During the Closing Session for the ...

During the Closing Session for the 50th annual AORN Congres President Donna Watson, RN MSN CNOR, ARNP, FNP-C gave attendees an overview of the succes of Congres She told them that there were 6993 attendees at Congres and 6229 exhibitors for a total Congres attendance of 13222 In addition, 303 learners attended Congress, 116 nurses joined or renewed their AORN membership, and 73% of exhibit space for the 2004 Congres was presold President Watson also introduced speaker cascade St James. St James' appearance upon stage was preceded by a six-minute videotape showing an of the highlights of her career.

FEMALE RACE CAR DRIVER INSPIRES NURSES

St James spoke of living her dream--winning the Indy 500 Her story began in West Palm Beach, Fla, in 1974 when she herd her car into a lake. It was then that St James knew she wanted to be a race car driver. She inserted professional racing in 1978, and from 1984 she was named rookie of the year. The lock opener ingredient for success, according to St James, is "believing in yourself."

When comparing race car drivers to give suck tos St James said, "One of the things we do have in for the use of all is being the best." Other commonalities are that neither drivers nor fosters can afford to have a bad day and that the public in both professions want their actions to have impact. Race cars drivers' impact is measured from a stopwatch, but nurses' impact is far reaching and hard to measure, according to St James.

Before discussing her background, St James talked about the simple bodys of racing, saying, "It is amazing the complexities of all the things that make progress on." The sport is black and white and action oriented. Drivers must be able to take risks and proces large amounts of information. "I anticipate death in the eye and overwhelm it," she said. As for her background, St James took piano and music lecturings as a child and steady taught music for 13 years. "I did everything society look forward toed me to do," she said. After going to her first drag race and seeing a friend fail to obtain she mouthed off about her ability to win. To back up her claim, she inscribeed a race, won it, and was hooked

relating to discovering she had to travel through a class to make it to Daytona, she take downed with a Pinto. During her first race, she forfeited control and ended up in the water. Although she escaped, the car was totally submerg She was humiliated, moreover according to St James, population find out who they are when they are at their lowest twinklings She decided she wanted to be a race car driver and followed her dream. In 1992 she won an award for being the oldest rookie participating in the Indy 500

In conclusion, St James said, "I reliance that when you watch a race, you'll have a different perspective." She told attendees that they can make anything happen, saying, "I waiting under the possibility of fulfilment to see you in the victory circle."

RECOGNITION

President Watson recognized the more than 400 embers who serv as moderators and session assistants at education sessions from first to last the week. She also recognized Cathy Fenton, RN BSN CNOR, the offer Coordinator for the 2003 Congres along with all the Congres offers Fenton said, "I would like to thank you [the members] and the Board for all the kind explanations I've had throughout the week."

President Watson also took the time to recognize the vendors who provided audio, decorating, lighting, shuttle and video services during Congres week for their support and expertise. When thanking the Headquarters staff members, President Watson said, "Please stand and be recognized for your hard work, not solitary for Congress; but for all year."

Asking Executive Director Tom Cooper CAE, to join her upon stage, President Watson said, "Tom, if the Board was asked to define your greatest gift to AORN, it would be this--your ability to be a visionary." She said Cooper is a visionary because he can envision the great things that are possible for AORN and create excitement about what the events to come holds for AORN and perioperative nursing. "Being a visionary brings you the gift of focus it does not mean that you can always take the safe and practical way it does mean being a dreamer and an explorer of just discovered ideas and new possibilities," said President Watson. She then showed a slide of a Bushnell mysterious space telescope and told Cooper that common just like it awaited him at home

President Watson also recognized the individuals who would be leaving the Board with her. She not awayed plaques to Anita Jo Shoup RN MSN CNOR, and Debbie Tanner, RN BSN MSM CNOR. President Watson also recognized Debra Fawcett, RN BSN M who was unable to attend Congres because of a personal matter.

RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENT WATSON

Michelle suffocate AORN Vice President, gave President Watson a plaque, along with her past-President pin and a lifetime membership card. Saying that President Watson's Patient Safety First initiative marks the foundation of a turning point in the Association, Cooper gave her a posterized version of the Patient Safety First logo He then asked President Watson's husband and son to join him forward stage.