REFRESHMENTS

AORN SPECIALTY ASSEMBLIES

THREE POTENTIAL NEW

SPECIALTY ASSEMBLIES

POT-LUCK DINNER

JUNE 20, 2000

RSVP

ANA’s website, NursingWorld www.nursingworld.org, has long been the source of must-have information and current news for the nation’s nurses. Now, NursingWorld has a dynamic new affiliate developed especially with the professional and retail shopping needs of nurses in mind. NursingMall.org is an online shopping site that is fun, easy to use and secure.

	CELEBRATE NATIONAL NURSES WEEK
	May 6 through May 12

The celebration of Nurses Week begins each year on Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

From its earliest beginnings, nursing has been concerned with the human condition. In addition to caring for the sick, nurses assumed the social dimension of addressing problems associated with conditions that affect the health and welfare of society. Concern for overall health has linked nursing closely with social efforts of communities to provide practical and effective measures to preserve health. As a result, nurses are trusted by the public to know how to care for persons who experience suffering and distress, and they are expected to partner with others to promote health and prevent disease under varying and complex conditions. The public trust is rooted in a distinguished tradition.

(Source Excellence in Clinical Practice Second Quarter 2000, Volume 1, Number 2)

	AORN
	CONGRESS 2000
	PRESIDENT PATRICIA SEIFERT LEADS   THE OPENING SESSION
	PROCESSIONAL WITH MUCH FANFARE

Click here for Congress updates in this issue of

THE CUTTING EDGE

ABSENTEE BALLOT

1. Absentee ballots are clarified as official ballots cast in person prior to designated voting time or ballots from the AORN Newsletter.

2. Ballots mailed to Nominating Committee Chairman or hand delivered to the election meeting place, must be found intact within a sealed white envelope with voter’s name and AORN number on the outside of the mailing envelope.

3. Membership status based on current member-ship list will be confirmed on each absentee ballot before it may be tallied.

MEMBERS OF THE 2000-2001 NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

CHARLOTTE L. GUGLIELMI, RN, BSN, CNOR

NATHALIE F. WALKER, RN, CNOR

PAT HICKEY, RN, BSN, CNOR

KATHLEEN A. O’TOOLE, RN, BS, BSN, CNOR

LINDA L. SAVAGE, RN, BS, CNOR

ADVISOR —PATRICIA C. SEIFERT, RN, MSN, CNOR, CRNFA

TOP 10 REASONS TO BE SCENT-FREE AT WORK

 

10. You save money.

9. Your co-workers can breath easier.

8. You won’t attract the wrong kind of attention.

7. You won’t trigger someone’s migraine (or maybe your own).

6. You won’t exacerbate your patient’s asthma.

5. You will contribute to better indoor air quality.

4. You will not be in a cloud of acetone, formade-hyde, benezaldehyde, benezylacetate, benezy-lalcohol, ethanol, limonene, linalool and meth-ylene-chloride 
— all are listed as hazardous waste and contribute to workplace asthma.

3. You won’t cause skin reactions in sensitized people.

2. You won’t be supporting big business profits of companies that disregard consumer health and safety.

1. You would be safe to be around.

(Source: March/April 2000 The American Nurse)

THE COLOR CODE:     INVITING CHANGE

	DEVELOPING PEOPLE
	CREATING SYNERGY

CONTRIBUTED BY MARY HURT

Taylor Hartman, PhD, uses humor and personal anecdotes to describe a colorful new language for understanding and motivating people. The Hartman Personality Profile incorporates the premise that people are born with their personalities already intact, and that each personality type comes with distinct characteristics and gifts.

Dr. Hartman’s model breaks down personalities into four colors, each directed by a different core motivator. Hartman created a profile test to help people determine their “color”. By understanding “the color code” people can understand each other better and teams can function more effectively.

People with red personalities are motivated by power. They are very directed, pragmatic, and forthright. They can be insensitive, blunt, and critical of others. When dealing with a “red,” it is best to be brief, direct, and specific. Famous reds include Florence Nightingale, Madonna, and Billy Graham. CEO’s, managers, and surgeons are usually in this group.

