PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A Time for Giving VICTORIA M. STEELMAN PhD, RN, CNOR, FAAN, AORN PRESIDENT
D
ecember is a month of celebrating and spending time with family and friends. We celebrate the end of a year, talk about the highs and lows, and look forward to the New Year. Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and commercial ads reminding us that we “need” to buy gifts, we lose sight of the true spirit of this season. Dr Seuss’s Grinch said it well, “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”1 Whatever your faith, December is a month of reveling in the wonderful feeling and renewed energy of giving to others and making a difference in their lives. I truly believe that the joy of giving is one of the most beautiful feelings one can experience. Perioperative nurses care for their patients, making a difference in their lives, every day. The feeling of making a difference is the fuel that supports our professional work. December offers us an opportunity to expand this giving to other team members, our patients, and members of the community. GIVING TO OTHER TEAM MEMBERS Perioperative nurses across the country have collected donations and gifts for team members in need, including those with prolonged health conditions or those who have experienced family tragedies. The staff of one ambulatory surgery center collected money for a coworker with breast cancer. They built on this and have made a tradition
of participating in walks to support breast cancer research. This type of giving engages team members and enhances teamwork, and everyone benefits. Similarly, a perioperative team in a Midwest hospital collected donations to assist a staff member who experienced a house fire that destroyed the family’s holiday presents. This kindness allowed the children to experience the holidays and see role modeling of the spirit of the season. Another way to give is through donating vacation time to those in need. Many organizations have a catastrophic leave program. Employees may donate vacation time to an employee with a serious health issue who has exhausted all of his or her accrued time off. The employee in need applies to be placed on an approved list, and other employees donate time online. This bridges the financial gap before disability insurance payments begin. The program also supports employees who need leave to care for family members who have catastrophic illnesses or injuries. The beauty of the program is that it is anonymous, and in this way, it exemplifies the true spirit of giving. The cumulative effect of many donations can be significant. For example, a nurse with a child who sustained a severe brain injury experienced this generosity. The child needed to relocate for rehabilitation, and the generosity of the coworkers’ donated time allowed her son to progress, be able to walk, and care for himself. A gift like that is immeasurable.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.10.001
Ó AORN, Inc, 2014
December 2014
Vol 100
No 6
AORN Journal j 563
December 2014 Vol 100 No 6
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
this type of giving, and I will share several with which I am familiar here. Many teams participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.4 As part of this program, volunteers adorn a Christmas tree with angel tags that each contain a recipient’s age, gender, clothing sizes, and gift wishes. Perioperative team members select an “angel,” purchase items for that child or senior based on the information on the tag, and then return the gifts to the collection area. Similarly, in Anderson, South Carolina, the perioperative team at AnMed gathered presents for Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources.5 Through this program, GIVING TO OUR PATIENTS Perioperative teams from many hospitals and they adopted a Head Start Program class and proambulatory surgery centers have a tradition of vided gifts for every child in the class in 2013. giving back to their patients. Some collect supplies This year, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, AORN or host a dinner for a Chapter 1904 will doRonald McDonald nate gift boxes to stu3 House or other hosdents with hearing Perioperative nurses care for their patients, pital family house. making a difference in their lives, every day. The impairments who atOther teams have tend the Louisiana feeling of making a difference is the fuel that supports our professional work. adopted a patient or State School for the a patient’s family. Deaf. They also will An inspirational volunteer their time example is the perioperative team at The University and collect supplies for the local Hope House,6 an of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, where organization that assists victims of human trafficking. the nursing staff hosts an annual silent auction in For the past few years, AORN of San Francisco the secured area of the OR. The tradition started and Marin has supported La Casa de las Madres,7 a with the neurosurgery nurses wanting to do someprogram that assists victims of domestic violence. thing meaningful for a patient during the last days The chapter members take the “Santa’s List” of of her life. They made gift baskets and received children who have been abused and provide gifts to some contributions from local businesses. They these children. Merideth Lewis-Cooney, BSN, RN, hosted a silent auction and raised enough money to CNOR, describes the rewards, saying, “Our simple help the patient’s family. The emotional rewards gifts during this season bring us closer to our comwere so great that other specialty teams joined, and munity and to each other” (written communication, the event has become an annual tradition. Patients September 2014). are now selected by the facility’s social services Perioperative team members from the Royal department, and the perioperative team supports Hospital for Women in Sydney, Australia, donate several patients’ families each year. money to the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.8 These perioperative team members are acknowledged by an ornament for the OR theater’s Christmas GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY tree. This ornament reminds them each year of AORN chapters and perioperative teams donate how important the gift of giving is for those time, money, and supplies for those in need in local in need. communities or afar. There are many examples of Another way to give back to perioperative team members is to make a donation to the AORN Foundation. This money can be used to provide scholarships for professional development or coursework. Donations can be made online at http://www .aorn.org/CustomApps/Donations/Donate.aspx. The AORN Foundation also has the OuR Heroes Virtual Wall.2 Donations may be made in honor of a team member, and his or her name will be added to the virtual wall. A photo and message will be posted during the month of the giver’s choice.
