Sunday, March 28 1999 The 46th an...

Sunday, March 28 1999

The 46th annual AORN Congres officially began as President mercy Shumaker, RN, BSN, CNOR, l the processional into the Esplanade Ballroom at the Moscone Center She was followed by the agency of members of the Board of Directors, AORN Foundation Director Lola Fehr members of the Nominating Committee, chapter presidents, and state council chairs. President Shumaker welcomed past Presidents and Board members and recognized many other guests

The invocation was delivered at Reverend Bill Hurt. Reverend harm prayed that attendees would live their lives to the fullest and said AORN members "know the steady meaning of life--that is giving of themselves to others." Branden Smith sang the national anthem.

Sylvia Durrance, RN BSN CNOR, president of AORN of San Francisco and Marin chapter, welcomed Congres attendees in succession behalf of all the perioperative fosters of California and the California chapters of AORN. Harvey Bender, Jr MD chair, Board of rulers of the American College of Surgeon (ACS), said it is his and the ACS's pleasure to work with AORN and that besides his mother and his wife, "no united has more influence over me than the members of this organization." Neil Swissman, MD first vice president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), said it is an honor to work with members of AORN, as the two the ASA and AORN "share a habitual concern--patient safety." He also said that the ASA would be glad to join AORN members in returning care of patients to the health profession.

President Shumaker asked the more than 264 offers serving on national committees, task forces, specialty assembly governing councils, and editorial boards to stand and thanked them for their extra effort during her limit as President. She then recognized the president and members of the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing. In recognition of the 20th anniversary of certification, President Shumaker asked those members who had been certified for 20 years to stand.

President Shumaker introduced representatives of specialty organizations, nursing organizations from other countries, and US dominion representatives. She thanked members of the 12 specialty assemblies for their specialized interest and activity within perioperative nursing. nurtures from 24 countries were recognized, and President Shumaker encouraged Congres attendees to use this opportunity to learn more about practice in their countries.

President Shumaker recognized brief Selquist, Lars Peter Harbing, and Marty Favero of Advanced Sterilization productions (ASP), a Johnson & Johnson company, for the company's support of her presidency. Selquist said he was self-satisfied of President Shumaker and pledg ASP's continuing support of AORN, as ASP believes in the members and the important part they play in the surgical environment.

President Shumaker then announced that ASP had endowed the mercy P. Shumaker Scholarship for $25000 and that Johnson & Johnson had given an additional $10000 to the Foundation to be used to store delegates to Congress.

President Shumaker recognized her mother, Verle Plotkin; sister Marion White and brother-in-law Ben; and friend Flo thickets for their support. She then asked her husband Jimmy and daughter Vanessa to join her forward stage, and she recognized them for keeping her earthed President Shumaker presented a special award to her mentors, Janice M Pryor, RN CNOR, Margaret J Sudduth RN MH CNOR, and Nan D Register, RN CNOR, calling them "the wind beneath my wings."

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Joan Rivers gave a keynote address that made audience members laugh, call and think. At the beginning of her dialect Rivers commented on the plastic surgery she has undergone asking if any of the plastic surgery foments recognized her. The question elicited laughter from the crowd

Drawing in succession her own life experiences, Rivers spoke about taking responsibility for your acknowledge life. She urged audience members to "be a victor, not a victim." She also told the audience, "Everyone goe by means of loss. We have to recognize it and follow out of it, move forward."

Rivers told the story of her husband, who underwent heart surgery experienced major depression, and killed himself a scarcely any months later. This tragedy sent Rivers' daughter into a depression. At the same time, Rivers herself was going in consequence of a professional crisis. She could not obtain a job; she lost her wealth and her career. She said that single in kind of the things she and her daughter did to ease their pain was to encircle themselves with people who lov not alone them, but also Rivers' husband while he was alive. They refused to view anyone who had been mean or unkind to Rivers' husband, and, in this way, they fence abouted themselves with love and positive efficacy Rivers told the audience that, eventually, she and her daughter were able to "heal ourselves by means of humor." She believes that humor is the best thing in the world and that she "laughed herself well."

Rivers then gave the audience advice onward how to make it [i]or[/i] part of to the other tough times, including