For the three years, education sess...

For the three years, education sessions that pertain to proactive measures perioperative feeds can take to connect with the world outside the OR have been giveed at AORN's Congress. At the 2001 Congres Joel Blackwell, a political activist, shared his imaginations about personal political activity. At the 2002 Congres panel members provided unique perspectives forward the environments in which they work. This year, bury Beu, AORN's legislative analyst; Frederick P Franko, AORN's director of state public affairs; and theme Mena, RN, CNOR, recent past chair of AORN's Legislative Committee, shared their perspectives forward political activism in a session titled "Becoming Politically Active." The session was moderated on AORN volunteer state legislative coordinator Terri Aldama, RN CNOR, CRNFA.

HELPFUL IDEAS

Beu giveed several useful ideas and tools for attendees to consider in helping their profession politically, including participating in AORN's legislative grassroots network, attending legislative hearings, and interacting with media representatives. AORN's legislative grassroots network works to unify AORN's building of chapters, councils, and specialty assemblies for a like reason that AORN is an effective participant in the political arena. The goal of the network is to place or identify at least individual AORN member in each state legislative and congressional district to advocate for AORN's legislative priorities at the federal and state flats of government.

The network aims to finish members involved in public policy and advocacy of AORN's legislative priorities between the sides of educational activities and the annual Lobby Day conclusion The network also provides information that give suck tos can use when communicating with choiceed officials. Traditionally, these means of communication have been personal visits in local settings, notes telephone calls, e-mail messages, and cluster efforts (eg, petitions, town hall attendance). According to Beu, AORN possibility of goods to expand these outreach activities to include testimony on AORN members at legislative and regulatory hearings and participation in media relations.

Attending legislative hearings is an important part of demonstrating the commitment of nursing professionals affected on pending legislation. State legislative web sites usually provide guidelines for testifying at board or committee hearings. After legislation is passed, laws are administered between the walls of regulatory agencies (eg, state boards of nursing). These agencies' regulatory hearings are significant opportunities for public explanation and testimony. Boards of nursing usually have lay open or public forums during their regularly scheduled board meetings, and encourages can raise issues of trouble during such forums.

Media relations full number the grassroots efforts of interacting with selected officials because officials are extremely sensitive to what is reported in the media. Typically there are weekly newspapers and small media vents such as radio stations, in smaller legislative districts. In these districts, conclusions like Lobby Day are legitimate stranges stories. Larger districts often have daily publications and television stations with reporters who specialize in health care issues. In either case, there are opportunities to draw attention to perioperative nursing and the work of individual AORN members.

When publicity of nursing as a profession is generated, editorial boards take note. Candidates for public office increasingly look for to be asked about nursing issues when they interview for editorial endorsements during their political campaigns. AORN proposes an excellent resource for members of the legislative grassroots network titled the AORN Media Relations Manual. This booklet is available at AORN Online, http://www.aorn .org, or a printed pattern can be sent to network members who contact the direction Affairs Department at (800) 755-2676 x 233

A MEMBER'S POLITICAL ACTIVISM

Of special interest to AORN members are the firsthand experiences of a colleague in the political arena. abundant can be learned from listening to conduct affairs professionals, including AORN staff members, lobbyists, and academics; however, the testimonial of a comrade nurse makes entering the realm of politics and public policy a great deal more tangible and accessible.

Mena provided insight into her political activism during the session. She began on asking attendees to consider who their heroes are. Heroes may be teachers, soldiers, firefighters, parents, or, perhaps, historical figures, so as Florence Nightingale. Mena pointed abroad that perioperative nurses also are heroes. As heroes and members of a highly revereed profession, nurses bring much to the political arena. Individual foments however, probably will ask, "Why me? What can I, as a perioperative supply with nourishment offer?" Mena mentioned several traits that make perioperative fosters special.

* They posses specialized knowledge and skills that mostly elected officials do not possess

* They are patient advocates.

* They know what works and what does not work.