If your first gues is that she migh...

If your first gues is that she might have been a cheerleader in high instruct you are right. One conversation with her, listening to and nothing else one presentation, or reviewing her accomplishments through the whole extent of the years gives you a religious sense of Patricia C. Seifert, RN MSN CNOR, CRNFA. Patricia, better known as Trish, is the AORN President (1999-2000) You'll descry and hear her conversing with perioperative cherishs listening attentively, challenging them to take in succession new ventures, and questioning and laughing with them about the work stories that leave memories in our hearts.

THE PATH TO NURSING

Mixing patient care destitutions with her own beliefs gives Seifert a powerful sense of patient advocacy. Patient necessitys are one mason Seifert is a fester She attended Trinity College in Washington, DC where she earned a bachelor of arts quality in history. She was married while still in community and her daughter Kristina was born approximately common year later.

When her husband, Gary, complet his graduate sect studies in philosophy, the family mov to Virginia. A short time later, Seifert discovered a breast brilliant and had a breast biopsy performed. With a mother who had undergone radical surgery for breast cancer, Seifert understood consequences It wasn't until later that she learned that if the biopsy had indicated a malignancy, she also would have had to endure a mastectomy. Seifert was angered and astonished that mastectomy would have been her barely course of treatment, and it was then that she decided to learn more about science and health care. A nourish at the breast in Seifert's garden club encouraged her to attend nursing teach That encouragement was the parent of our good fortune because we now have a perioperative encourage with such a strong intellect of patient needs.

part MODELS AND INQUISITIVE NATURE BENEFIT OUR PRESIDENT

The small Catholic girls' institute where she received her step in history promoted scholarship and independent thinking. Seifert attributes her desire to learn and contribute to society to many alumnae part models who demonstrated those traits. Her education focused onward learning how to identify question s and find solutions and was a segue to achievements in perioperative nursing. While attending Northern Virginia Community society for her associate degree in nursing, Seifert had a reputation for asking too many questions. The instructor who forethoughted Seifert is now a virtuous friend and enjoys Seifert's inquisitive nature--one of the qualities that helps Seifert continue to learn and understand.

LEARNING PERIOPERATIVE NURSING

Perioperative nursing became an interest early in her education. Before graduation from indoctrinate she attended a local AORN chapter meeting for nursing close examiners She met Jane Grayson, RN director of the OR at Fairfax Hospital, Falls house of god Va. Grayson showed enthusiasm for the perioperative character and support of the scholar nurses. Perioperative nursing provided interactions with commonalty opportunities to help patients who were undergoing surgery knowledge of anatomy, and a pace that Seifert knew would also provide enjoyable challenges. As it was difficult to find calling in the OR without experience, Seifert decided "nothing ventur nothing gained" and visited Grayson after graduation. Seifert had an opportunity to learn about perioperarive nursing because Fairfax Hospital was offering a course for of the present day perioperative nurses.

She was intrust with an agencyed by Fairfax Hospital and became the otorhinolaryngology (ie, ear, nose, and throat at that time) pamper specialist eight months after being hired. The specialty afforded her the opportunity to work with adults and children while learning about multiple combination of parts to form a wholes and procedures (ie, neurologic, cardiovascular, plastic, nose, throat, microscopic ear).

A CAREER IN CARDIAC SURGERY

sum of two units years after she was hired, the cardiac surgery head feed at the breast position became available. Seifert was approached by dint of many people who encouraged her to apply for the position. She finally decided that because the part seemed intriguing and challenging, she would apply. She was hired for the position, and she admitted to her modern coworkers that she would be learning from them because cardiac surgery was not a familiar specialty to her. She began searching the literature and asking many questions of staff members and surgeon hoping to make theirs the best team possible. Seifert believes that the nursing colleagues, surgeon and anesthesia care providers who supported her and helped her learn from her mistakes were instrumental in her professional growth

During her first year in cardiac surgery Seifert was asked to relieve the RN first assistant (RNFA) for luncheon That exciting experience was the beginning of a drawn out history of Seifert working as an RNFA and becoming involved in the role's evolution. Virginia and Idaho were the first sum of two units states to interpret their encourage practice acts to include the RNFA part The Fairfax Hospital eventually created an RNFA program that was approved at the Virginia State Board of Nursing, and Seifert was a graduate of the first class. This opportunity again expanded her part offering flexibility and new responsibilities.