PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Celebrating Excellence in Perioperative Nursing VICTORIA M. STEELMAN PhD, RN, CNOR, FAAN, AORN PRESIDENT
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his month, from November 10 to 15, we celebrate Perioperative Nurse Week. This event allows us to embrace excellence in perioperative nursing, taking pride in our specialty and all that we accomplish on a daily basis. It also provides us with an opportunity to showcase this work for others to appreciate. Thirty-five years ago, in 1979, the AORN House of Delegates passed a resolution designating a day each year to educate the public about the role of the perioperative nurse. November 14 was designated OR Nurse Day; a few years later, the observance was expanded to the full week in which that date falls. Perioperative Nurse Week provides an opportunity for perioperative nurses to engage their colleagues, families, the public, and the next generation in the exceptional work performed by perioperative nurses. It is important to celebrate Perioperative Nurse Week for several reasons. First, it promotes recognition for the outstanding work that perioperative nurses do, and it enhances the respect that they receive. Second, it educates others about the unique, critical nature of our work. Lastly, it promotes the specialty as an option for the next generation, encouraging sustainability of highly skilled perioperative nurses in the future. IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNITION Recognition has been an integral part of effective nursing leadership for decades because of its link to job satisfaction, employee engagement, retention,
and job performance. Recognition results in employees feeling valued.1,2 When people feel valued by their employers, they are more likely to be satisfied and engaged in their work.3 Recognition improves employees’ intention to remain employed in the organization.2,3 Recognition also elevates self-esteem.4,5 When self-esteem is elevated, it enhances self-efficacy, optimism, and resilience, which affect job performance.5,6 Meaningful recognition also improves work group cohesiveness.7,8 In addition, group cohesiveness promotes effective teamwork, an essential component of patient safety. Recognition is an important strategy because it motivates nurses to provide high-quality, cost-effective care and remain actively engaged in the workplace. Perioperative Nurse Week is one form of recognition during which we celebrate excellence in perioperative nursing. WAYS TO CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN PERIOPERATIVE NURSING There are many creative ways to showcase the work of perioperative nurses, including engaging colleagues, families, and the next generation of perioperative nurses. We can engage colleagues by sharing improvements in practice and patient feedback as well as by thanking each other. Posting results of quality improvement projects where the results can be seen by perioperative nurses, anesthesia professionals, and surgeons is one easy way to provide meaningful recognition. For example,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.09.003
Ó AORN, Inc, 2014
November 2014
Vol 100
No 5
AORN Journal j 457
November 2014 Vol 100
No 5
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
the nurse receives the joy of selecting and recogwhen implementing changes to prevent retained nizing another nurse. Team members also can be surgical sponges, posting the results of the project recognized by a display board where members on a designated bulletin board recognizes the efof the perioperative team can post a note about forts of those nurses who coordinated the project something someone did well. This could be a and also all nursing personnel who were involved simple bulletin board or a themed display. For in implementing the changes. In this way, personnel example, a recognition tree could have notes are engaged in the success of the project and motishaped like leaves that, when completed, fill in the vated to promote its success. Surgeons who might be tree, or it might be a butterfly net, labeled “caught aware of the trigger for the project can see the work doing something right.” Notes shaped like butterflies being done and recognize personnel for making could be placed in the net. The options are limitless. improvements. We should also nominate peers for Another way to institutional awards, recognize nursing such as the DAISY 9 Award, and statewide There are several different ways nurses can be staff is by engaging recognition, such as recognized by other team members. One is by team members’ famthe 100 Great Iowa saying thank you. This may sound simple, but ilies. Some facilities 10 consider the significant impact of these words host a family night Nurses. and how much they mean. and invite staff memPerioperative bers’ families to see nurses are in a somethe OR and hear firstwhat unique situation hand about perioperative nursing and the imin that they seldom know how their patient proportance of this work. One perioperative nurse gresses after surgery. These nurses seldom receive described the significance of this event to her: “I the verbal thanks that nurses on inpatient units didn’t realize it, but my son thought that when I receive. Posting patient comments on a bulletin talked about ‘scrubbing,’ that I meant scrubbing the board provides this desperately needed feedback. floor. He didn’t understand why I was needed when For example, a patient comment on a satisfaction I was called in. During family night, he saw what I survey mentioning that the nurse was clearly fodo and told me how proud he was of me.” cused on patient safety and yet took the time to We also should continue our efforts to engage hold her hand during induction of anesthesia inthe public and demonstrate the importance of spires everyone to provide the combination of highperioperative nursing. This might take the form of tech, high-touch care. an invitation to the media to learn about important Peer-to-peer recognition is also important, and safety programs in your OR. Consulting with your nurses can be recognized by other team members facility’s media specialist can generate ideas of who catch them doing something right. There are what to showcase. Nurses might invite a legislator several different ways this can be done. One is to a local chapter meeting, combining recognition by saying thank you. This may sound simple, but with advocacy. consider the significant impact of these words and Lastly, we should take this opportunity to engage how much they mean. Some hospitals and ambuthe next generation of perioperative nurses. The latory surgery centers use note cards, similar to average age of perioperative nurses is more than 50 business cards, which say, “Thanks for what you years old.11 We need to ensure that there is a steady do.” The cards may have room for writing something specific, or they might be reusable. When infusion of highly skilled nurses in the future. There receiving the card from a team member, the nurse are many options for doing this, focusing first on feels valued. By giving the card to another person, nursing students. Nurses can provide a presentation 458 j AORN Journal
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE about perioperative nursing to the local school of nursing or host an event for the National Student Nurses Association,12 inviting the students to tour the OR, accompanied by nurses passionate about their work. Efforts also should be directed to high school students and even elementary students. High school students can be invited for a mock surgery on their team mascot, or elementary students can participate in the game “Operation.” Making school events fun enhances the engagement of these potential future perioperative nurses. PROUD MOMENTS Last November, AORN hosted a “proudest moments” discussion on FacebookÒ.13 Perioperative nurses shared their proud moments, explaining when they made a difference. Here are a few of the responses to finishing the sentence, “I’m proud to be a perioperative nurse because . . .” n n
n n n
n
“I can’t imagine doing any other kind of nursing!” dGladys Burris West “I have the opportunity to provide care to a variety of patients during their most vulnerable times, ensuring they are cared for in a safe, professional manner at all times. I also love perioperative nursing because it is a field where you never stop growing and learning.” dSonja Furr “It’s amazing to see firsthand the resilience of the human body and spirit!” dNorma Villaescusa “I’m the calm before, during, and after the storm.” dVictoria McClure “I have a chance to impact the care my patients receive in my role and to assist other nurses to ‘be all they can be.’ I have always respected my role, that I am entrusted to protect my patient throughout their time with me, ensuring safe care and a holistic experience during their perioperative journey.” dPatricia Moser Coates “I am my patient’s advocate when they are under anesthesia. I also love what I do and I am proud to be a nurse.” dMary Simpson
This year, AORN continues to highlight perioperative nurses and their finest moments. I invite
www.aornjournal.org
you to share your story on the AORN social media pages and be inspired by others’ stories. AORN will post some fun images for you to share with your friends as well as some activities for you to print and incorporate into your OR. In addition, Perioperative Nurse Week is the perfect time for AORN to introduce the CORE Award, which stands for Committed to OR Excellence. The CORE Award was created by AORN to provide hospitals and health care systems with a way to respond to increasing concerns about quality and safety and to evaluate the continuing pursuit of excellence in clinical care. I invite you to learn more about the CORE Award (http://www.aorn .org/CORE), and I challenge you to begin the journey toward CORE Award designation. This year, let’s celebrate excellence in perioperative nursing by recognizing the many contributions that perioperative nurses make every day. I encourage you to either select one of the strategies described here or develop your own. ORNurseLinkTM (http://ornurselink.org) is an excellent location to share your creativity and inspire others. Happy Perioperative Nurse Week. Editor’s notes: Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc, Menlo Park, CA. ORNurseLink is a trademark of AORN, Denver, CO. References 1. Kalisch BJ, Lee H, Rochman M. Nursing staff teamwork and job satisfaction. J Nurs Manag. 2010;18(8):938-947. 2. Tourangeau AE, Cummings G, Cranley LA, Ferron EM, Harvey S. Determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed: broadening our understanding. J Adv Nurs. 2010;66(1):22-32. 3. Carter MR, Tourangeau AE. Staying in nursing: what factors determine whether nurses intend to remain employed? J Adv Nurs. 2012;68(7):1589-1600. 4. Blegen MA, Goode CJ, Johnson M, Maas ML, McCloskey JC, Moorhead SA. Recognizing staff nurse job performance and achievements. Res Nurs Health. 1992;15(1):57-66. 5. Froman L. Positive psychology in the workplace. J Adult Dev. 2010;17:56-69. 6. Nahrgang JD, Morgeson FP, Hofmann DA. Safety at work: a meta-analytic investigation of the link between job demands, job resources, burnout, engagement, and safety outcomes. J Appl Psychol. 2011;96(1):71-94. 7. Cowden TL, Cummings GG. Nursing theory and concept development: a theoretical model of clinical nurses’
AORN Journal j 459
November 2014 Vol 100
8.
