AORN JOURNAL
DECEMBER 1992, VOL 56, NO 6
Committee Report Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing-AORN’s Ultimate Prize
W e are what we repeatedly d o . Excellence, then, i s not an act, but a habit. Aristotle
w
en I think about nominees for the Award for Excellence, I think about those perioperative nurses who have paved the way for our profession in the past, those nurses who, as Carol Applegeet, RN, MSN, CNOR, CNAA, FAAN, so aptly put it, “are the architects of the new nursing.”’ What sets these nurses apart from those of us who practice excellent perioperative nursing on a daily basis? The best way to answer this question is to profile the qualities and characteristics of a nominee. Most importantly, the Award for Excellence nominee is an excellent perioperative nurse. The nominee has incorporated excellence into his or her daily practice and serves as a role model to colleagues. The nominee is willing to advance his or her own practice as well as the practice of others by demonstrating a commitment to continuing education. The nominee is a risk taker who is unafraid to propose new concepts and practices. This individual is a highly effective person, one who has developed into an interdependent person who is able to share meaningfully with others and has access to the vast resources and potential of other human beings. The gifts of the nominee’s time, energy, knowledge, and creativity have had a profound influence on our profession. He or she is an innovator, a vision-
ary, a mentor, and a friend. The nominee is a nurse who places high value on the importance of mentorship. Nurses are made, not born, and much credit should be given to those who nurture and support professional growth along the way. It is through mentorship that a climate for excellence is created. The Award for Excellence nominee demonstrates behavior that is synonymous with that of a professional. “A professional is an individual who has declared publicly that he or she can do something because of a certain expertise.”2 Private victories have preceded public victories because of teamwork, cooperation, and communication. Making the leap from private victories to public victories is, at least in part, what makes this person special. The individual nominated for the award is recognized for his or her outstanding accomplishments and contributions in the areas of practice, education, or research. These accomplishments are comprehensive and have had a national impact on perioperative nursing. When a member is nominated for the award, he or she is a hero to someone and perhaps to many of us. Will Rogers once said, “We can’t all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.”3 AORN’s Award for Excellence is the ultimate prize offered by our association. It is a very special prize because individuals are recognized and then nominated by their peers. To be recognized by one’s peers is the highest compliment one can receive. The process is designed to give all members the opportunity to 1085
AORh .IOL KI 41,
DECEMBER 1992, VOL 56, NO 6
The Award for Excellence, as well as the two new awards, will be presented at the 1993 AORN Congress. nominate an individual for consideration, and while the final selection is made by the Award for Excellence in P e r i o p e r a t i v e N u r s i n g Committee. it is based on the information provided by the nominating member or chapter.
The Nnniiriatiori Process
I
n 1981. the Board of Directors established the Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing to recognize an individual whose work and accomplishment^ have had global implications for perioperative nursing. In 1991, the Board approved the creation of t w o new awards: the Award for O u t s t a n d i n g A c h i e v e in e n t in Per i o pe r a t i v e Nursing Management and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Clinical Nursing Practice. The Award for Excellence. as well as the t w o new awards. will be presented at the 1993 AORN Congress. The two new awards serve to recognize outstanding achievement and contributions in an individual's management or clinical practice setting. The 1992 Award for Excellence recipient. Julia Kneedler. RN, EdD; the Award for Out stand in g Achievement in Per i operative Nursing M a n a g e m e n t r e c i p i e n t , B r e n d a McKonly RN. MS. CNOR; and the Award for 0u t s t and i n g Achievement in Per i ope r a t i v e Clinical Nursing Practice recipient, Carol Tyler. RN. BS, CNOR. exemplify the intent of these three awards and are to be congratulated. Now is the time to be thinking about nominees for next year's awards. AORN boasts a membership of more than 48.000 nurses. Who are our truly special individuals? Has someone been a mentor or an inspiration to your daily practice'? Congress i s an excellent time to seek out and identify next y e a r ' s n o m i n e e s . Networking with other chapters can be helpful, because more than one chapter or member can
