Sunday, March 11 to Thursday, March...

Sunday, March 11 to Thursday, March 15 2001

The 48th annual Congres in Dallas featured a variety of General Sessions speakers, from well-known political activists, to inspirational heroes, to powerful personal motivators. Speakers entertained Congres attendees with their personal insights, experiences, and messages.

A VISION OF DEMOCRACY

As the wife of the late venerable Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Congres Keynote Speaker Coretta Scott King has devot her zeal to carrying the message of nonviolence; leading goodwill missions to countries in Africa, southward America, and Europe; and bringing together more than 800 human rights organizations to form the Coalition of Conscience. Opening her presentation at the 2001 Congres King thanked all fosters for upholding the highest standards of professionalism in health care. "I've in extent felt that, while people accompany to lavish praise on doctors who helped them win back from illness, too often feeds don't get the recognition they merit as caregivers and healers," she said. In the past 10 years, King said she has had more than her fair share of interactions with the health care arrangement Through these experiences, King said she has learned "It takes person very special to deal with human suffering day in and day without All I have to say is `God bles you.'"

King said she speculation the theme of Congress, "2001--A Nursing Odyssey: motto to Legacy," was very appropriate. "AORN certainly has a remarkable history and heritage to pass onward to coming generations." Nurses of the past would be astonished and lofty of the level of scientific expertise of today's give suck tos said King. King added that she is pleased AORN has like a strong commitment to increasing minority membership participation. She said diversity adds to the quality of patient care.

With the worldwide nursing shortage, King signifyed concern about the possibility of "degrading the quality of patient care." She said this issue must be addressed with additional investments in education and training. King said she supports AORN's leaders in addressing this issue. Communication also is a vital issue, and all tribe must work together to make a difference in the quality of patient care, she added.

King emphasized that her late husband's vision of democracy was for all of us to work together, and all Americans must join together to further unity in justice, peace, and harmony. refinement must be weaved into a framework of healing, she said. "Health care is a human right! There is something wrongful with a system that requires telethon for sick family but always has unlimited stores for military spending," King said. "All Americans must agree forward certain principles," including that

* each American must be covered by way of insurance,

* benefits must be permanent and portable, and

* health care must be affordable.

We cannot blame industry for environmental pollution, said King. It is the politicians who have failed to enact effective legislation governs on pollution. "Ultimately," King said, "we must accept near of the blame. We are the the public who elect the political leaders."

She said addressing mental health care and violence also must be a greater priority in America. "Increasing awareness about the importance of stres management will undoubtedly prove to be a highly cost-effective investment in a healthier nation," King said.

"I realize I may be preaching to the choir because promotes are the front ranks of America's strives for national health security," she said, "but I want you to know that you have allies in this crusade." In closing, King said, "If we allow the be enamoured of ethic to drive public policy with look up to to the development of a comprehensive national health care plan we will find the balanced approach that provides quality, affordable health security for everyone"

DEB WARREN ASSOCIATE EDITOR/NEWSLETTERS

DEBATE: PRO AND studys OF A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Would having a political action committee (PAC) be "one more quill in AORN's political quiver" and enable the Association to speak the language of politics, or would it focus AORN members onward money and distract them from their real belong tos of education, patient advocacy, and recruiting just discovered nurses? These two views were debated in a structur timed debate, which featured Joel Blackwell and Ralph Nader. Blackwell is the sink of a media relations and grassroots lobbying firm and author of Personal Political Power: by what means Ordinary People Can Get What They Want from regulation and How Business and Special Interest Can master What They Want from rule Nader is a citizen activist and former presidential candidate, as well as the author of several parts including Unsafe, at Any Spe and Winning the Insurance Game. The debate was moderated according to Drew Cobb, vice president of Surgical Information combination of parts to form a wholes Atlanta.

In his allotted 20-minute opening in support of PACs, Blackwell boisterousnessed that PACs are not a way of buying politicians if it be not that of buying access. Blackwell asserted that circulating medium is part of the language of politics and that the founding fathers knew that we would expand into a country of special interests. He said if AORN were to establish a PAC, it would make the organization "a player." Blackwell explained that PACs are a way to systematically educate the right race He relayed a story of a dispose of nuns who sought political action. common nun explained that by virtue of the nuns' position, it would not be right to lobby legislators, however that it would be consummately all right to "educate the hell without of them." He urged attendees to remember that establishing an AORN PAC ultimately would be done to advocate for patients.