People with blue personalities are driven by intimacy and are thoughtful, nurturing, committed, and honest.

They worry about everything and have unrealistic expectations. Famous blues are Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, and Abe Lincoln.

The core motivator of “whites” is peace. They are even tempered, objective, and tolerant. “Whites” are independent and kind and tend to say very little. They are very indecisive, silently stubborn, and boring. White personalities are characterized by Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Stewart, and Albert Einstein. Occupations include chemists, dentists, researchers, and lawyers.

Fun is the motivating factor behind people with yellow personalities, as they are very happy, social, and spontaneous. “Yellows” are characterized by their enthusiasm and optimism. They will not show up for meetings if they have something more fun to do. There are no careers they would enjoy except sun bathing.

What is your key motivator? Why do you do what you do? Knowing this can help you to understand and get along better with others. (EXERT FROM A 2000 CONGRESS PROGRAM)

FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR

PRODUCTIVITY

 

Setting goals, learning to work effectively, and knowing how to relax will result in personal productivity. Here are five ways to improve your productivity:

1. USE LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM PLANNING.

Long-term plans describe what you want to accomplish in the next three months. Short-term plans cover what you plan to do today or this week. Short-term plans can also be steps toward longer-term objectives.

2. PRIORITIZE YOUR TASKS.

Before you start any job, evaluate how it relates to your long-term and short-term goals. Divide tasks into three categories: A—Essential; B—Important; C—Nice-to-Do. When prioritizing work, ask yourself why you’re doing a particular task. How urgent is it? Can it be delegated to someone else?

3. GET ORGANIZED.

Make monthly, weekly, and daily to-do-lists. Stay focused on what’s important. Reduce clutter on your desk and shelves. Check your calendar daily and weekly.

4. MANAGE YOUR TIME.

Complete your most difficult tasks when your energy level is at its peak. Break large jobs into smaller ones. Plan private time each day when you can work without interruptions. Screen phone calls and learn to handle unexpected visitors. Practice saying “no” to activities that don’t support your long-term goals. Use your commute time wisely.

5. ENJOY YOUR LEISURE TIME.

Have fun along the way. Make time to exercise and have fun with your family. Keep some time for yourself. Develop your own personal interests and activities.

HOSPITAL DISCOVERS PETS ARE A

PATIENT’S BEST FRIEND

by Elaine Bloniasz

Our staff believes in the importance of emotional support and its role in the healing process. There is a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that pets are often an important source of support to their owners, especially in times of stress and illness. Because some patients share a special bond with their pets and may find a pet visit comforting, we developed the pet visitation program in the Intensive Care Unit of Baystate Medical Center, a 600-bed level 1 trauma center in Springfield, Mass.

The program has been in place for about three years, with more than 30 visits to the hospital’s ICU. As a form of animal companionship therapy, patients spend time with their own dogs, cats, or prescreened animals provided by community volunteers.

Although we have no quantitative research data to document that these visits are helpful to patients in any measurable way, observations of staff and feedback from participants and their families have been positive. The success of visits to the ICU has opened the program to all other nursing units at Baystate.

In order to assure the visits run smoothly and that the privacy, safety and comfort of all patients is maintained, we follow certain guidelines. Written consent must be obtained from the patient and family. The patient’s own pet can visit or we can arrange for a visit from one of our pet companion dogs, which have been immunized and behaviorally screened using guidelines established by the Delta Society, a national group specializing in animal-assisted therapy. Small pets are transported in carriers while larger animals must be leashed.

Our first pet visitor in the ICU was Ellie, a regal greyhound whose owner was a critically ill young man, and each visit was followed by a period of increased cognitive awareness. Ellie became a frequent visitor throughout his recovery and played a pivotal role in paving the way for our future pet visitors.

Daisy, one of the pet companion dogs, was owned by a man with a terminal illness. He knew first-hand the power of his little dog. He explained, “I would come home from my treatments and cuddle up with Daisy. She was the best medicine.” A pet team that included Daisy visited many of our patients. A long-haired dachshund, Daisy was small enough to be placed on the bed of a young trauma victim. She settled herself alongside the patient and allowed him to pet her. The young man’s face lit up with joy as he visibly relaxed and told us proudly about his own dog, a rottweiler.

