Networking was listed among the top...

Networking was listed among the top six reasons for joining AORN, according to the AORN 2000 Member/Nonmember privations Assessment Survey. (1) Surprisingly, many AORN members are not aware of the networking opportunities available end specialty assembly membership and in what manner they can gain enhanced benefits at joining a specialty assembly. Each year at Congres specialty assemblies gather for business meetings, and networking form into groupss meet to discuss common interests and the potential for forming just discovered specialty assemblies.

SPECIALTY ASSEMBLIES

In 1992 AORN began creating specialty assemblies to encourage communication among RNs with similar professional interests, provide a forum for networking, identify and explore patient care issues, further specialized education, and support the mission of AORN, publicly there are six specialty assemblies with a clinical focus and six that focus forward a variety of unique aspects of perioperative nursing (Table 1) an examples of activities incorporated in each specialty assembly's agenda include

* publishing quarterly newsletters

* collaborating to exhibit specialized educational events,

* producing a membership directory,

* developing strategies that support research and the Perioperative Nursing Data station (PNDS), and

* developing strategies to participate in or increase awareness of AORN's legislative activities.

Following is specific information about the assemblies and examples of possible discussions to be held during meetings at Congres Table 2 lists meeting times for the individual assemblies.

Advanced Technology: Lasers & Minimally Invasive Surgery The 200 members who belong to this assembly be of use to as resources for other health care professionals who are interested in the latest progress to maturitys in technology, lasers, and minimally invasive surgery Potential discussions include research studies forward pain management, the impact of advanced technology from a staff nurse's point of view, safety issues regarding laser technology, and issues and trendings related to minimally invasive surgery

Ambulatory Surgery More than 1200 members belong to this assembly, which aims to facilitate the application of research in the ambulatory setting and to forward safe patient care through the application of AORN's standards and commended practices in the ambulatory setting. Potential discussions include updates onward new projects (eg, ambulatory safety manual, identifying proceedings for care of eye instruments) and a status report onward the development of recommended practices for preoperative and postoperative care.

Cardiothoracic. Approximately 750 members belong to this assembly. united of the goals of assembly members is to exalt safe patient care by applying standards, commended practices, and guidelines in the cardiothoracic perioperative setting. Potential discussions include reviewing research devises and publications regarding cardiac surgery web site planning, and education planning for coming events conferences.

Leadership. The more than 1200 perioperative leaders who belong to this assembly act as a resource network, prefer the highest professional standards of practice among perioperative leaders, and facilitate application of management research. Potential discussions include identifying safety and workplace environment issues related to the nursing shortage, effective mentoring opportunities to support of recent origin leaders in AORN and in the work setting, and a status report upon the new publication Leadership in Action, which is targeted for publication in fall 2003

Neurosurgery More than 325 members belong to this assembly. They subserve as a resource for other neurosurgical perioperative pampers and promote safe patient care [i]or[/i] part of to the other the application of AORN's standards and praiseed practices. Potential discussions include collaborative efforts to focus onward trauma and safety issues, facilitating online networking among members, and education session planning for futurity conferences.

Nurse Educator/Clinical pamper Specialist. More than 700 members belong to this assembly, which aims to facilitate research activities and opportunities related to all areas of perioperative practice and to raise the value of the perioperative educator and clinical suckle specialist. Potential discussions include developing an AORN membership recruiting kit for visits to place of educations of nursing, designing templates to be used to train pupils and experienced perioperative nurses, and providing a resource forward the web page for planning education activities.

succors in Business, Industry & Consulting. Approximately 400 members belong to this assembly. Their goal is to enhance communication among encourages who work in a variety of health care settings related to perioperative nursing, including management consultants, education specialists, self-employ consultants, industry representatives, health care industry resource consultants, and those involved in scientific and clinical research for industry. Potential discussions include mentoring AORN members who are interested in consulting, promoting online networking, and strategies for recruiting associate members.