Reflecting on 2007 and Preparing for 2008

Article Outline

• Strategic Planning
• Technology
• Collaboration
• Education
• Conclusion
• Reference
• Copyright

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The end of the year brings us all an opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments and plan for the goals we wish to achieve in the new calendar year. At AORN, we have had a busy year preparing for the future of perioperative nursing and the future of our professional Association. The Board of Directors has worked together with the staff and leaders at AORN Headquarters and with member volunteers to prepare us to move ahead into 2008. I would like to share with you some of the work that your Board, staff members, and colleagues have been involved in this year.

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Strategic Planning 

Strategic planning is an essential step in evaluating the Association. Where are we? Where do we want to be? How do we get there? The AORN Board and staff members held a strategic planning summit in August and invited new perioperative nurses; experienced past Association leaders; industry partners; Foundation Board members; our Competency and Credentialing Institute colleagues; and other association leaders, including American Nurses Association president, Becky Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR, to help plan AORN's future. A strategic plan was developed around the five key pillars of

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Technology 

AORN is continually striving to improve communication. This year, the Association launched an improved web site that continues to evolve. Periop 101: A Core Curriculum now is available online to introduce nurses to our specialty area. Progress with efforts to create a standardized electronic perioperative record incorporating the Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) continues.

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Collaboration 

Patient safety is of primary concern to nurses, especially in the perioperative setting where we are advocates for safe outcomes. National “Time Out” Day 2007 was co-sponsored with the American College of Surgeons and the Joint Commission to help communicate the importance of the Universal Protocol to other partners on the perioperative team. In addition, a meeting sponsored by the Joint Commission was held this fall with Industry Partners for Patient Safety and AORN to determine how we can work together to provide safeguards for clinicians and focus on patient safety as technology continues to advance in the perioperative setting.

Partnerships with the members of the Council for Surgical and Perioperative Safety, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Collaboration working on pay for performance, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Alliance were enhanced. Meetings were held with various groups from the American Hospital Association and the American Medical Association to discuss opportunities to work together. In 2008, the fall leadership meeting will be co-sponsored with OR Manager in yet another partnership that has been forged to provide optimal opportunities for perioperative nurses.

Several Board members traveled to Harrogate, England, for the Association for Perioperative Practice meeting where discussions with colleagues from the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses and the European Operating Room Nurses Association occurred. Further discussion with our international colleagues will take place at AORN's 2008 Congress in Anaheim, California.

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Education 

Many educational offerings were available to members and colleagues beginning with the very successful Executive Symposium and the Leadership Conference this summer, followed by three fall Specialty Conferences across the country. The 14th World Conference on Surgical Patient Care was held in Seoul, South Korea. In this beautiful setting, attendees enjoyed making new friendships, renewing old acquaintances, sharing best practices, and discussing issues that affect us worldwide. We were thankful for the warm hospitality of our colleagues at the Korean Association of Operating Room Nurses.

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Conclusion 

These are just a few of the activities of the Association this year that will lead us into the future. In addition, AORN's subsidiaries, the AORN Foundation and AORN Management Solutions, are developing energetic and exciting plans to enhance their support of AORN and the membership. Other activities will be presented soon by volunteer work groups, committees, task forces, and specialty assemblies. More complete information will be made available in the annual reports that will be presented at our Congress in March.

AORN's membership continues to grow as a result of the gifts and talents each of you share every day in caring for your patients, your profession, and your Association. Thank you for your passion and your willingness to ignite this spark in others. Enjoy the end of another year and this holiday season.

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Reference 

1. Studer Q . Hardwiring Excellence . Gulf Breeze, FL: Fire Starter Publishing; 2003;
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