564 j AORN Journal
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Another way to give to the worldwide community is through medical missions, such as Mercy Ships.9 Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free health care services and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world. Each year, perioperative nurses join 1,600 volunteers from more than 40 nations. These professionals, including surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists, donate their time and skills to the effort. By providing this service, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. AORN Past President Patrick Voight, MSA, BSN, RN, CNOR, described his experience on Mercy Ships as transformational, a life-changing experience that he will always cherish.10 Volunteering for a few weeks in 2015 would make a wonderful holiday gift to those in need and one to yourself. More information is available at http://www .mercyships.org. SPIRIT OF GIVING I am continuously inspired by the generosity of perioperative nurses around the world. They give so much every day to assist patients in their most vulnerable times. This month, let’s take our spirit of giving to a new level by assisting other team members; patients and their family members; and
www.aornjournal.org
the local, national, and international community in need. Have a wonderful holiday. References 1. Geisel T. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New York, NY: Penguin Random House; 1957. 2. Honor your OR hero. AORN Inc. http://www.aorn.org/ Tertiary.aspx?id¼21688. Accessed September 30, 2014. 3. Ronald McDonald House Charities. http://www.rmhc .org/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 4. Christmas Angel Tree: how to give and receive. The Salvation Army. http://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc/news/ christmas_angel_tree_2013. Accessed September 30, 2014. 5. SHARE Community Action Partnership. Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources. http://www.sharesc.org. Accessed September 30, 2014. 6. Hope House. http://www.hopehousela.com/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 7. La Casa de las Madres. http://www.lacasa.org/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 8. Hamlin Fistula International. http://hamlinfistula.org/. Accessed October 1, 2014. 9. Mercy Ships. http://www.mercyships.org/home/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 10. Voight PE. Mercy Ships brings help and hope to the world’s poor [President’s Message]. AORN J. 2009; 90(2):169-171.
Victoria M. Steelman, PhD, RN, CNOR, FAAN, is the AORN President and an assistant professor at The University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City. Dr Steelman has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as posing a potential conflict of interest in the publication of this article.
AORN Journal j 565
D
ecember is a month of celebrating and spending time with family and friends. We celebrate the end of a year, talk about the highs and lows, and look forward to the New Year. Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and commercial ads reminding us that we “need” to buy gifts, we lose sight of the true spirit of this season. Dr Seuss’s Grinch said it well, “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”1 Whatever your faith, December is a month of reveling in the wonderful feeling and renewed energy of giving to others and making a difference in their lives. I truly believe that the joy of giving is one of the most beautiful feelings one can experience. Perioperative nurses care for their patients, making a difference in their lives, every day. The feeling of making a difference is the fuel that supports our professional work. December offers us an opportunity to expand this giving to other team members, our patients, and members of the community. GIVING TO OTHER TEAM MEMBERS Perioperative nurses across the country have collected donations and gifts for team members in need, including those with prolonged health conditions or those who have experienced family tragedies. The staff of one ambulatory surgery center collected money for a coworker with breast cancer. They built on this and have made a tradition
of participating in walks to support breast cancer research. This type of giving engages team members and enhances teamwork, and everyone benefits. Similarly, a perioperative team in a Midwest hospital collected donations to assist a staff member who experienced a house fire that destroyed the family’s holiday presents. This kindness allowed the children to experience the holidays and see role modeling of the spirit of the season. Another way to give is through donating vacation time to those in need. Many organizations have a catastrophic leave program. Employees may donate vacation time to an employee with a serious health issue who has exhausted all of his or her accrued time off. The employee in need applies to be placed on an approved list, and other employees donate time online. This bridges the financial gap before disability insurance payments begin. The program also supports employees who need leave to care for family members who have catastrophic illnesses or injuries. The beauty of the program is that it is anonymous, and in this way, it exemplifies the true spirit of giving. The cumulative effect of many donations can be significant. For example, a nurse with a child who sustained a severe brain injury experienced this generosity. The child needed to relocate for rehabilitation, and the generosity of the coworkers’ donated time allowed her son to progress, be able to walk, and care for himself. A gift like that is immeasurable.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.10.001
Ó AORN, Inc, 2014
December 2014
Vol 100
No 6
AORN Journal j 563
December 2014 Vol 100 No 6
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