9. 10. 11.
12.
No 5
intentions to stay in their current positions. J Adv Nurs. 2012;68(7):1646-1657. Tourangeau AE, McGillis Hall L, Doran DM, Petch T. Measurement of nurse job satisfaction using the McCloskey/ Mueller Satisfaction Scale. Nurs Res. 2006;55(2): 128-136. DAISY Award. The DAISY Foundation. http://daisy foundation.org/daisy-award. Accessed August 19, 2014. 100 great Iowa nurses. http://www.greatnurses.org/. Accessed August 19, 2014. Sederstrom J. 7 specialties lead demand for nurses. Healthcare Traveler. http://healthcaretraveler.modernmedicine .com/healthcare-traveler/news/7-specialties-lead-demand -nurses?page¼full. Published April 22, 2013. Accessed September 10, 2014. National Student Nurses Association. http://www.nsna .org. Accessed August 19, 2014.
460 j AORN Journal
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 13. Timeline photos. AORN Facebook. https://www.facebook .com/photo.php?fbid¼10151751097793937&set¼a.41995 7133936.184254.87533203936&type¼1&theater. Accessed August 19, 2014.
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.
T
his month, from November 10 to 15, we celebrate Perioperative Nurse Week. This event allows us to embrace excellence in perioperative nursing, taking pride in our specialty and all that we accomplish on a daily basis. It also provides us with an opportunity to showcase this work for others to appreciate. Thirty-five years ago, in 1979, the AORN House of Delegates passed a resolution designating a day each year to educate the public about the role of the perioperative nurse. November 14 was designated OR Nurse Day; a few years later, the observance was expanded to the full week in which that date falls. Perioperative Nurse Week provides an opportunity for perioperative nurses to engage their colleagues, families, the public, and the next generation in the exceptional work performed by perioperative nurses. It is important to celebrate Perioperative Nurse Week for several reasons. First, it promotes recognition for the outstanding work that perioperative nurses do, and it enhances the respect that they receive. Second, it educates others about the unique, critical nature of our work. Lastly, it promotes the specialty as an option for the next generation, encouraging sustainability of highly skilled perioperative nurses in the future. IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNITION Recognition has been an integral part of effective nursing leadership for decades because of its link to job satisfaction, employee engagement, retention,
and job performance. Recognition results in employees feeling valued.1,2 When people feel valued by their employers, they are more likely to be satisfied and engaged in their work.3 Recognition improves employees’ intention to remain employed in the organization.2,3 Recognition also elevates self-esteem.4,5 When self-esteem is elevated, it enhances self-efficacy, optimism, and resilience, which affect job performance.5,6 Meaningful recognition also improves work group cohesiveness.7,8 In addition, group cohesiveness promotes effective teamwork, an essential component of patient safety. Recognition is an important strategy because it motivates nurses to provide high-quality, cost-effective care and remain actively engaged in the workplace. Perioperative Nurse Week is one form of recognition during which we celebrate excellence in perioperative nursing. WAYS TO CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN PERIOPERATIVE NURSING There are many creative ways to showcase the work of perioperative nurses, including engaging colleagues, families, and the next generation of perioperative nurses. We can engage colleagues by sharing improvements in practice and patient feedback as well as by thanking each other. Posting results of quality improvement projects where the results can be seen by perioperative nurses, anesthesia professionals, and surgeons is one easy way to provide meaningful recognition. For example,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.09.003
Ó AORN, Inc, 2014
November 2014
Vol 100
No 5
AORN Journal j 457
November 2014 Vol 100
No 5
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
