reflected in the effort put forth to focus on being globally minded and dedicated to a world vision for nursing. Individually, nurses are committed to promoting the health of people, wherever they can. Using our united voices can effectively impact health on a global scale. If nurses come together this effort could indeed become a powerful force for the health of humanity.
Learn more
Read the “Global Perspectives” column in AORN Journal by visiting aorn.org/AORNJournal.
International Federation of Perioperative Nurses
International Council of Nurses
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