nominate the same individual. Packets that include all nomination forms and instructions for the three awards are mailed to chapter presidents in January. The deadline for submission of nominations is May 1. All materials received are held in confidence by the Committee and new nomination forms are required each year. It is important that you follow the directions completely when you nominate someone and that you include all supporting documentation with the nomination forms. A point system is used as a basis for evaluating the n o m i n e e . To c l a r i f y what t h e Committee is seeking and to help those wishing to nominate an individual, the Committee has included in the packet a more detailed guideline for submitting nominations. Incomplete documentation may result in the nominee's not receiving appropriate credit for his or her accomplishments. Before the Award for Excellence Committee in Perioperative Nursing meets, copies of the nomination forms are mailed to Committee members. These volunteers evaluate nominees anonymously according to established Committee guidelines. In May, the Committee reviews the nominations and makes the selection. This process is time consuming and often requires repeated evaluation of the nomination materials submitted. O n c e the Committee selects the recipients. the chairman of the Committee notifies the President and the award winners by telephone. As a Committee member, I was extremely proud to have been a part of the selection process. The response from the winners was amazing. They were very surprised and honored to have been selected.
Surnmal-y
E
xcellence should be part of our daily practice. Through sharing of knowledge, ideas,
DECEMBER 1992,VOL 56, NO 6
and information, private excellence is transformed into public excellence and deserves recognition. AORN recognizes that many individuals have and do make a difference in their individual practice settings as well as by their national influence. The importance of recognizing members for their contributions to perioperative nursing is evidenced by the addition of the two new awards and the many other individual awards given by the Association. The importance of peer recognition and participation in the selection process for the awards cannot be underestimated. The Award f o r Excellence Committee encourages your continued involvement in the nomination process. Excellence is not just for a chosen few! It is something each of us is capable of doing each day. What we need to do now is to recognize it in ourselves and others and to accord those who display this quality the recognition they d e ~ e r v e . ~ SHERIJ. Voss, RN, BSN, CNOR FOR EXCELLENCE IN PERIOPERATIVE AWARD NURSING COMMITTEE Notes I . C D Applegeet, S F Ward, “Award for Excellence recipients challenge nurses to destroy walls, to create a new future, become mentors,” AORN Journal 55 (June 1992) 1385-1400. 2. R Roth, “Award for excellence,” AORN Journal 45 (June 1987) 1342-1353. 3. W Rogers in The 637 Best Things Anybody Ever- Said ed Robert Byrne (New York City: Atheneum, 1982) 605. 4. Roth, “Award for excellence,” 1342-1353.
AORN JOURNAL
Immunoglobulin Aids HIV-Infected Children Monthly injections of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may help some HIV-infected children fight some infections, according to a study in the July 22/29, 1992, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers reported on 3 13 HIV-infected, nonhemophiliac children aged 13 years and younger. The children participated in a study from March 1988 to January 1991 to evaluate the efficacy of IVIG in preventing viral, opportunistic, and minor bacterial infections. The children all had CD4+ lymphocyte counts of at least 200. Results from a previous study indicated children with CD4+ counts of less than 200 had no clear response to IVIG. Human immunodeficiency virus infection is identified by progressive immunologic deficiency that depletes CD4+ lymphocytes and results in severe cellular immunity deficit and opportunistic infections. The study concludes that a beneficial effect is noted in the children with counts of at least 200 who receive IVIG therapy. More work is necessary, however, to identify HIV-infected youngsters who most likely would benefit from the therapy.
Suggested reading Covey, S P. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic (New York City: Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1989). Ensrninger, J. “Search for excellence culminates in award for excellence in perioperative nursing.” AORN Journal 51 (February 1990) 443-446. Groah, L. “The award for excellence in perioperative nursing.” AORN Journal 49 (May 1989) 12931300. Hercules, P. “Award for excellence.” AORN Journal 43 (May 1986) 1085-1093.