the nurse receives the joy of selecting and recogwhen implementing changes to prevent retained nizing another nurse. Team members also can be surgical sponges, posting the results of the project recognized by a display board where members on a designated bulletin board recognizes the efof the perioperative team can post a note about forts of those nurses who coordinated the project something someone did well. This could be a and also all nursing personnel who were involved simple bulletin board or a themed display. For in implementing the changes. In this way, personnel example, a recognition tree could have notes are engaged in the success of the project and motishaped like leaves that, when completed, fill in the vated to promote its success. Surgeons who might be tree, or it might be a butterfly net, labeled “caught aware of the trigger for the project can see the work doing something right.” Notes shaped like butterflies being done and recognize personnel for making could be placed in the net. The options are limitless. improvements. We should also nominate peers for Another way to institutional awards, recognize nursing such as the DAISY 9 Award, and statewide There are several different ways nurses can be staff is by engaging recognition, such as recognized by other team members. One is by team members’ famthe 100 Great Iowa saying thank you. This may sound simple, but ilies. Some facilities 10 consider the significant impact of these words host a family night Nurses. and how much they mean. and invite staff memPerioperative bers’ families to see nurses are in a somethe OR and hear firstwhat unique situation hand about perioperative nursing and the imin that they seldom know how their patient proportance of this work. One perioperative nurse gresses after surgery. These nurses seldom receive described the significance of this event to her: “I the verbal thanks that nurses on inpatient units didn’t realize it, but my son thought that when I receive. Posting patient comments on a bulletin talked about ‘scrubbing,’ that I meant scrubbing the board provides this desperately needed feedback. floor. He didn’t understand why I was needed when For example, a patient comment on a satisfaction I was called in. During family night, he saw what I survey mentioning that the nurse was clearly fodo and told me how proud he was of me.” cused on patient safety and yet took the time to We also should continue our efforts to engage hold her hand during induction of anesthesia inthe public and demonstrate the importance of spires everyone to provide the combination of highperioperative nursing. This might take the form of tech, high-touch care. an invitation to the media to learn about important Peer-to-peer recognition is also important, and safety programs in your OR. Consulting with your nurses can be recognized by other team members facility’s media specialist can generate ideas of who catch them doing something right. There are what to showcase. Nurses might invite a legislator several different ways this can be done. One is to a local chapter meeting, combining recognition by saying thank you. This may sound simple, but with advocacy. consider the significant impact of these words and Lastly, we should take this opportunity to engage how much they mean. Some hospitals and ambuthe next generation of perioperative nurses. The latory surgery centers use note cards, similar to average age of perioperative nurses is more than 50 business cards, which say, “Thanks for what you years old.11 We need to ensure that there is a steady do.” The cards may have room for writing something specific, or they might be reusable. When infusion of highly skilled nurses in the future. There receiving the card from a team member, the nurse are many options for doing this, focusing first on feels valued. By giving the card to another person, nursing students. Nurses can provide a presentation 458 j AORN Journal
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE about perioperative nursing to the local school of nursing or host an event for the National Student Nurses Association,12 inviting the students to tour the OR, accompanied by nurses passionate about their work. Efforts also should be directed to high school students and even elementary students. High school students can be invited for a mock surgery on their team mascot, or elementary students can participate in the game “Operation.” Making school events fun enhances the engagement of these potential future perioperative nurses. PROUD MOMENTS Last November, AORN hosted a “proudest moments” discussion on FacebookÒ.13 Perioperative nurses shared their proud moments, explaining when they made a difference. Here are a few of the responses to finishing the sentence, “I’m proud to be a perioperative nurse because . . .” n n
