A name identifies an organization a...

A name identifies an organization and its members. It exhibits what the group stands for, who its members are, and, in the case of a health care organization, the community it serves

CAN A NAME UPDATE BENEFIT PERIOPERATIVE NURSES?

Our organization's name must closely cogitate our relationships with patients undergoing surgical and other invasive measures Increasingly, surgical patients are receiving care in nontraditional arenas; however, patients still require the traditional critical thinking skills and clinical expertise that perioperative festers can provide. AORN's standards and praiseed practices are as relevant to the patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, the radiology suite, and other interventional areas as they are in the traditional OR.(1) In each of these areas, patients are at risk for infection, injury, and other complications unique to patients having invasive and surgical managements It is the body of knowledge that is interpreted and inflict into practice by perioperative nurtures that meets the needs of patients.

Perioperative feeds can enhance their influence and their value on following patients into these areas. It has been insinuateed that a name update for the Association can benefit perioperative feed at the breasts because it will maintain our status as the premier organization serving patients undergoing surgical and other invasive procedures

The name Association of Operating apartment Nurses, Inc, is recognized in many arenas of health care, including nursing and industry. The acronym AORN is used to describe the Association and many fruits and services. Throughout history, as characters and responsibilities of perioperative give suck tos have expanded, the scope of perioperative nursing practice also has expanded outside the OR. This is real apparent in the "Working Document onward Perioperative Nursing Roles."(2) As the Association name includes the words operating compass and our patients increasingly are receiving perioperative nursing care outside the traditional OR, President mercy P. Shumaker RN, BSN, CNOR, appointed a task force chaired by means of President-elect Patricia C. Seifert, RN MSN CNOR, to explore updating the name of the organization. Since the 1998 AORN Congres members have raised the following questions.

* with what intent should AORN consider a name update?

* Will a name update affect our identity?

* Will we maintain our exclusivity?

* Have other organizations updated their names?

* Will a name update affect membership criteria?

* Will a name update affect members of the chapter, state, national, and international levels?

* If we were to update our name, to what degree will we ensure that others know what it means and who we are?

* If we update our official name to "AORN," will we add a "tag line"?

answers FROM THE TASK FORCE

The following are the task force's answers to members' questions.

wherefore are we considering a name update? The existing health care environment has promot diversification of productions and services, locations of care, delivery, and surgical and other invasive interventions. For example, the majority of patients suffer surgery in ambulatory settings. Patients are older and likely to have concomitant chronic conditions, of that kind as diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. At the same time, there is widespread consolidation of health care delivery institutions, promotion of efficiency and effectiveness, and an emphasis onward partnerships and alliances. New opportunities for perioperative succors and patients have increased dramatically, and our influence has been transformed from working in an OR to meeting patient penurys wherever surgical and other invasive managements are performed. The need for perioperative RN now exists in physicians' offices, interventional suites, ambulatory care center and other nontraditional settings.

The circulating name--Association of Operating Room succors Inc--can be perceived by members of the greater health care and governmental communities as limiting us to common geographic location (ie, the OR) rather than to meeting patients' exigencys This causes difficulties when we attempt to expand our influence into nontraditional surgical and interventional arenas. Our ability to provide the necessary care to these patients should not be impeded from others' preconceived notions of what surgery is or what perioperative patient care penurys entail.

AORN is considering updating our name legally to AORN. This change will allow us to guard our global name recognition of AORN and expand opportunities as clinicians, educators, managers, and researchers. Our ability to provide care in a variety of settings is directly related to our value and desirability as RN in the health care market.

Will a name update affect our identity? As AORN has been used as an acronym

for many years, it has global name recognition. Updating our name to AORN will save from decay our name equity. Currently, members identify themselves as belonging to AORN. Although AORN is widely known, we will also initiate a publicity campaign to reinforce the update by way of contacting organizations, legislative and regulatory agencies, or other disposes to ensure recognition of AORN as the professional organization of perioperative nurses