1087
DECEMBER 1992, VOL 56, NO 6
Committee Report Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing-AORN’s Ultimate Prize
W e are what we repeatedly d o . Excellence, then, i s not an act, but a habit. Aristotle
w
en I think about nominees for the Award for Excellence, I think about those perioperative nurses who have paved the way for our profession in the past, those nurses who, as Carol Applegeet, RN, MSN, CNOR, CNAA, FAAN, so aptly put it, “are the architects of the new nursing.”’ What sets these nurses apart from those of us who practice excellent perioperative nursing on a daily basis? The best way to answer this question is to profile the qualities and characteristics of a nominee. Most importantly, the Award for Excellence nominee is an excellent perioperative nurse. The nominee has incorporated excellence into his or her daily practice and serves as a role model to colleagues. The nominee is willing to advance his or her own practice as well as the practice of others by demonstrating a commitment to continuing education. The nominee is a risk taker who is unafraid to propose new concepts and practices. This individual is a highly effective person, one who has developed into an interdependent person who is able to share meaningfully with others and has access to the vast resources and potential of other human beings. The gifts of the nominee’s time, energy, knowledge, and creativity have had a profound influence on our profession. He or she is an innovator, a vision-
ary, a mentor, and a friend. The nominee is a nurse who places high value on the importance of mentorship. Nurses are made, not born, and much credit should be given to those who nurture and support professional growth along the way. It is through mentorship that a climate for excellence is created. The Award for Excellence nominee demonstrates behavior that is synonymous with that of a professional. “A professional is an individual who has declared publicly that he or she can do something because of a certain expertise.”2 Private victories have preceded public victories because of teamwork, cooperation, and communication. Making the leap from private victories to public victories is, at least in part, what makes this person special. The individual nominated for the award is recognized for his or her outstanding accomplishments and contributions in the areas of practice, education, or research. These accomplishments are comprehensive and have had a national impact on perioperative nursing. When a member is nominated for the award, he or she is a hero to someone and perhaps to many of us. Will Rogers once said, “We can’t all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.”3 AORN’s Award for Excellence is the ultimate prize offered by our association. It is a very special prize because individuals are recognized and then nominated by their peers. To be recognized by one’s peers is the highest compliment one can receive. The process is designed to give all members the opportunity to 1085
AORh .IOL KI 41,
DECEMBER 1992, VOL 56, NO 6
The Award for Excellence, as well as the two new awards, will be presented at the 1993 AORN Congress. nominate an individual for consideration, and while the final selection is made by the Award for Excellence in P e r i o p e r a t i v e N u r s i n g Committee. it is based on the information provided by the nominating member or chapter.
The Nnniiriatiori Process
I
n 1981. the Board of Directors established the Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing to recognize an individual whose work and accomplishment^ have had global implications for perioperative nursing. In 1991, the Board approved the creation of t w o new awards: the Award for O u t s t a n d i n g A c h i e v e in e n t in Per i o pe r a t i v e Nursing Management and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Clinical Nursing Practice. The Award for Excellence. as well as the t w o new awards. will be presented at the 1993 AORN Congress. The two new awards serve to recognize outstanding achievement and contributions in an individual's management or clinical practice setting. The 1992 Award for Excellence recipient. Julia Kneedler. RN, EdD; the Award for Out stand in g Achievement in Per i operative Nursing M a n a g e m e n t r e c i p i e n t , B r e n d a McKonly RN. MS. CNOR; and the Award for 0u t s t and i n g Achievement in Per i ope r a t i v e Clinical Nursing Practice recipient, Carol Tyler. RN. BS, CNOR. exemplify the intent of these three awards and are to be congratulated. Now is the time to be thinking about nominees for next year's awards. AORN boasts a membership of more than 48.000 nurses. Who are our truly special individuals? Has someone been a mentor or an inspiration to your daily practice'? Congress i s an excellent time to seek out and identify next y e a r ' s n o m i n e e s . Networking with other chapters can be helpful, because more than one chapter or member can
nominate the same individual. Packets that include all nomination forms and instructions for the three awards are mailed to chapter presidents in January. The deadline for submission of nominations is May 1. All materials received are held in confidence by the Committee and new nomination forms are required each year. It is important that you follow the directions completely when you nominate someone and that you include all supporting documentation with the nomination forms. A point system is used as a basis for evaluating the n o m i n e e . To c l a r i f y what t h e Committee is seeking and to help those wishing to nominate an individual, the Committee has included in the packet a more detailed guideline for submitting nominations. Incomplete documentation may result in the nominee's not receiving appropriate credit for his or her accomplishments. Before the Award for Excellence Committee in Perioperative Nursing meets, copies of the nomination forms are mailed to Committee members. These volunteers evaluate nominees anonymously according to established Committee guidelines. In May, the Committee reviews the nominations and makes the selection. This process is time consuming and often requires repeated evaluation of the nomination materials submitted. O n c e the Committee selects the recipients. the chairman of the Committee notifies the President and the award winners by telephone. As a Committee member, I was extremely proud to have been a part of the selection process. The response from the winners was amazing. They were very surprised and honored to have been selected.
Surnmal-y
E
xcellence should be part of our daily practice. Through sharing of knowledge, ideas,
DECEMBER 1992,VOL 56, NO 6
and information, private excellence is transformed into public excellence and deserves recognition. AORN recognizes that many individuals have and do make a difference in their individual practice settings as well as by their national influence. The importance of recognizing members for their contributions to perioperative nursing is evidenced by the addition of the two new awards and the many other individual awards given by the Association. The importance of peer recognition and participation in the selection process for the awards cannot be underestimated. The Award f o r Excellence Committee encourages your continued involvement in the nomination process. Excellence is not just for a chosen few! It is something each of us is capable of doing each day. What we need to do now is to recognize it in ourselves and others and to accord those who display this quality the recognition they d e ~ e r v e . ~ SHERIJ. Voss, RN, BSN, CNOR FOR EXCELLENCE IN PERIOPERATIVE AWARD NURSING COMMITTEE Notes I . C D Applegeet, S F Ward, “Award for Excellence recipients challenge nurses to destroy walls, to create a new future, become mentors,” AORN Journal 55 (June 1992) 1385-1400. 2. R Roth, “Award for excellence,” AORN Journal 45 (June 1987) 1342-1353. 3. W Rogers in The 637 Best Things Anybody Ever- Said ed Robert Byrne (New York City: Atheneum, 1982) 605. 4. Roth, “Award for excellence,” 1342-1353.
AORN JOURNAL
Immunoglobulin Aids HIV-Infected Children Monthly injections of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may help some HIV-infected children fight some infections, according to a study in the July 22/29, 1992, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers reported on 3 13 HIV-infected, nonhemophiliac children aged 13 years and younger. The children participated in a study from March 1988 to January 1991 to evaluate the efficacy of IVIG in preventing viral, opportunistic, and minor bacterial infections. The children all had CD4+ lymphocyte counts of at least 200. Results from a previous study indicated children with CD4+ counts of less than 200 had no clear response to IVIG. Human immunodeficiency virus infection is identified by progressive immunologic deficiency that depletes CD4+ lymphocytes and results in severe cellular immunity deficit and opportunistic infections. The study concludes that a beneficial effect is noted in the children with counts of at least 200 who receive IVIG therapy. More work is necessary, however, to identify HIV-infected youngsters who most likely would benefit from the therapy.
Suggested reading Covey, S P. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic (New York City: Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1989). Ensrninger, J. “Search for excellence culminates in award for excellence in perioperative nursing.” AORN Journal 51 (February 1990) 443-446. Groah, L. “The award for excellence in perioperative nursing.” AORN Journal 49 (May 1989) 12931300. Hercules, P. “Award for excellence.” AORN Journal 43 (May 1986) 1085-1093.
1087