this type of giving, and I will share several with which I am familiar here. Many teams participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.4 As part of this program, volunteers adorn a Christmas tree with angel tags that each contain a recipient’s age, gender, clothing sizes, and gift wishes. Perioperative team members select an “angel,” purchase items for that child or senior based on the information on the tag, and then return the gifts to the collection area. Similarly, in Anderson, South Carolina, the perioperative team at AnMed gathered presents for Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources.5 Through this program, GIVING TO OUR PATIENTS Perioperative teams from many hospitals and they adopted a Head Start Program class and proambulatory surgery centers have a tradition of vided gifts for every child in the class in 2013. giving back to their patients. Some collect supplies This year, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, AORN or host a dinner for a Chapter 1904 will doRonald McDonald nate gift boxes to stu3 House or other hosdents with hearing Perioperative nurses care for their patients, pital family house. making a difference in their lives, every day. The impairments who atOther teams have tend the Louisiana feeling of making a difference is the fuel that supports our professional work. adopted a patient or State School for the a patient’s family. Deaf. They also will An inspirational volunteer their time example is the perioperative team at The University and collect supplies for the local Hope House,6 an of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, where organization that assists victims of human trafficking. the nursing staff hosts an annual silent auction in For the past few years, AORN of San Francisco the secured area of the OR. The tradition started and Marin has supported La Casa de las Madres,7 a with the neurosurgery nurses wanting to do someprogram that assists victims of domestic violence. thing meaningful for a patient during the last days The chapter members take the “Santa’s List” of of her life. They made gift baskets and received children who have been abused and provide gifts to some contributions from local businesses. They these children. Merideth Lewis-Cooney, BSN, RN, hosted a silent auction and raised enough money to CNOR, describes the rewards, saying, “Our simple help the patient’s family. The emotional rewards gifts during this season bring us closer to our comwere so great that other specialty teams joined, and munity and to each other” (written communication, the event has become an annual tradition. Patients September 2014). are now selected by the facility’s social services Perioperative team members from the Royal department, and the perioperative team supports Hospital for Women in Sydney, Australia, donate several patients’ families each year. money to the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.8 These perioperative team members are acknowledged by an ornament for the OR theater’s Christmas GIVING TO THE COMMUNITY tree. This ornament reminds them each year of AORN chapters and perioperative teams donate how important the gift of giving is for those time, money, and supplies for those in need in local in need. communities or afar. There are many examples of Another way to give back to perioperative team members is to make a donation to the AORN Foundation. This money can be used to provide scholarships for professional development or coursework. Donations can be made online at http://www .aorn.org/CustomApps/Donations/Donate.aspx. The AORN Foundation also has the OuR Heroes Virtual Wall.2 Donations may be made in honor of a team member, and his or her name will be added to the virtual wall. A photo and message will be posted during the month of the giver’s choice.
564 j AORN Journal
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Another way to give to the worldwide community is through medical missions, such as Mercy Ships.9 Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free health care services and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world. Each year, perioperative nurses join 1,600 volunteers from more than 40 nations. These professionals, including surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists, donate their time and skills to the effort. By providing this service, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. AORN Past President Patrick Voight, MSA, BSN, RN, CNOR, described his experience on Mercy Ships as transformational, a life-changing experience that he will always cherish.10 Volunteering for a few weeks in 2015 would make a wonderful holiday gift to those in need and one to yourself. More information is available at http://www .mercyships.org. SPIRIT OF GIVING I am continuously inspired by the generosity of perioperative nurses around the world. They give so much every day to assist patients in their most vulnerable times. This month, let’s take our spirit of giving to a new level by assisting other team members; patients and their family members; and
www.aornjournal.org
the local, national, and international community in need. Have a wonderful holiday. References 1. Geisel T. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New York, NY: Penguin Random House; 1957. 2. Honor your OR hero. AORN Inc. http://www.aorn.org/ Tertiary.aspx?id¼21688. Accessed September 30, 2014. 3. Ronald McDonald House Charities. http://www.rmhc .org/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 4. Christmas Angel Tree: how to give and receive. The Salvation Army. http://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc/news/ christmas_angel_tree_2013. Accessed September 30, 2014. 5. SHARE Community Action Partnership. Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources. http://www.sharesc.org. Accessed September 30, 2014. 6. Hope House. http://www.hopehousela.com/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 7. La Casa de las Madres. http://www.lacasa.org/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 8. Hamlin Fistula International. http://hamlinfistula.org/. Accessed October 1, 2014. 9. Mercy Ships. http://www.mercyships.org/home/. Accessed September 30, 2014. 10. Voight PE. Mercy Ships brings help and hope to the world’s poor [President’s Message]. AORN J. 2009; 90(2):169-171.
Victoria M. Steelman, PhD, RN, CNOR, FAAN, is the AORN President and an assistant professor at The University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City. Dr Steelman has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as posing a potential conflict of interest in the publication of this article.
AORN Journal j 565
