JUNE 1998, VOL 67, NO 6 P R E S I D E N T ‘S M E S S A G E

Determining our destiny through connectedness

s your AORN President, I believe that the choices we A make determine our destiny.

Making the right choices, together, is accomplished with elements for success that are currently in place. These elements include a talented and diverse membership, a commit- ted and visionary board of directors, strong industry supporters, and a Headquarters staff that has always met challenges with resolve and vision. I have chosen committee responsibilities, new task forces, and foreseeable priorities to strengthen our Association’s viabil- ity and destiny.

STRENGTHENING OUR FOUNDATION

The theme for the 1999 AORN Congress, “Bridging the Cen- turies,” symbolizes our move into the future. The oldest bridge still standing in Rome was built in 62 BC. It is still standing because it was built on an extensive founda- tion that must support the weight of what is crossing. AORN also has an extensive foundation, the strength of which will continue to be tested many times.

Nursing’s strength has also been tested over the centuries. Dur- ing the postwar era, there were sig- nificant changes to both society and health care. The demand for health care and the need for health care workers grew during the 1960s and prepared us for the next decade. By this time, health care was the third largest industry in America, with some evidence that hospitals had become grossly

overused. From 1980 to 1990, depending on one’s vantage point, health care was in either the best or the worst of times. Cost in general became a major concern. Hospitals became more businesslike in their governance and management. Alternative care delivery settings such as surgical centers opened their doors. Managed care was pro- moted as one viable solution to health care utilization and expense. Today, we are faced with the chal- lenge of moderating increases in health care expenditures without affecting quality.

After experiencing the 45th AORN Congress in Orlando, Ha, talking to fellow perioperative nurses and sharing ideas, I sensed a collective strength and enthusiasm from our members. Although these feelings have been renewed at pre- vious Congresses, the difference this time was a sense that perioper- ative nurses are prepared, more than ever before, to manage health care challenges with foresight and vision-a sense that we are in con- trol as we have never been before. These feelings reminded me of a story told by Charles Swindoll that reinforces the benefits of using col- lective strength and persistence.

A mother and her nine-year-old son attended a performance of the famous composer-pianist, Paderewski. The affair was a high- society extravaganza with tuxedos and long evening dresses. The mother was hoping her boy would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could hear the immortal Paderewski at the keyboard, and

therefore had forced him to attend.

The son became weary of waiting and squirmed con- stantly in his SHUMAKER seat. As his mother turned to talk to friends, her son slipped away from her side, drawn to the ebony concert grand Steinway and its leather tufted stool on the huge stage flooded with lights. The boy sat down at the stool, placed his small, trembling fingers in the right location and began to play “Chop- sticks.” The crowd hushed until they saw what was happening and began to shout: “Get that boy away from there! Where’s his mother? Who’d bring a kid that young in here? Somebody stop him!”

Backstage, the master over- heard the sounds on stage and put together in his mind what was happening. Hurriedly, he grabbed his coat, rushed toward the stage, and without one word of announcement, stooped over behind the boy. He began to improvise a counter-melody to harmonize with and enhance “Chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear, “Keep going. Don’t quit son. Keep on playing. Don’t stop. Don’t quit.”’

PERSISTENCE IN OUR ENDEAVORS Combined talents of the boy

and the master resulted in a collective strength. Along with

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persistence-a “don’t quit” atti- tude-they turned what was per- ceived as a negative situation into something positive. As we seek ways to manage changes, we are sometimes left with a feeling of insignificance-like playing “Chopsticks” in a huge concert hall. During times like these, work- ing together, using our unique skills, supporting each other, per- sistence, and showing enthusiasm can provide just the right touch at just the right moment.

Perioperative nursing as we know it today may not exist in the future. The traditional OR may not endure-we can no longer expect the patient to come to us. Surgical procedures will take place in areas within and outside of the hospital, including radiology and emer- gency rooms, physician’s offices, and nursing units. Perioperative nurses must be prepared to care for those patients and contribute tools (eg, standards and recom- mended practices) to provide the best care possible.

STRATEGIES FOR CONNECTEDNESS

of Directors persisted to develop plans to ensure connectedness between perioperative nurses. They continued work from the previous year to address the diver- sity, mobility, and desire for choices by perioperative nurses. The Board’s vision for our mem- bership to be informed and influ- ential inspired further examination of ideas that would provide a strong and connected member- ship. At Congress, the Board shared several strategies to meet member needs for connectedness.

Chapter strength. AORN mem- bers have always benefited from the communication link that was

During the last year, the Board

NOTES

established when the founders organized the association. Chapters are, and continue to be, critical to AORN’s success. Some chapters are struggling with issues such as poor meeting attendance, difficulty finding people to run for office, and inability to send delegates to Con- gress. Chapter communication will be maintained, and support systems will be strengthened to ensure that chapter viability continues.

Membership Committee struc- ture. The Membership Committee has been restructured to provide a coordinator for each state. The role of the Membership Committee in gathering information and commu- nication serves as a vital link between national AORN and peri- operative nurses. This committee structure will align fewer chapters with one person for purposes of strengthening communication.

State council relationships. The Board of Directors adopted a position encouraging all states to form state councils. State councils are an asset to increase collabora- tion and work of the Association and to provide yet another avenue for chapter members or members at large to benefit from AORN. State councils have been formed by many states. They function autonomously based on guidelines that meet their individual mission. The Board of Directors is interest- ed in strengthening those relation- ships and developing avenues for information sharing. State councils also provide an opportunity for perioperative nurses who benefit from a forum other than chapter membership. A task force will be formed to address questions about state council relationships. If a bylaws change that would specifi- cally name and incorporate state councils into the formal AORN structure is feasible, it will possibly

come before the membership at the 1999 AORN Congress. Although this strategy needs more develop- ment to ensure that AORN and state councils can accomplish a coordinated relationship, the Board of Directors is seeking information from those who have experienced state councils and from those who are interested in their development.

These three activities that were discussed at Congress are methods that the Association is pursuing to strengthen the connectedness and strength of perioperative nurses.

DECIDING DIRECTIONS REQUIRES PERSISTENCE AND ENTHUSIASM

We are faced with deep prob- lems and painful choices that a quick-fix approach will not solve. As President, my goal is to find per- manent fixes that will permit roles of caring, curing, and advocating for patients. Groups frequently identify communication as a com- mon factor when asked how they accomplish their success. Sensing the collective vision and strength of our members at the AORN Con- gress reinforces the need to contin- ue dialogue throughout the year.

The strategies identified are intended to strengthen the Asso- ciation’s foundation and make this era in health care one of the best for perioperative nurses. Thomas J. Watson said, “Great accomplishments have resulted from the transmission of ideas and enthusiasm.”2 As members, you are the Association. You have the ideas, and together we can make choices with enthusi- asm and persistence to determine our destiny and provide direction that will benefit perioperative nursing for years to come.

RUTH P. SHUMAKER RN, BSN, CNOR

PRESIDENT

Cliffs. NJ: Prentice Hall. 1988) 22. 1. G Van Ekeren, The Speaker’s Sourcebook: Quotes, 2.Ibid, 140.

Stories, and Anecdotes for Every Occasion (Englewood

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