Because our patients are in physiologic crisis, they are deprived of some basic needs. They experience loneliness, isolation, and often, depression. Pets can sometimes break through the walls of isolation when humans cannot.

In addition to our own evaluation, we ask participants to complete a questionnaire. From this evaluation we learned about the impact of the visitation on patient’s family members and on the pets themselves. One patient’s wife described the visit as “a real gift” to the whole family. Another patient’s wife reported the family cat would not eat or sleep in the usual place at the foot of the bed when her husband became hospitalized. After a visit with her owner, the cat returned to her normal routine.

Although establishing the program has been labor intensive, it has been well worth the effort. The result is a unique therapeutic intervention that at once touches everyone involved.

(Source Excellence in Clinical Practice Second Quarter 2000 Vol. 1, Number 2)

NEWS FROM CONGRESS 2000

SECOND HOUSE OF DELEGATES

At the second House of Delegates, held Thursday, April 6, 2000, delegates discussed and voted against a proposed bylaws amendment related to the eligibility of candidates for national office. They ratified the “Revised Resolution on the Role of the Scrub Person.” They discussed, amended, and adopted the “Proposed AORN Statement on the Role of the Health Care Industry Representative in the Operating Room.” They approved a motion to develop an AORN task force to accelerate AORN’s smoke initiatives. They discussed formation of a political action committee (PAC), and they heard election results.

Proposed bylaws amendment.

A motion was made to change the bylaws to eliminate the requirement that nominees for national office be members continuously for two years immediately prior to being nominated. The motion failed.

Revised Resolution on the Role of the Scrub Person.

It was moved that the “Revised Resolution on the Role of the Scrub Person” be ratified as written. The text appears in the January 2000 AORN Journal and in Congress Resources. The motion passed.

Proposed AORN Statement on the Role of the Health Care Industry Representative in the Operating Room.

A motion was made to adopt the “Proposed AORN Statement on the Role of the Health Care Industry Representative in the Operating Room” as written. The proposed statement appears in the January 2000 AORN Journal and in Congress Resources. Vicki Fox, RN, MSN, CNOR, CRNFA, ACNP-CS, moved that the statement in precept 11 be changed from “quickly address variations from established policy by either members of the perioperative team or the health care industry representative” and insert the words “address departures from established policy.” The motion passed.

Kathie Shea, RN, CNOR, speaking for AORN of Alameda County, moved that the sentence in precept 8 that reads “The health care industry representative should not scrub in” be amended to read “The health care industry representative should not scrub in, open sterile supplies, or participate in direct patient care activities.”

Shea said that the “Operating Room Protocol for Medical Industry Professional,” sponsored by Education Design, Inc. and recognized by AORN, states that industry representatives should not scrub in, open sterile supplies, or participate in patient care. Fox responded that the protocol does not set national guidelines for policy development. She said the proposed AORN statement is intended to provide general guidelines for facilities to develop policies, and individual facility policies may be more prescriptive than any national guideline. The motion was defeated.

A motion was made to approve the “Proposed AORN Statement on the Role of the Health Care Industry Representative in the Operating Room” as amended. The motion passed. The statement will appear in the June issue of the Journal.

New membership category.

Kay Ball, RN, CNOR, FAAN, moved that the Board of Directors explore the creation of a membership category for health care industry representatives and others. She said this would be a nonvoting category that could provide a new source of revenue and increase membership numbers. The motion passed.

Task force on surgical smoke.

Patrice Spera, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, speaking for AORN of the Gulf Coast of Florida, moved that AORN form a task force to accelerate AORN’s smoke initiatives to improve the work environment for perioperative team members and patients. The motion passed.

Formation of a PAC.

Charlotte Zacker, RN, CNOR, AORN of South Jersey, moved that the Board explore formation of a PAC. Several delegates expressed their support of Zacker’s motion. Charlene Gilbert, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, Franklin, Tennessee, said “The time is right (for a PAC). I don’t want to ride the fence. If we . . . have a PAC, we get off the fence and support AORN the way they have supported us.”

