PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A New Way: Innovation at the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo 2014 ROSEMARIE T. SCHROEDER BSN, RN, CNOR, AORN PRESIDENT

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appy New Year, and welcome to a new day and a new way. This January issue of the AORN Journal includes details about the upcoming AORN Surgical Conference & Expo 2014, and I am excited about all the events that are planned for when we meet in Chicago from March 28 to April 2. The 2014 Conference will include two unique networking events at the international and executive programs. There will be numerous general sessions and education sessions that will provide attendees with clinical, managerial, and self-improvement information that they can take back and use in their everyday practice. Additionally, the traditional “Congress” portion of the conference will be the time for association business to be conducted. There also will be several opportunities for fun during the AORN Foundation activities and social gatherings.

medical tourism, the importance of collaboration, patient safety, international care for wounded heroes, and becoming a surgeon whisperer.

INTERNATIONAL APPEAL The 5th Annual International Summit is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, and will provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss global issues and share examples of perioperative best practices. It is an opportunity to meet new colleagues and renew established friendships with perioperative nurses. In 2013, international perioperative nurses from 19 countries participated in the summit, and we are hoping to expand involvement this year. Speakers’ topics will include innovations in Chinese surgery,

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES The AORN Surgical Conference will be absolutely fabulous, of course. In addition to the various ways that attendees can earn continuing education contact hours, our keynote speakers are all top notch. The 2014 general session speakers include Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM; Sekou Andrews; Robyn Benincasa; and Janet Lapp, PhD. Dr Pronovost is a renowned leader in perioperative quality and safety and coauthor of Safe Patients, Smart Hospitals. 1 Andrews will share “The

FOR EXECUTIVES Brand-new in 2014, AORN is hosting the OR Executive Summit. This special event is limited to 400 participants, and the program will run parallel to the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo from March 30 to April 1. The Summit will be held in a different section of Chicago’s McCormick Place, and participants will have access to the Expo portion of the event as well as the education and Congress events held on Wednesday, April 2. I encourage leaders to support their professional organization and embrace this opportunity to see how AORN has adjusted its course to better meet leaders’ needs and expectations.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2013.11.011

Ó AORN, Inc, 2014

January 2014

Vol 99 No 1

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January 2014 Vol 99 No 1

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BUSINESS SESSIONS Sekou Effect” to teach attendees how to tell The AORN Congress will remain intact and serve powerful and inspirational stories through poetry as the AORN annual meeting, during which time and comedy. Benincasa, an adventure racer, organization business will be conducted. Business firefighter, and motivational speaker, will discuss sessions will include two Forum and two House what it takes to win and motivate attendees to “do of Delegates programs. Additional business activamazing things.” Dr Lapp is an expert in transities include the Candidates Forum on March 29 formational change and will share methods to from 2 to 5 PM, at which attendees can meet the engage employees and boost morale through a candidates who are running for national office high-energy, high-humor program. and listen to their election statements. The AORN The concurrent education sessions for the 2014 Surgical Conference & Expo also will include program were selected to be relevant and innovatime for Specialty Assembly and State Countive. These sessions will offer attendees the opcil meetings. portunity to learn about numerous perioperative topics, from clinical to motivational to managerial AORN FOUNDATION and beyond. Examples of specific topics include AORN Foundation activities include the Chicago advances in bariatric surgery, prevention of surgi“Blues” Party at Enclave Nightclub on March 31; cal site infections, workplace efficiency, legislative the annual Race for considerations, and Patient Safety 5K ambulatory-specific Run/3K Walk, which topics for staff nurses As the largest surgical exhibit in the country, will take place along and managers. A new the AORN Surgical Expo will include more than 500 exhibitors and provide opportunities the historic Grant educational offering Park on April 1; and this year is “Flip the for attendees to earn continuing education contact hours. a ZUMBAÒ fitness Session.” Each “Flip class on April 2 at the the Session” will inHilton Chicago Hotel. clude two webinars More details about these events are available onthat will be presented before the AORN Surgical line at http://www.aorn.org/Conference/Schedule/ Conference & Expo so attendees of the two corSpecial_Events.aspx. responding education sessions held at the conferThe Foundation booth, which will be located at ence will have more time for interactive activities Level 3 Central Concourse in McCormick Place, and questions that will reinforce learning. The Buzz will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn sessions will be back in 2014 and will provide atabout the perioperative nurses who have benefited tendees with another opportunity to earn continuing from scholarship support. At the booth, all ateducation contact hours. tendees, both nurses and exhibitors, will be able to As the largest surgical exhibit in the country, make donations to the cause to support the nurses the AORN Surgical Expo will include more than who make surgery safe. 500 exhibitors and provide additional opportunities for attendees to earn continuing education contact FUN IN CHICAGO hours on the Exhibit Floor. This forum also proIn addition to the opportunities discussed in the vides hands-on opportunities for attendees to preceding text, attendees can visit tour desks to experience new technology and learn from manulearn about Chicago-specific outings for fun in facturer representatives.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE the city. The Congress Planning Committee is working on organizing various opportunities to explore Chicago nightlife and dining, and more information will be available on-site. As we get closer to the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo 2014, I hope your excitement growsdI know mine does. I look forward to seeing you there! Editor’s note: ZUMBA is a registered trademark of Zumba Fitness, LLC, Hallandale, FL.

www.aornjournal.org

Reference 1. Pronovost P, Vohr E. Safe Patients, Smart Hospitals: How One Doctor’s Checklist Can Help Us Change Health Care From the Inside Out. New York, NY: Plume; 2011.

Rosemarie T. Schroeder, BSN, RN, CNOR, is the AORN President and director of perioperative services at Ministry Saint Joseph Hospital, Marshfield, WI. President Schroeder has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as posing a potential conflict of interest in the publication of this article.

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A new way: innovation at the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo 2014.

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