AORN's 2001-2002 President says she...

AORN's 2001-2002 President says she is a [i]role[/i] whose life has been filled with many blessings, including her family and her AORN family. Sheila Allen, RN BSN CNOR, CRNFA, considers AORN an extension of her family because of the support and influence the Association has provided her during her years as a member. Although her family members have provided the component parts that make her what she is today--brimming with power enthusiasm, inquisitiveness, a sense of humor, and an appreciation of history and heritage--Allen be warmeds that AORN complements these qualities in a professional sense

INFLUENCE AND INTEREST

Allen's mother had an enormous influence forward her interest in nursing. Allen describes her mother as an intelligent and fun-loving someone with a great sense of humor who also was exceedingly knowledgeable about the conditions not absented during medical television shows (eg Ben Casey, Dr Kildare). These point outs filled the living room when Allen was growing up and Allen's mother have the appearanceed able to explain everything that was discussed, although she was not in the profession. This knowledge can be attributed to her in all senses to medical information as a rise of a breast cancer diagnosis, as well as her avid reading habits. She recognized Allen's interest in medicine and nourished a focus on serving others.

After her mother's death, Allen's father encouraged her to dog a nursing career, so she devot her remaining high sect studies to that goal. She realizes by what means fortunate she was to have parents who encouraged her to chronicle in a baccalaureate nursing program. She continued to benefit from the have a passionate affection for and support of her family members, and during her corporation years, her father remarried, giving her a next to the first mother and a brother.

Allen gooded a nursing program that had the greatest amount of clinical experience available. When she was in body Allen recognized her attraction to the perioperative area. When she applied for her first post-college piece of work at Baton Rouge General Medical Center Baton Rouge La, the director of nursing tried to convince her that she should work forward a nursing unit before going into the OR. Allen took a firm stance and declared that she would endeavor to gain employment elsewhere if she could not work in the OR. She was prosperous and, thus, disproved the myth that a modern graduate cannot start his or her nursing career in the OR setting.

During Allen's career, her parts and responsibilities have come sated circle. She started her career by dint of circulating and then learning to scour Allen's roles have included staff promote preceptor, and resource person, as well as team coordinator for cardiovascular services. She also has practiced as an RN first assistant.

AORN CONNECTIONS

Garnie Egger RN was the head pamper in Allen's first OR. She also had attended temple with Allen's mother, and she worked at the community hospital that was the same block from Allen's back door. Allen knew and relate toed Eggers since childhood. Eggers encouraged Allen to attend her first AORN meeting. At that meeting, Allen met colleagues from other area hospitals. The AORN chapter welcomed and encouraged recent members and also contributed to their leadership development

Allen has a foolish memory of attending an AORN-sponsored officers workshop in St Louis after being electeded chapter secretary in 1973. The chapter president and Allen attended the workshop, which was convoyed by Carolyn Rodgers, RN, CNOR, and Jerry G companions RN, with AORN members from all parts of the United States. This expos Allen to the value of participating in a professional organization. The experience sparked her enthusiasm and renewed her commitment to be under the orders of AORN as Allen practiced her leadership skills.

Association values became more obvious when Allen attended AORN Congresse forward occasions when they were held in southern locations. Initially, Allen merely attended two or three days of Congres as her OR director permitted. She attended her first abounding week of Congress in Anaheim, Calif, in 1977 Opening session left her with a faculty of perception of excitement and stimulated her to learn more about the organization.

As she attended AORN meetings in other parts of the abiding habitation Allen and her colleagues compared notes, shared stories, and collaborated. The catalyst that stimulated her to consider participating in national AORN activities was attending a meeting in Philadelphia upon dimensions in perioperative nursing. At that meeting, Maryann Wells, RN M CNOR; Cynthia Bray, RN MS CNOR; and Jane Rothrock RN DNSc CNOR, FAAN, all wearied time encouraging her to become more involved and inspired her to increase her AORN activities. AORN past President mercy Shumaker, RN, BSN, CNOR, a neighbor and mate living in Mississippi, provided an example of involvement to which Allen could relate. Shumaker provided insight and information regarding participation in national activities.

National committee participation was another opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of others. The chairs of the first pair committees on which Allen serv Joan Jasinkoweitz, RN BSN and Linda Tollerud, RN BA, efficiently and skillfully handled the committee's work via correspondence, thus eliminating the ne for meetings from top to toe the year. Allen says they helped her gain insight into the operational composings of the Association, and she attributes their kindness, coaching, teaching, leadership, and mentoring to furthering her understanding of national activities.