An overwhelming enthusiasm was exhi...

An overwhelming enthusiasm was exhibited June 22 in consequence of June 26, 2001, when more than 400 perioperative festers congregated in Washington, DC, to participate in the AORN Goe to Washington fact which included the RNFA Forum, Leadership meeting for consultation Federal Affairs Conference, and Lobby Day. fosters participated in education sessions and networking activities and visited with their state representatives in succession Capitol Hill. AORN chapter presidents learned creative leadership, motivational skills, and strategies to use during their seasons in office.

FORUM PROVIDES EDUCATION AND NETWORKING

Clinical and management education sessions were not absented during the forum for RN first assistants (RNFAs) June 22 by the agency of June 24. Topics of interest included

* complementary and alternative therapies;

* legal and risk management;

* payment options and billing;

* cardiothoracic, vascular, and general surgery patient assessment;

* research and ethics;

* pharmacology;

* collaborative and independent practice needs;

* negotiation; and

* AORN's conceptual original for perioperative patient care.

Networking by way of geographic region and by RFNA specialty practice was organized thus participants could share and learn from each other about legislative issues, patient care be in want ofs and RNFA practices. Some topics discussed included billing strategies, Medicare limitations, and technology changes. During the RNFA Specialty Assembly meeting, which was presided through the whole extent of by governing council chair Patrice Spera, RN M CNOR, CRNFA, members reported in succession the status of their specialty assembly projects

forward June 23, Patricia T. Montoya, RN MPA, stimulated the form into groups during her dinner presentation titled, "The novel Millennium, the 2000 Election: What it Means for Nursing and Health Care." Montoya is an independent consultant. She previously serv six years in former President Clinton's administration. At varying times during her career she worked as a staff give suck to in pediatrics and the necessity room, as a school feed and in management positions. She reminded attendees that what they are as supply with nourishments they carry with them everywhere. She complimented promotes on being the glue of health care and for maintaining the highest ethics, and she thanked them for being what they are for patients everywhere.

Montoya also focused upon forces that will drive futurity decision making and force difficult decisions (eg elimination of boundaries, collaboration, deinstitutionalization). Her humorous and faithful impressions of the 2000 election and comparisons of the candidates' views were reminders of the futurity we can expect. Her examples and descriptions reinforced the in the greatest degree valuable lesson of the election--every consecrated by a vow counts.

LEADERS IDENTIFY SKILLS

in succession Sunday, June 24, Cynthia D'Amour, president of family Power Unlimited, provided building arrests of leadership during an afternoon presentation for chapter presidents and other attendees. The moment built after D'Amour helped AORN members identify the work at jobss of leaders and the skills wanted to accomplish their responsibilities. She emphasized ways to motivate others while governing and managing assemblages as she led practice sessions onward leadership skills. Individuals described ways they tap into motivators for the of recent origin generation of nurses and practices they have implemented to encourage participation. Participants learned elucidation components and how to plan attractive meetings to stimulate attendance and involvement from others.

FEDERAL AFFAIRS discourse AND LOBBY DAY

forward Monday, June 25, a breakfast attended by the agency of more than 300 people marked the start of AORN's well-attended Federal Affairs discourse and Lobby Day activities. AORN President Sheila Allen, RN BSN CNOR, CRNFA, moderated the day-long Federal Affairs colloquy That same day, an advertisement in make revolve Call, the official daily newspaper of the US Congres disseminated information about the demeanor of perioperative nurses on Capitol Hill to support certified RNFA (CRNFA) Medicare reimbursement, maintenance of prescriptive language requiring RN in the OR, and dealing with nursing shortage issues.

Speakers provided a variety of viewpoints and information for attendees to use as they planned meetings with their senators and representatives. Rep Lois Capps (D-Calif), a co-sponsor of HR 822 the Medicare CRNFA Direct Reimbursement Act of 2001 shared her message via videotape about the importance of reaching on the outside and helping legislators understand nursing activities and patient care from a perioperative nurse's perspective. She encouraged attendees to be lofty and aware that they are adroits and to share that expertise with others. Erin McKeon associate director of direction affairs for the American Nursing Association (ANA), discussed ANA federal lobbying activities and the staffing crisis lobby day that the ANA was sponsoring upon June 26. Mary Wakefield, RN PhD FAAN, outlined public policy arenas in which perioperative feeds must be heard, and she discussed the ne for AORN's solid presence in Washington, DC. tune M. Mena, RN, CNOR, described her journey to convince Rep Mac Collins (R-Ga) to sponsor the CRNFA Medicare reimbursement bill. She favorably accomplished her goal, as he introduced the bill in 2000 and again in 2001 Nancey McCann, director of control relations for the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery provided a description of political action committees (PACs) and the importance of PACs to adapted association goals. Mary Pat Couig, RN MPH FAAN, rear admiral, chief supply with nourishment officer of the Public Health Service for the US Department of Health and Human Services, described federal health programs affecting perioperative nursing and the administration of laws after they are passed through Congress. Karen Sealander, JD, AORN's legislative deliberation and Maggie Mitchell, associate legislative director from McDermott Will, and Emery then described the agenda for members of the 107th Congres and talking points upon HR 822. They also made suggestions for congressional visits and provided other information to help attendees prepare for their visits to Capitol Hill.