GUIDE TO AORN EXPO 2024
Innovating Education: AORN Expo 2024 Leads the Evolution of Perioperative Nursing
Nurses from all over the world attend the four-day AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo. This year’s conference in Nashville includes multiple learning tracks, dual ambulatory options, and networking opportunities for nurses at every stage of their careers.
The field of perioperative nursing is constantly evolving, driven by advancements in technology, changes in healthcare policies, and the growing demand for skilled professionals.
And as the landscape of perioperative care evolves, so have the offerings at AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo.
For this year’s conference in Nashville (March 9-12), AORN developed four days of perioperative-focused educational content spread across general sessions, a hands-on skills studio, interactive learning labs, a new escape room, and dual ambulatory offerings. There’s education for nurses from every career stage from novice level to the C-suite.
AORN Expo 2024 attracted more than 300 vendors to the Expo Hall. Known as one of the largest trade shows in the country, the Expo Hall gives nurses a chance to engage with the latest OR technologies. Some vendors also offer in-booth education on various timely topics.
Overall, AORN Expo offers perioperative nurses and leaders access to about 200 continuing education contact hours that will advance their knowledge of evidence-based practice.
AORN leaders recognize that nursing requires continuous learning to stay abreast of the latest techniques, technologies, and best practices. That’s a primary reason why it extended its educational programs to ensure that attendees gain the knowledge and skills required to excel in their roles.
“This year’s theme is ‘Making Your Mark,’ and everyone presenting a session has made their mark in some way,” said AORN President Elizabeth Pincus, MSN, MBA, RN, ACNS-BC, CNS-CP, CNOR.
“AORN Expo is dedicated to education, networking, and collaboration. I vividly recall my first conference, where I initially believed the challenges faced by my hospital were unique. However, I soon discovered that nurses nationwide, and even globally, encounter similar obstacles. And the education at AORN Expo is tailored to address them so it can continue to support the growth and success of our nurses.”
Choose Your Path
Compared to prior years, the conference offers more interactive, hands-on education that you can only get through in-person sessions, said AORN Director of Perioperative Education, Colleen Becker, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRN-K. Dr. Becker says that each year, the AORN planning committee analyzes practice priorities, develops content based on AORN’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, member feedback, the latest trends, and new technology.
Attendees at the AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo immerse themselves in hands-on experiences, reinforcing their clinical skills through interactive sessions and fundamental workshops.
“Staffing will always be an underlying challenge for us because perioperative procedures have begun to grow in numbers and complexities, so we’re thinking about ways we can continue to grow and develop at the bedside,” she said.
Dr. Becker lauded both the diversity and relevance of the sessions at this year’s conference.
“We have sessions on the development of staff – whether it be Periop 101 or clinical at the bedside – and we cover topics on DEI and cultural competence, self-care, and some really good clinical topics on code blues, transplants, and counting,” she said. “There are also about four sessions this year that weave in advanced practice.”
Education tracks at this year’s conference include evidence-based practice/research, professional development, clinical (procedural and innovation), ambulatory, and more. Attendees will find session topics such as “No Time to Waste: Improving First Case On-Time Starts in OR,” “The Truth About Iodine Allergy: What Perioperative Nurses Need to Know,” and “Resilience, Retention, and Self-Care for Nurses.”
AORN Guideline authors, industry experts, and nationally recognized speakers lead the sessions, which also extend to the Expo Hall.
The Expo Hall, one of the largest surgical product trade shows in the country, connects nurses to medical device representatives and offers them a chance to touch and evaluate the newest technologies and services available for the OR.
This year, nurses also have access to a mystery escape room, skills studios on sterile processing, A.I., and bullying, and learning labs on multiple topics such as advanced incision management and skin prep protocols.
“The hands-on learning on the Expo floor provides great value for nurses” Pincus said. “There is something for everyone regardless of their role in periop.”
Alongside the ambulatory hub introduced in 2023, this year’s AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo introduced an ambulatory leader track within the Leadership Summit. This specialized track offers comprehensive sessions tailored to empower leaders in ambulatory surgery settings, providing invaluable insights and strategies for success in this dynamic healthcare environment.
Two-fold Ambulatory Programs
For professionals in ambulatory surgery, AORN Expo offers two distinct pathways: the Ambulatory Hub at the main conference, tailored for clinical RNs working in outpatient facilities; and the new Ambulatory Track at Leadership Summit, designed for ASC administrators, directors of nursing, and nurse managers.
Why the dual approach?
AORN’s senior manager of ambulatory surgery, Jeanine Watson, says more than 600 professionals in both leadership and clinical roles attended the education sessions at the inaugural Ambulatory Hub in 2023.
“It became evident that we needed two distinct educational tracks to address the diverse needs of all attendees from the outpatient setting,” she said.
Between the two offerings, AORN Expo 2024 offers more than 15 sessions covering a broad spectrum of essential topics such as infection prevention in the ASC environment of care and bringing a total joint program to an ambulatory surgery center setting.
“As the healthcare landscape continues to transform, we understand the growing importance of ambulatory surgery centers and the unique leadership opportunities they present to perioperative nurses,” said AORN executive director and CEO, Linda Groah, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN.
“The new Ambulatory Leader track Leadership Summit reflects our commitment to empowering nurses in this sector with the education, connections, and emerging tools they need to excel in their roles.”
