After the morning course we went to the AORN store to purchase some O.R. nursing books and pins. The guy on the counter was kind enough to give us a lunch bag with AORN logo on it. Thought that was a treat. Then we went to the exhibit hall where we left no stone un-turned. I ended up with 4 bags full of surgical “stuff” from the tables that we visited. I was literally limping from the heaviness of the stuff. There was so much to see. From the new innovations in surgical instruments to different operating room tables used to position patients surgically in orthopedic and neuro surgeries. There were new drapes for c-arm procedures from AP especially when doing lateral picture that can be money saving to hospitals. There were markers for instruments that are embedded on the instruments permanently therefore can not be deleted and or removed. Making taping instruments to mark them a thing in the past. There are new marking pens to mark surgical sites that can not be deleted when the skin is prepped for the procedure. A miracle especially for plastic surgery. There were new innovations in lumbar and cervical spine surgeries from instruments to implants. Ethicon of course was there showing off the realize lap band and Medtronic and Zimmer, Stryker and Storz companies to name a few. Of course there were chocolates and cappuccino coffee in the midst of all these. And lunch was 50% sponsored by AORN with the coupon I got when I checked in. It was a lot of walking in the exhibit hall. Some were smart to bring a roller suitcase for all the samples stuff and to wear clogs during this educational but rather interesting ordeal.

Another Day!

Wow, we’ve been busy…running here and there…just like at my hospital where we have operating rooms on two floors. You realize, after you do the three-hundred yard, two flights of stairs, give directions to the Gift Store in the lobby, grab the pin cutters and pink pin caps, do the whole thing in reverse, stairs, yards, directions, that you needed the light green pin covers…Auditorium A, Dunkin’ Doughnuts, Hall E, AORN Bookstore, Reading Terminal, Hall E again…you get the picture…maybe I should have ridden my giraffe or tied a note to my wolfie and sent him out for provisions. I’ll have to acquire and train the animals earlier next year…”here boy…go get daddy a beignet!”.

Lee Woodruff’s story was especially inspiring. Their journey since his attack was arduous and difficult, at times, to listen too. Her humor and down to earth approach made the journey easier to follow. In her stories, she reminded me  how valuable the stories of patients and their families are in helping nurses to improve the care they give. All too often, you talk to a patient in the Holding Area for 2 minutes, you shoo the family off to the Waiting Room and you’re off to the OR. The Surgical team works their magic and you’re off to the PACU. You give a short report, thirty to ninety seconds, finish your paperwork and you may never see the patient again. How can you know what the patient experienced while in your care? You don’t know what they are thinking, feeling, you don’t know what the family is thinking or feeling either.

I think that we need to have more patients come back and talk about their perioperative experience. Questionnaires can provide empirical data for graphs and charts. It can show tiny percentages of improvement. Having a person come and speak about how scared they were and talk about how the nurse held their hand and it made it all better. Personal feedback from our patients could make a great deal of difference. We do post-op phone calls, but it’s not the same as having a person come to a staff meeting and talking about their experience. I think I’ll try this at a staff meeting and see what happens.

Another Busy Day!

The days are packed! There are miles of booths and scads of pens and trinkets to collect…

My Chapter Cohorts and I attended the Forum after lunch where we heard a discussion on the proposed Bylaws changes and some AORN initiatives. I don’t know that everyone’s questions were answered regarding the Bylaws changes, but perhaps further discussion tomorrow or Thursday will change that. I was intrigued by the expanded membership offerings by AORN. I think the creativity behind them will help to expand the membership. The organization is not without its challenges. I would encourage our incoming President, Anne Marie Herlehy, to help the membership understand what function Chapters will have in AORN’s long-term future. As one member asked during the Question and Answer session, if you offer free CE’s online what can a Chapter offer to draw members? The answer is complicated, but I’m afraid many members are scratching their heads right now. We need AORN to help us with an answer.

