Bring On 2023: Chapters Share New Year's Resolutions

As the new year brings new opportunities to advance periop practice, chapter leaders are making plans for in-person engagements in 2023 after the pandemic forced many local periop nurses to gather virtually – or not at all.

For many, New Year’s is synonymous with resolutions. We asked chapter leaders what tops their lists, and they were eager to share some fresh ideas for bringing together periop colleagues at the local level.

In Los Angeles, CA …

Chapter 0507 President Marell Hazel Garcia, MS, BSN, RN, says her chapter’s New Year’s resolution is to diversify their board, promote education within the chapter, and make new connections with periop nurses of all ages and experience levels in the community. Her chapter also wants to inspire members with their theme to encourage “Endurance, Timelessness, and Resilience.” 

“This year we have been focused on promoting AORN values from a clinical standpoint, and also creating camaraderie with the diverse population of our chapter,” Garcia says. They are planning several events as they continue working toward this goal:

• Peer-to-peer networking with multigenerational perioperative nurses to create more effective organizational activities.
• Improve the chapter website.
• Volunteer and practice random acts of kindness with non-profit organizations that align with periop nursing skills.
• Offer continuous education to all chapter members.
• Increase connections with various hospitals/organizations around Los Angeles.

“We start the new year with enduring hope to make our chapter even better than it is now—better for our chapter members, their patients, and ALL members of the community we serve,” Garcia says.

In Fort Wayne, IN …

Chapter 1503 President Stephanie Kefer, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, CNOR-CSC, CRNFA, is proud of the time her chapter members have given to the community. They collected nonperishable food items for a local backpack buddies program that provides kids at an inner-city school with daily meals and snacks during Christmas break. They also joined forces with their local rotary club to present more than 240 signed cards to a local nursing home.

Kefer says much of the camaraderie that helps her medium-sized chapter come together for the community was sparked by the creative ways they found to gather virtually through the pandemic. She admits these gatherings started small with only one or two nurses. But as time went on, chapter members increasingly came together through education centered on COVID-19 and other practice issues, such as multigenerational tactics to communicate with more members. Vendors also connected with Kefer to present virtual CE education.

“Going from a chapter that barely existed to people asking me if I can record the presentation I am doing next month because they want to hear it (even if I don’t offer CEs!) shows me the energy for our chapter is back,” Kefer shares. “Everyone is excited. We come away from the meetings with an idea for how to change our practice and improve the care we provide for patients. It’s awesome!” 

Kefer is planning more hot topic CE education that the chapter will offer virtually and in-person to connect with a wider group of members. The topics she’s planning include:

• Caregiver entrepreneurship (turning something from an idea into a project).
• ORIF versus arthroplasty for proximal humerus fractures.
• Bullying in the OR.
• Sterile prep solutions.

In Detroit, MI …

AORN Metro Detroit Chapter 2301 Secretary Kara Girten, MSN, RN, CNOR, is excited to keep finding creative ways to attract new members who will take a more active role in the chapter. This year she and her fellow board members shaped a mentoring program to allow new members to shadow board leadership positions.

Girten and her chapter members are also excited to get inside for chapter meetings, having spent the last several quarterly meetings outside in a local park through the pandemic. “We found a new home for chapter meetings in a local library auditorium that will facilitate space for education presentations and more members to attend,” Girten said.

Giving back to the community is one longstanding tradition of her chapter that Girten is proud to continue and even increase in 2023. For example, the chapter recently hosted a networking luncheon that offered a $5 lunch to anyone who donated a canned good to a local church. They also brought members and their families together to pack food boxes for a local food pantry, an activity that remains an important tradition to connect nurses and their families with community members in need.

Girten’s resolution for 2023 is to find creative ways to encourage new Periop 101 graduates to participate in chapter education and outreach activities. “Recruitment is essential, not only in our practice settings, but in our chapter setting to help new nurses connect with their professional nursing association.”

The Periop Life would like to thank all AORN chapters and members for your commitment to the profession and patient safety. We look forward to sharing more meaningful conversations, insights, and stories with you in the New Year.

Are you a new periop nurse looking to connect with colleagues in your hometown? AORN has more than 200 chapters spanning across the United States and a virtual chapter, too. Find your chapter to get more involved in your periop nursing community in 2023.

Connect with periop colleagues in your chapter, region and specialty at AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2023, April 1-4 in San Antonio, TX. We’re planning an unforgettable event of networking and community experiences so you can unwind, make meaningful contacts, and have fun with periop peers from around the world. Register today.