FROM HEADQUARTERS
Get connected with OR Nurse LinkBy Matt Gunn
News Editor/Writer
Connection. Conversations. Collaboration.
OR Nurse Link is the new social network AORN is launching to bring together all of these attributes and more. Separate, but connected to the association’s main Web site – AORN.org – OR Nurse Link will add a new dimension to membership through its functionality. Members will be able to access OR Nurse Link through the AORN homepage, or by visiting ORNurseLink.org.
The new network will replace AORN’s older Communities of Practice and Member Talk, bringing various aspects of each into a cleanly-designed and more user-friendly interface.
“I think that it’s going to be exciting,” said Ginger Makela-Riker, AORN online community specialist. “The current platforms are so dated, and I think (OR Nurse Link) is bringing current technology in a way that’s useful to all of our members.”
Using their current AORN.org login credentials, members will be able to access OR Nurse Link, a platform that is similar to popular social networks, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, but is tailored specifically for perioperative professionals.
Among the various features will be personal profiles, the ability to write and comment on blogs, specialty assembly pages and more. OR Nurse Link will encourage members to build an interest-based network of friends and colleagues, to share information across the network and participate in common interest communities.
“The community’s going to be much more self-directed,” Makela-Riker said.
Additionally, members will have one place that incorporates MemberTalk, the Communities of Practice, their individual chapters, specialty assemblies, committees, state councils and even be able to receive updates from AORN News.
Bringing what was formerly a disparate network of interests and specialties under the single OR Nurse Link network has potential to increase communication among members as well.
“There’s been a lot of excitement around OR Nurse Link’s messaging functions – being able to message groups such as chapters efficiently without having to use email,” Makela-Riker said.
Beyond participation in groups, message boards and blogs, members will be able to share documents and search both OR Nurse Link and AORN.org.
Makela-Riker said the network is on schedule for a soft launch in early September, with initial access going to chapter leaders, specialty assembly leaders and others. OR Nurse Link will be widely available by October.
Here’s a look at some of the features to expect when you first log on to OR Nurse Link:
Customized profile page
Immediately from initial log on, members will access their personal profile page. From here members can customize their photo and information and access the various features within OR Nurse Link, such as MemberTalk, specialty assemblies, chapter pages, AORN News, blogs, special interest discussions and colleagues’ profiles.
MemberTalk
The functions of MemberTalk remain the same, but with threaded discussions now living within OR Nurse Link. Members can get email summaries of discussions, participate in open discussions and respond quickly and efficiently within OR Nurse Link.
Groups
The groups function allows members to form or join various groups based on interests. Groups can either be open to join or require permission to access from an administrator. Groups will have the ability to create event calendars, develop resource centers for information and share documents.
Resource Center
A repository of relevant information to AORN members. The resource center will feature a search function, the ability to access public and private documents depending on permissions and document version tracking.
Blogs
Blogs, or Web logs, are the Internet equivalent of a personal journal. Members will be able to write their own accounts on events, career advice or life in general.
Read more news in AORN Connections.