Anita Shoup, RN, MSN, CNOR, reminded delegates that although a PAC is a powerful tool, forming a PAC could have ramifications that members may not have considered. As an example, she said, AORN might support a candidate because he or she supports a particular issue, but the candidate could also support other issues that AORN would not support. The question was called, and the motion was defeated.

GENERAL COLIN POWELL

Addressing an audience that began gathering more than one hour before the doors opened, General Colin Powell, USA (Ret), was captivating. Thousands of attendees and exhibitors packed into the convention center in New Orleans to hear the world-renowned military leader and advisor to three presidents give a powerful presentation at the Jerry G. Peers Lectureship Tuesday night. The lectureship was sponsored by the Exhibitors’ Advisory Committee (EAC) with generous contributions from 3M Health Care.

After a warm welcome by EAC chair Matt Cavanaugh and a videotape introduction of the “authentic hero,” Gen. Powell excitedly took the stage.

Gen. Powell opened by stressing the link between nursing and the military that was described in the opening video, and he commended nurses who serve in the armed forces. He recounted an incident in which his son, Mike, almost died and needed immediate surgery at a military hospital. With much emotion, he shared how his fear during the desperate situation was relieved by the upbeat personality and optimism of the perioperative nurse on duty. “One of yours took very good care of a very scared general, and I thank every one of you,” he said.

Gen. Powell said his career has been divided into three stages: his 35 years as a soldier; the writing and promoting of his book, which has sold almost two million copies; and his work with the organization America’s Promise — Alliance for Youth, of which Gen. Powell is chair. America’s Promise focuses on the following five areas.

Mentoring today’s youth;

Providing safe places for children to learn and grow (e.g., after school programs, YMCAs). “We need to teach our kids that there are better things to do than sit in front of TV and watch Jerry Springer,” he said.

Ensuring every child gets a healthy start (i.e., vaccinations, proper health care);

Teaching children marketable skills “so that no kid is left on the wrong side of the digital divide”; and

Giving kids opportunities to serve people.The organization addresses his strong belief in the need to prepare and support today’s youth.

Gen. Powell concluded “Believe as I do. We are here as the result of an act of divine providence.” His final statement, “Thank you for what you are doing and God Bless you all,” elicited a standing ovation and a round of cheers.

	LEGISLATIVE
	ALERT!

DELAYED OSHA SMOKE

GUIDELINES! YOUR LETTERS ARE NEEDED

AORN has been working for four years or more to get OSHA to release the document last titled “Information for Health Care Workers Exposed to Laser and Electrosurgery Smoke.” These guidelines on the use of electrosurgical smoke units (ESUs) were supposed to be made public in 1999. AORN President Brenda Ulmer met with OSHA and representatives from other nursing associations to discuss the issue on March 29. OSHA has decided to delay the release of the smoke guidelines pending more research on outcomes. The AORN Department of Research is exploring the possibility of obtaining data from a national nursing study that could be segregated to compare perioperative nurses with other nurses in other hospital services.

OSHA officials also commented that they had not heard from AORN members. Please write a letter describing the affects of electrosurgical smoke on you and your patients.

A. W. (Jack) Longmire, M.D.

OSHA Medical Officer

200 Constitution Avenue, Room 3457

Washington, D. C. 20210

 

UPDATE ON HCFA PROPOSED RULE CHANGES

 

On April 19, AORN sent HCFA information on a 50-state statute and regulation search on responsibility of RNs for patient assessment. We also presented the results of a convenience survey conducted at the 2000 AORN Congress on the utilization of LPNs. I want to assure you that AORN staff has been working diligently over the last three years to oppose the HCFA proposed rule change. AORN has been in close communication with HCFA regarding the crucial role that RNs play in the OR. AORN has presented a convincing argument underscoring the fact that RNs are legally responsible for patient assessment and the utilization of LPNs (who only are allowed by law to assist in patient assessment and care) is actually decreasing in many acute care hospitals.

HCFA will be meeting on April 21, to discuss this issue. If you have any question, please contact the AORN Government Affairs Office.

2000

THE CUTTING EDGE

PUBLICATION OF AORN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA