‘AORN’s Next President

0 R ” s next President sets her sights on grass-roots A involvement

Oet 22,1991

hallenge. It is a formidable though the restaurant business is an osteopathic hospital, and C word for some; a call to was not for her, the interaction Ball found the holistic skills action for others. Kay A. Ball, with people and the opportunity employed by nurses to be in RN, MSA, CNOR, has courted to help them was something sync with the practices of the challenge throughout her life, that she wanted to pursue. physicians at Doctors. “I found and she finds the opportunity to During her clinical rotation the OR to be the best place for be AORN’s next President in school, the exciting and me to exercise all of the skills exciting and empowering. demanding environment of the that I had learned in nursing

During a recent interview OR enticed her to set a path school, and I liked the fast- at the American College of toward perioperative nursing. paced environment and the Surgeons Clinical Congress She began her career as an OR opportunity to be a part of the in Chicago, Ball talked about staff nurse at Doctors Hospital life-saving events that were her career as a perioperative North, Columbus, Ohio, in being performed,” Ball said. nurse and her views of the 1975, and rotated through all She became the OR head future. the specialty services. Doctors nurse in ear, nose, and throat

surgery and was asked Taking the to write a training man- First Steps ual for residents. This

training manual launch- all has not taken ed a career full of arti- the easy road to cles and eventually a

book. achieve her level of expertise in nursing. Ball also was a She indicated that she founding member of was married shortly the now-defunct Asso- after high school and ciation of Nurses in began a family before Osteopathic Medicine. she decided to enter The association set out nursing. She attended to convey the role of Columbus (Ohio) Tech- osteopathic medicine nical Institute to com- and osteopathic nurses plete her associate to consumers and other degree in nursing with health care profession- two small boys in tow als. When its mission and the desire to help was accomplished, the people. Her mother Michael S. Elder, MA, manager ofphotograph association was dis- owned a restaurant, and banded. As a member of Ball learned that even Ohio) the association, Ball

B

Kay Ball pictured at Mount Carmel Health, Columbus, Ohio. (Photographs courtesy of

services, Mount Carmel Health, Columbus,

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began lecturing about the compatibility of osteo- pathic medicine and nursing and their mutual- ly holistic views.

When Ball became the assistant director of surgery at Doctors, she realized that her educa- tional background was limited and she began to pursue her bache- lor’s degree. She obtained that degree in nursing from Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio. Her college cur- riculum enabled her to work in other nursing

authority on laser sys- tems and management were not enough, Ball began traveling as an accomplished and knowledgeable lectur- er. In 1986, Ball began lecturing on laser tech- nology for AORN. She had honed her speak- ing skills through many presentations for physicians and nurses in the osteopathic realm, and her knowl- edge of lasers was wel- comed by AORN members who were hesitant to embrace Ball enjoys the excitement of sharing informa-

environments (eg, tion about lasers through lecturing. home health care, pub- lic health nursing). “That experience in-creased my interest in nursing in gener- al and intensified my love of nursing as I realized the responsibilities of the nurse and the impact that the nursing pro- fession makes,” said Ball. The experience prompted Ball to continue her pursuit of knowl- edge and begin work on her master’s degree in health care administration. “I wanted to learn more about the health care environment, and rather than pursue a master’s i n a clinical area, I chose health care management,” Ball said. Ball attended a branch of Central Michigan University in Columbus, Ohio.

As she began her studies in 1985, Ball was recruited by Grant Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, as the administrative director of the Grant Laser Center. Ball

believed that her surgical experience, an interest i n lasers, her experience i n developing a nursing organi- zation, and her organizational skills acquired as assistant director would help her achieve her major profession- al goal. “My goal has always been to become very good at one thing and to become known for that one area,” Ball said. Lasers have proven to be that one area.

Ball helped set up Grant’s laser program and then in June of 1985, she helped develop the first local anesthesia laser cen- ter i n the United States at Grant. She directed the laser center and spent much of her time educating health care providers about lasers and their use.

As if setting up laser centers and becoming a recognized

this new technology. Ball also began lectur- ing outside of the

United States and recognized a global need for information on lasers.

Ball perceived that perioper- ative nurses were wary of the new technology, and talking about lasers was not enough. Soon, she set out to write arti- cles that would put her col- leagues at ease with the ever- expanding field of lasers. She also began writing a book on lasers entitled Lusers-The Per ioperat ive Chal lenge , which was published in 1990. “I was honored to be asked to write a book,” Ball said, “but I had two stipulations for the pub- lisher. First, the book needed to be soft cover, and second, it needed to cost less than $25. I wanted nurses to be able to afford the book and use it as a reference guide for their pro- grams.”

By 1990, Ball had finished

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her master’s work, had ensured that the Grant Laser Center was running well, and had completed her book, so it was time for a new challenge. Ball became the director of the laser pro- gram at Mount Carmel Health, Columbus, Ohio, and set out to share her expertise with new col- leagues.

