the official daily publication of the AORN Congress

Boom boom pow: Congress begins

Opening session1 Against a backdrop of mountains, a starry night, and a downtown cityscape, AORN President Patrick Voight, RN, BSN, MSA, CNOR, welcomed an enthusiastic audience to the 57th AORN Congress and started off the traditional Opening Session processional led by the current Board of Directors members. After past Presidents and Board members; award recipients; leaders of committees, specialty assemblies, state councils, and chapters; active military members; and a host of other dignitaries had entered the hall and been seated, President Voight quipped, “Did we miss anybody?”

The invocation was given by Father Tom Carzon who read a prayer written by Florence Nightingale, and Peter Fox sang the National Anthem as the US Air Force Academy Honor Guard presented the colors. Col. Elizabeth Vane, RN, MSN, CNOR presented President Voight with the American flag that was flown over the US Capitol building on Nov 14, 2009, in honor of the 30th anniversary of Perioperative Nurses Day. The flag will be kept at AORN Headquarters. “Perioperative nurses work hard every day to provide safe care,” said Col. Vane, “and they consistently come off with flying colors.” She also presented President Voight with a flag to thank him for his work with the Graduate School of Nursing at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.

President Voight thanked her with a hug and suggested that all those assembled “hug someone in uniform today.” After the presentation, there was a moment of silence to recognize and honor the memory of AORN members and colleagues who have passed away this year.

Denver Volunteer Coordinator Julie Martin, RN, CNOR, presented slides of Colorado and offered the services of the more than 300 volunteers to help make everyone’s Congress more enjoyable. She presented President Voight with his own souvenir scrub jacket bearing the Congress logo.
President Voight welcomed guests from the Nursing Alliance and then recognized attendees from international organizations. Leaders of organizations representing other members of the surgical team brought their greetings to the assembly.

Individual achievement awards were presented at several points during the ceremony. Learn who won here. Two new awards were given this year, one for Outstanding Achievement in Volunteerism and one for Outstanding Facility Achievement in Perioperative Nursing. President Voight introduced

AORN past-President Ruth Shumaker, RN, BSN, CNOR, the winner of the Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing, by saying that she was influential in broadening the scope of AORN to perioperative nursing, thus opening up membership opportunities for registered nurses who work “outside the operating room doors.” Shumaker said, “It was during my tenure as AORN president that we changed the name of our organization from the Association of Operating Room nurses to the Association of periOperative RNs. I want to point out that I have never nursed an operating room—I have always nursed my patients!” She has also influenced nursing internationally by being instrumental in the formation of the International Federation of Peroperative Nurses. We have a generation of nurses coming behind us who we must mentor . . . teach. . . embrace. And I appeal to you to think about transformational leadership when you accept this challenge.”

After showing an inspirational video about Mercy Ships, President Voight invited members of his consulting firm on stage to thank them for their support during his presidency. Julia Cooney, RN, MBA, from Deloitte Consulting said of President Voight, “He is a role model for us in giving back to his profession!”

At the end of the session, President Voight thanked his colleagues, his family, his friends, and his AORN chapter members. The meeting was adjourned and the Board of Directors left the stage to music from the Black Eyed Peas.