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Hang 10 at AORN – Your Guide to the 2016 Conference

Hang 10 at AORN – Your Guide to the 2016 Conference

OR Today Magazine | Cover Story | Hang 10 at AORNThe theme for the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo2016, which will be held April 2-6 in Anaheim, California is “Thriving Through Transformation.” Indeed, This year’s AORN conference will present a unique opportunity for attendees to be transformed in their profession at the largest international gathering of perioperative registered nurses in the world. The 2016 AORN conference looks to be one of the biggest in recent memory, with more than 4,600 perioperative nurses expected to attend. In addition, at least 500 exhibitors will set up shop in the 120,000 square feet of exhibit hall space.

Broadening Your Role

“Perioperative nurses today are expected to do more and more in their jobs,” says Linda Groah, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN, the Executive Director and CEO of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). “Whether they’re staff , managers or educators, they are expected to broaden their roles within the facility. We’re striving to help them do this at the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo.”

“The myriad changes occurring in the health care fi eld – from new regulations to changing fi nancial objectives and reimbursement schedules – are all aff ecting perioperative nurses,” adds AORN President Renae Battié, MN, RN, CNOR. “The AORN Surgical Conference & Expo is designed to support perioperative nurses by providing outstanding education, training and networking opportu-nities during four intensive days.”

AORN Conference Details

At this year’s AORN conference, you can choose from among 65 diff erent educational sessions organized along eight diff erent tracks:

1. Ambulatory

2. Clinical

3. Educator

4. Evidence-Based Practice/Research

5. Infection Control/Infection Prevention

6. Leadership/Management

7. Professional Development

8. Quality Indicators

“There’s something here for every perioperative nurse, regard-less of your role or the type of facility you work in,” says Groah. “Attendees will have the opportu-nity to deep dive into each one of these specifi c areas.”

OR Today Magazine | Cover Story | Hang 10 at AORNIn addition, the conference will once again feature the popular OR Executive SummitTM and Leader-ship Development SummitTM. The Executive Summit will bring together a highly tuned mix of the brightest and most-respected leaders in the industry. It will off er the opportunity for leaders to collaborate with peers about the most pressing and urgent issues currently facing health care.

The Leadership Development Summit, meanwhile, is designed for today’s perioperative leaders and those new to leadership roles. It will teach the necessary skills and provide the resources required for attendees to be successful and effi cient perioperative leaders.

A Unique Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall at this year’s AORN conference will be unlike any other exhibit hall. It will have a beach theme and attendees are encour-aged to “Surf the Hall,” riding the party wave through the hall to discover new products, hot jobs and CE credits while meeting face-to-face with exhibitors so you can better understand how their products might fi t into your facility.

While surfing the hall, attendees will be able to collect points from exhibitors via the conference’s mobile app to win hourly give-aways and then chill out at “The Shore,” where lifeguards will be serving refreshments.

“This presents a great opportu-nity to meet new people, share experiences, and bounce around new ideas,” says Battié.

The new expanded mobile app for this year’s conference will serve as an interactive conference manage-ment tool. It will give you access to the entire conference schedule as well as games, quizzes, prizes, networking opportunities and important AORN Congress informa-tion – all from the convenience of your smart device.

Simulation learning is another popular returning feature at this year’s AORN conference. Attend-ees are able to explore dynamic learning experiences at several diff erent simulation stations set up in the exhibit hall.

“This way, you can practice new skills in an environment where you can make mistakes without actually harming patients,” says Groah.

Pre-Conference Certificate Programs

Once again, the AORN conference will offer a number of different pre-conference certificate programs during the two days prior to the official conference launch on April 1 and 2. These will include:

• CCI’s Fundamentals of OR Management – This “mini-MBA” course will provide current and aspiring perioperative leaders with the tools needed to effectively and profitably lead a surgical services department.

• TeamSTEPPS® Master Training Course – This evidence-based program will off er strategies, techniques and tools to help individuals teach others the TeamSTEPPS system to improve patient safety and communication.

• Perioperative Medical Malprac-tice Mock Trial – This interac-tive, all-day workshop will encourage audience participa-tion in a mock medical mal-practice trial involving a hospital/ASC and a periopera-tive registered nurse.

Groah says that given the intensity of the four-day AORN conference, it’s important to work in a few opportunities for fun and relaxation. This year’s conference will feature the AORN Foundation Silver Soiree, a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the AORN Foundation; the AORN Founda-tion Zumba Fitness Class; and a 5k Run/3k Walk Race for Patient Safety through the streets of beautiful Anaheim.

Attendee Testimonials

Linda Gardner, MSN, MED, BA, RN, CNOR, attended the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo for the fi rst time last year in Denver.

“I returned to my facility energized with new ideas and excellent educational resources,” she says.

“Attending the conference was amazing and opened my eyes to new opportunities and best practices for myself, my staff and our patients,” Gardner adds. “I have implemented several new practices with my co-workers. The AORN conference was an amazing opportunity!”

When asked about the greatest takeaway from last year’s AORN conference, returning attendee Karen Rustermier, BSN, RN, CNOR, replies: “I was particularly inter-ested in the products and education sessions that dealt with pressure ulcer prevention. I also learned that some of the ‘sacred cows’ of patient positioning have been proven otherwise through research.”

“After returning from Expo, my staff discussed the adoption of a pressure risk scale in our pre-op assessment,” Rustermier adds. “I have also changed some of my routine positioning as well.”

Start Planning Now

If you’re planning to attend the 2016 AORN Surgical Conference & Expo, Groah suggests that indi-viduals not wait until arriving in Anaheim to start planning out a conference agenda.

“Use the new expanded mobile app to plan out the sessions you want to attend ahead of time,” she advises. “Also start thinking about how you will bring everything you learn at the AORN conference back with you to share with your colleagues to help make positive changes in your OR environment.”

Get complete details and register for the 2016 AORN Surgical Conference & Expo online at http://www.aorn.org/surgicalexpo.

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