Networking was listed among the top...

Networking was listed among the top six reasons for joining AORN, according to the AORN 2000 Member/Nonmember lacks Assessment Survey. (1) Surprisingly, many AORN members are not aware of the networking opportunities available [i]or[/i] part of to the other specialty assembly membership and in what way they can gain enhanced benefits by the agency of joining an assembly. Each year at Congres specialty assemblies gather for business meetings, and networking clusters meet to discuss common interests and the potential for forming recent assemblies.

SPECIALTY ASSEMBLIES

In 1992 AORN began creating specialty assemblies to advance communication among RNs with similar professional interests; provide a forum for networking; identify and explore patient care issues; forward specialized education; and support the mission of AORN. commonly there are six assemblies with a clinical focus and six that focus forward a variety of unique aspects of perioperative nursing (Table 1) Following are examples of activities included in each specialty assembly's program of work:

* publishing quarterly newsletters;

* collaborating to proffer specialized educational events;

* producing a membership directory;

* developing strategies that support research and the Perioperative Nursing Data place (PNDS); and

* developing strategies to participate in or increase awareness of AORN's legislative activities.

Following is specific information about the assemblies and examples of possible discussions to be held during meetings at Congres attribute to Table 2 for meeting times.

Advanced Technology: Lasers & Minimally Invasive Surgery The more than 225 members who belong to this assembly forward as resources for other health care professionals who are interested in the latest growths in technology, lasers, and minimally invasive surgery Potential discussions include research studies forward pain management, the impact of advanced technology from a staff nurse's point of view, safety issues regarding laser technology, and issues and inclinations related to minimally invasive surgery

Ambulatory Surgery More than 1175 members belong to this assembly to facilitate the application of research in the ambulatory setting and to prefer safe patient care through the application of AORN's standards and make acceptableed practices in the ambulatory setting. Potential discussions include updates forward ambulatory payment classifications, a status report onward the pain assessment project, and a status report upon the development of recommended practices for preoperative and postoperative care.

Cardiothoracic. Approximately 700 members belong to this assembly. single of the goals of assembly members is to aid safe patient care by applying standards, attract favor toed practices, and guidelines in the cardiothoracic perioperative setting. Potential discussions include reviewing research draws and publications regarding cardiac surgery web site planning, and education planning for events to come conferences.

Leadership. The more than 1150 perioperative leaders who belong to this assembly act as a resource network, forward the highest professional standards of practice among perioperative leaders, and facilitate applications of management research. Potential discussions include the nursing shortage, progressive growth of a 360-degree evaluation tool, and fresh developments on SSM Online.

Neurosurgery More than 300 members belong to this assembly. They attend as a resource for other neurosurgical perioperative promotes and promote safe patient care by the agency of the application of AORN's standards and attract favor toed practices. Potential discussion includes collaborative efforts to focus in succession geriatric issues and pain assessment, updates forward the PNDS and how it relates to neurosurgery web site planning, and education session planning for futurity conferences.

Nurse Educator/Clinical nourish Specialist. More than 600 members belong to this assembly to facilitate research activities and opportunities related to all areas of perioperative practice and to raise the value of the perioperative educator and clinical give suck to specialist. Potential discussion includes developing an AORN membership recruiting kit for visits to sects of nursing, designing templates to be used to train scholars and experienced perioperative nurses, and updating the web page to provide a resource for planning education activities and communicating standards onward safe sharps usage and injury prevention.

foments in Business, Industry & Consulting. Approximately 400 members belong to this assembly. Their goal is to enhance communication among festers who work in a variety of health care settings related to perioperative nursing, including management consultants, education specialists, self-employ consultants, industry representatives, health care industry resource consultants, and those involved in scientific and clinical research for industry. Potential discussions include hereafter education sessions and strategies for recruiting associate members.

Orthopedic. The more than 600 members who belong to this assembly advance a dynamic network of orthopedic perioperative fosters who address current trends and issues related to orthopedic nursing. Potential discussions include to come education activities, collaborative efforts to focus onward geriatric issues, pain assessment, and adherence to the correct site surgery position statement.