Congress 2023: First Forum

AORN President Vangie Dennis welcomed attendees and virtual participants to the First Forum on Saturday in San Antonio. Attendees at the convention center attended with high energy and enthusiasm, and members at home and at work were able to attend and participate via Zoom.

Members first heard from Kerilyn Johnson, AORN’s Senior Manager of Chapter Relations. Johnson reminded members of the chapter resources available from AORN and encouraged those who have not had an opportunity to serve in an elected leadership position with their chapter to take advantage of those tools and raise their hand to serve. AORN Vice President Darlene Murdock presented her board committee’s work to gain valuable data from chapters and work to improve chapter access and utilization of board liaisons.

AORN’s director of membership Amy Kirshenbaum then presented on AORN membership trends and needs. Attendees celebrated AORN’s return, after a COVID-related dip, to nearly 44,000 members, with 82% of AORN members also participating in local or virtual chapters. Kirschenbaum highlighted new and improved member benefits, including Prep for CNOR being included in membership, simplified access to evaluations and CEs for AORN Journal articles, new patient positioning pocket cards, both digital and laminate, and new benefits for retired members including Expo registration discounts and a private lounge at Expo. Looking ahead, AORN will be launching an enhanced and redesigned career center with job alerts, salary dashboards, and multiple career pathway resources.

Clarification: At Saturday’s First Forum during the membership update, the slide showing AORN membership demographics displayed incorrectly. Here is the slide displaying the demographics correctly. Members can update their profile, including the question ‘How do you describe yourself’ by accessing ‘My Profile’ on the home page of My AORN.

AORN executive Maureen Girard engaged attendees from the stage and online in an interactive feedback session where members were able to provide live feedback via text on topics ranging from reasons to attend Expo, to the most pressing needs of early career nurses, experienced perioperative nurses, and perioperative leaders.

AORN director of business intelligence and strategic planning unveiled AORN’s new environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitment and plans to ensure more sustainable business practices and have a positive impact on healthcare, society and environment going forward.

Members at the microphone expressed desires for better access from AORN for members database records for purposes such as visiting hospitals to provide in-service education, facilitating state council meetings, and inviting lapsed members to local events. One member sought guidance from AORN on what students should and should not do in the operating room, because practices are ranging from “standing in the corner and not touching anything” to scrubbing in. Another member asked that AORN membership records reflect cumulative years of membership. Member questions raised in the Forum will be addressed by AORN leaders in subsequent Congress sessions and by AORN staff directly following up with the member on areas for improvement.

AORN’s First House of Delegates will take place at 9:00 am Central in Exhibit Hall 1 on Monday, April 2. Those unable to attend in San Antonio may join virtually by first registering through the posted links at aorn.org/Congress2023. Members who miss any of the Congress sessions can access the recordings by following the Livestream link.