n n n
n
“I can’t imagine doing any other kind of nursing!” dGladys Burris West “I have the opportunity to provide care to a variety of patients during their most vulnerable times, ensuring they are cared for in a safe, professional manner at all times. I also love perioperative nursing because it is a field where you never stop growing and learning.” dSonja Furr “It’s amazing to see firsthand the resilience of the human body and spirit!” dNorma Villaescusa “I’m the calm before, during, and after the storm.” dVictoria McClure “I have a chance to impact the care my patients receive in my role and to assist other nurses to ‘be all they can be.’ I have always respected my role, that I am entrusted to protect my patient throughout their time with me, ensuring safe care and a holistic experience during their perioperative journey.” dPatricia Moser Coates “I am my patient’s advocate when they are under anesthesia. I also love what I do and I am proud to be a nurse.” dMary Simpson
This year, AORN continues to highlight perioperative nurses and their finest moments. I invite
www.aornjournal.org
you to share your story on the AORN social media pages and be inspired by others’ stories. AORN will post some fun images for you to share with your friends as well as some activities for you to print and incorporate into your OR. In addition, Perioperative Nurse Week is the perfect time for AORN to introduce the CORE Award, which stands for Committed to OR Excellence. The CORE Award was created by AORN to provide hospitals and health care systems with a way to respond to increasing concerns about quality and safety and to evaluate the continuing pursuit of excellence in clinical care. I invite you to learn more about the CORE Award (http://www.aorn .org/CORE), and I challenge you to begin the journey toward CORE Award designation. This year, let’s celebrate excellence in perioperative nursing by recognizing the many contributions that perioperative nurses make every day. I encourage you to either select one of the strategies described here or develop your own. ORNurseLinkTM (http://ornurselink.org) is an excellent location to share your creativity and inspire others. Happy Perioperative Nurse Week. Editor’s notes: Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc, Menlo Park, CA. ORNurseLink is a trademark of AORN, Denver, CO. References 1. Kalisch BJ, Lee H, Rochman M. Nursing staff teamwork and job satisfaction. J Nurs Manag. 2010;18(8):938-947. 2. Tourangeau AE, Cummings G, Cranley LA, Ferron EM, Harvey S. Determinants of hospital nurse intention to remain employed: broadening our understanding. J Adv Nurs. 2010;66(1):22-32. 3. Carter MR, Tourangeau AE. Staying in nursing: what factors determine whether nurses intend to remain employed? J Adv Nurs. 2012;68(7):1589-1600. 4. Blegen MA, Goode CJ, Johnson M, Maas ML, McCloskey JC, Moorhead SA. Recognizing staff nurse job performance and achievements. Res Nurs Health. 1992;15(1):57-66. 5. Froman L. Positive psychology in the workplace. J Adult Dev. 2010;17:56-69. 6. Nahrgang JD, Morgeson FP, Hofmann DA. Safety at work: a meta-analytic investigation of the link between job demands, job resources, burnout, engagement, and safety outcomes. J Appl Psychol. 2011;96(1):71-94. 7. Cowden TL, Cummings GG. Nursing theory and concept development: a theoretical model of clinical nurses’
AORN Journal j 459
November 2014 Vol 100
8.
9. 10. 11.
12.
No 5
intentions to stay in their current positions. J Adv Nurs. 2012;68(7):1646-1657. Tourangeau AE, McGillis Hall L, Doran DM, Petch T. Measurement of nurse job satisfaction using the McCloskey/ Mueller Satisfaction Scale. Nurs Res. 2006;55(2): 128-136. DAISY Award. The DAISY Foundation. http://daisy foundation.org/daisy-award. Accessed August 19, 2014. 100 great Iowa nurses. http://www.greatnurses.org/. Accessed August 19, 2014. Sederstrom J. 7 specialties lead demand for nurses. Healthcare Traveler. http://healthcaretraveler.modernmedicine .com/healthcare-traveler/news/7-specialties-lead-demand -nurses?page¼full. Published April 22, 2013. Accessed September 10, 2014. National Student Nurses Association. http://www.nsna .org. Accessed August 19, 2014.
460 j AORN Journal
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 13. Timeline photos. AORN Facebook. https://www.facebook .com/photo.php?fbid¼10151751097793937&set¼a.41995 7133936.184254.87533203936&type¼1&theater. Accessed August 19, 2014.
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.
