JANUARY 1990, VOL. 51, NO 1 AORN JOURNAL

Editorial

Reminiscing about the past, gazing into the future

his pre-Congress issue marks the 30th T anniversary of the AORN Journal. It was exactly 30 years ago this month that AORN published the first edition of OR Nursing, the forerunner of today’s AORNJountal. At that time, AORN had about 3,300 members and dues were $1 a year, which soon were raised to $3. The bimonthly journal was heralded as the newest membership benefit. Although not earmarked as such, the first edition was essentially the first pre- Congress issue. It preceded the seventh annual AORN Congress, which was held in New York City the following month.

Sometimes it is beneficial to see where you have been before you predict where you will be in the future. As the editor of today’s AORN Journal, this trip back to the first edition was fun.

A “Clinical Brief” (the precursor of today’s “fillers”) announced a promising new develop- ment-the first electronic pacemaker that could “be sewn up inside a patient’s chest to keep his heart beating.” Another reported animal testing of a new stapling device that would allow surgeons to join blood vessels together.

One of its black-and-white advertisements pictured a new product that would make sterilizing surgical needles easier. Another extolled the virtues of a special handwashing procedure, which in combination with pHisoHex0, would decrease the incidence of cross infections. Those ads reminded me of the old-fashioned advertisements in Look and Lve magazines, which touted the benefits of Philip Morris cigarettes or Vitalis0 hair tonic. They’re interesting to read because they remind

me of how far we have progressed. The January 1960 issue of OR Nursing was

about an inch smaller than the modem AORN Journal. It had a plain black-and-white cover, and its 96 pages included a story on the Congress city, the AORN slate of candidates and candidates statements, the Congress program, a President’s message, an editorial, an executive secretary’s report, and some notices of chapter meetings. Both the editorial and the President’s message, which at that time was called “Presidential Views,” were written by Ethel I. West, RN, the AORN President at the time. The executive secretary’s report was written by Edith Dee Hall, AORNs founder and first executive secretary. Do those articles sound familiar?

Its name has changed and its look is definitely different, but the purposes and philosophy of the official publication of the Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc, remain the same. In that f k t editorial, West stated that the journal would present scientific, clinical, and technical informa- tion of interest to OR nurses. She also stated her belief that “it is through our individual actions, our Association’s activities, and the editorial content of our official journal that we create the image of our membership.” I believe that statement is as true today as it was in 1960.

Under the tutelage of its editors and business managers, the AORN Journal has seen many improvements in the last three decades. It has changed as the AORN membership has changed. The Journal now has excellent four-color advertisements, regular departments, a thriving home study program, up-to-date clinical and

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AORN JOURNAL JANUARY 1990, VOL. 51, NO 1

management articles, and an eight-member Editorial Board that conducts blind peer reviews of more than 300 manuscripts per year. Since 1987, the Journal has received seven awards for excellence, including the 1989 American Society of Association Executives Gold Circle Trophy Award-the highest achievement possible for an association journal.

This pre-Congress issue begins the decade of the 1990s for the AORN Journal; the image is excellent, and it will continue to be the best among specialty nursing journals. The cover illustration incorporates traditional photography with computer-generated graphics, a technology that with the aid of lasers will be used to produce outstanding covers in the future. A new depart- ment, ”Computers in the OR,” premieres in this issue, and members now have the opportunity to send in their computer-related questions for inclusion in this bimonthly column.

In this first issue of the 1990s, the Journal focuses on the future. The AORN President writes about what the future might bring to perioperative nursing and to AORN. The Executive Director, in his “Headquarters Report,” writes about some possible changes in the 1990s that will require action. The “OR Nursing Law” column addresses legal issues perioperative nurses are likely to face in the 1990s, just as the “Legislation” column outlines legislative priorities of this new decade.

When perioperative nurses of next generation look back at the Journals of the 1990s what will they notice? They may chuckle at the old- fashioned dress or the fillers that announce “new” innovations, but I am confident that they will be as proud of the AORN Journal as I am of the first edition of OR Nursing.

PAT NIESSNER PALMER, RN, MS EDITOR

Technology Revises Health Care Environment New technology is changing the delivery patterns of medical care and the behavior of its custo- mers, according to an article in the September/ October 1989 issue of Healthcare Forum Jour- nal. New ideas, packaging, cost pressures, and consumer education have changed the health care environment. At one time, only hospitals offered medical/surgical services, but now many of these can be offered through outpatient centers or physicians’ offices.

Between 1980 and 1987, US high-technology companies spent $64.3 billion on research and development, an increase of $12.4 billion. In California, one of the leading medical technology states, medical technology companies spent $1.1 billion in 1985. If medical technology companies are investing these funds in new product research and/or market expansion, they must assume that a market exists, or soon will, for their products and services, according to the article.

hospitals and physicians. New products will New technology products will be marketed to

likely address early intervention, life-style enhancement, localized care, and management systems requirements. For example, technologies surrounding early intervention may be at-home testing products and transtelephonic monitoring.

AORN Journal Writers Contest All articles published in the AORN Journal in 1989 that were written by at least one AORN member are eligible for the annual Writers Con- test. Johnson and Johnson Medical, Inc, will sponsor the contest, providing cash awards for first-, second-, and third-place articles.

All articles are rated by the AORN Journal editors and Editorial Board members. The top six articles are then judged by three editors of other nursing publications. Winners will be announced at Congress, and awards will be distributed at an awards reception during Congress.

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