Ball oversees a laser pro- gram for two hospitals with 17 lasers. She is directly responsible for lasers in the local anesthesia centers and serves as a laser consultant for the ORs. In addition to her administrative duties, a large component of Ball’s job is to provide education to employees on laser safety and policies and procedures. She conducts in-service sem- inars and writes a monthly in-house publication entitled Laser Log to maintain open communication between laser team members. Ball also dons her scrubs and enters the OR to help Iaser team members learn about new lasers or new techniques.

She also currently serves as the nursing/allied health section chairman of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, a professional organiza- tion for physicians, nurses, ven- dors, and health care workers who are involved with laser tech- nology. Her section presents annual research for the society, and Ball conducts research in laser technology (eg, how insti- tutions structure laser charges, remuneration and responsibilities

As director of the laser program, Ball and her staff handle day-to- day operations at the Center.

of laser safety officers).

AORN Enters the Picture

all joined AORN in 1976 B because of the excitement generated by her in-service educator at Doctors. “It was exciting to meet with nurses on a monthly basis and share ideas,” Ball said, “and T became very active i n my chapter in 1980.” In fact, Ball served as president, president- elect, and as a member of the board of directors of the Central Ohio chapter. She

served on many committees, and continues to be active in her local chapter.

In 1983, Ball decided to move into the national arena by serving on the Scholar- ship Board. Since that time, Ball has served on other national committees and as a member of the Board of Dir- ectors before being elected President-elect.

Ball emphasized that AORN has validated what she has tried to do in her professional life. “AORN has given me recogni- tion for my achievements and validated that I am on the right

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Ball finds teaching colleagues about lasers one of the enjoyable aspects

and AORN members need to realize that they can become involved in leg- islative issues and make their voices heard. Ball would like nurses to view their profession as a career, not just a job. By giving more to their pro- fession, she believes nurs- es can get more for them- selves. AORN also has many nurses who are willing to volunteer to help the Association move forward, and Ball believes that it is time to let these individuals “shine.”

Ball’s personal goal is to help guide the Association

of her job.

track. It has been the fuel in my gas tank,” Ball said. According to Ball, AORN has been instru- mental in her career by giving her the tools to achieve her goals.

Looking Toward the Future

all has definite ideas about B AORN, its future, and her Presidency. While challenge remains a constant in Ball’s life, change also is important to her and, she believes, to AORN. “I get very excited when I start new projects, and I just want more and more and more, “ Ball said. “It’s like filling up a cup that needs to be full, and so far, the cup has not overflowed,” Ball said.

Ball also credits the recogni-

tion that she has received from physicians regarding nurse/ physician collaboration in creat- ing teams as very motivating. “The respect that I have from physicians [by virtue of her laser expertise] is very reward- ing.” said Ball.

When Ball speaks of AORN’s future, she is adamant about the need for membership involvement and support. “I believe that grass-roots in- volvement is essential for AORN to thrive, and 1 hope to make that kind of involvement a priority,” Ball emphasized. “AORN has its act together,” Ball said, and its stature will “help mold the health care environment.”

Ball stressed that she believes people can juggle many different responsibilities,

into the future, and she stressed the importance of following through with the

work begun on Project 2000. “It is important that we work on AORN’s organizational struc- ture, develop a new way of look- ing at the definition of perioper- ative nursing, and pay special attention to the role of AORN in the practices of perioperative nurses of the future. This can be accomplished by enhancing edu- cational opportunities and sup- porting appropriate nursing leg- islation.”

Ball believes AORN is lead- ing the way for other nursing organizations because it has taken on the challenge of the future.

Ball strongly believes that AORN must do more than meet the basic needs of peri- operative nurses, and it must meet future needs of all seg- ments of perioperative nurses

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Ball and her husband enjoy ballroom dancing and hope to enter competitions.

(eg, managers, specialty prac- tice nurses, nurse educators). She stressed stability, consis- tency, and collaboration with colleagues to address vital common issues. “Members need to be empowered so they can see the challenges of the future, not as hurdles, but as little excitements along the road to get to where we want to go.”

The Private President

all remarried in May 1991, B and she and her husband, Dan Flynn, have schedules that take them all over the world. Ball does manage to visit her sons at their respective col- leges, however. Ball’s eldest

son is a senior at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass, majoring in physics. Her youngest son attends Columbus (Ohio) State Community College.

Ball had a serious car accident in 1989 that changed her view of life. Being a patient gave her a new awareness of patient anxi- eties and issues. “I realized how wonderful nurses can be and how they can make the patient feel very relaxed,” she said, “and I looked on the nurses as my advo- cates.” Ball also realized how important her family is to her.

When she is not lecturing, writing, or traveling, Ball enjoys scuba diving and tries to indulge in a diving trip annually.

Even though Ball and her

husband both travel extensive- ly, they make the time to enjoy ballroom dancing together. Of course, the activity and preci- sion of dancing appeal to Ball. No staid activities for the next President. After all, where is the challenge in that?

PEGGY S. LEHR MANAGING EDITOR

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