Curt

Got here before 8 am right on time as the parking lot was not crowded and we got to pick the lot nearest to the convention center. After we registered and picked up our bags we proceeded to the AORN lounge for some coffee and strolled right after to the ballroom A where we attended the course on O.R. recommended practices updates. Ballroom A was packed but we managed to find some seats a few minutes later. It was an interesting topic. There were a lot of participants from different nurses from different facilities all over the U.S. that voiced out their own ways of doing stuff in the O.R. something like comparing notes. Over all the topic was very informative and appropriate for everyone involved. The AORN recommended practices are indeed an indespensable guide to every peri-operative nursing practitioner.

Monday was packed!

I thought Sunday was a busy day with the opening session and my chapter selling jewelry and yummy Piñon Coffee in the Chapter sales area, but today was even busier! It started out early with a Specialty Assembly meeting followed by a the first educational session that was filled beyond capacity (they had to make an overflow room). I opted for the Poster Gallery. I see the posters as a way to peek into other hospital’s practice. I will be submitting a poster next year.

Lunch was a trip to the Reading Terminal. Rebecca and I ventured there and spent a lot of the time running around like little kids in a toyshop, kind of like the Exhibit Hall only with food. We both got the local fave the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich. It was as big as my forearm! There was no way to eat the entire thing in one sitting and still be able to make it to the next session…

I very much enjoyed Dr. Leape’s lecture on patient safety. I felt it was timely and informative. I can’t wait to get back home and begin working on some ideas I have on improving my OR.

The Exhibit Hall was almost overwhelming…you want to look at everything…you might miss that one thing that will change your practice and make you a hero at work. I haven’t gone down all the aisles yet, but I’m sure that booth is there and I’m going to find it. At least they had food (what’s all this about food?) and drink for the journey, they know nurses need sustenance for work like this and they’ve made provisions for us.

Curt

Exhibit Floor in Full Swing Tonight

The Exhibit Floor opened tonight and was in full swing with crowds of AORN attendees mingling, networking, and learning about numerous products that could influence their OR and improve patient care. As I roamed the Exhibit Hall floor, I overheard several attendees comment that “there is so much to see,” “this is fantastic!,'” and “I’m having the best time.” One attendee commented that this is her 40th Congress and that she is thrilled to be here and will definitely be here again next year. I met up with Trish Seifert, Editor-in-Chief of the AORN Journal, who was busy networking with exhibitors and attendees alike . . . and encouraging them to write for the AORN Journal, too!

Several attendees saw the Congress News QR code and wanted to know how to access Congress News on their phone. I happily obliged and helped them find a QR code reader application for their smartphone, scan the QR code, and read Congress News. There are so many new things this year and it’s wonderful to see so many attendees embracing the changes and truly enjoying them.

It was great to see so many smiling faces engaging in great conversation and learning. This is just the beginning — there are more days ahead of us at this year’s AORN Congress.

Lets Get It Started

Welcome to Philadelphia! The energy and excitement are increasing by the minute. I am thrilled to see so many smiling faces eager to start this week filled with education and networking. Thank you so much for coming!

Here’s to another great Congress!

~Congress News staff

Welcome to Congress 2011

Welcome to Philadelphia!  The weather is cool but sunny and it’s great to see old friends again!  Meet the candidates was wonderful but I still am thinking about who to vote for because they were all great!  Have fun!

Here in Philadelphia!

After an interesting and extended shuttle ride from the airport to my hotel, I’m here! I’ve had a chance to scope out downtown Philadelphia. There are so many historic sites to visit, Independence Hall is nearby with the Liberty Bell across the street. Every block has a plaque about some important event that took place there. I almost feel like I’m walking in a history textbook.

I met up with my fellow chapter members for a yummy dinner at McCormick and Schmick’s. We don’t get seafood like that in Albuquerque, so this was a treat! We strategized about the first day’s activities and then headed off to our respective hotels…of course, we’re not staying in the same hotel…

See you tomorrow!

Curt Vavra

Looking forward to Congress

Congress is only 2 days away! Wow! What a wonderful experience. Please take advantage of all that congress has to offer. This is not my first congress but the first time I am presenting a poster. Make sure you get all of your CE’s by looking at them. Talk soon!