AORN OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

As the weather finally is acting more like spring, it matches my mood since coming home from Congress! It is always so refreshing to go to this meeting and connect with past colleagues, update my knowledge of OR nursing and reignite my passion for the Operating Room! There is no other place I would rather be in a hospital.

Also, like the weather, we have members springing into action in the chapter. New members attending AORN Congress, attending a Saturday educational offering and sitting through a chapter meeting! It is so wonderful to know our chapter is reaching so many nurses that specialize in the perioperative arena and more.

I am looking forward to building on this past year as president with a renewed zip in my step and attitudes for our chapter. I hope more will join us and make Chapter 3001 better than ever by offering talks that teach and meetings that mingle and enlighten our spirits.

Let's end this year with a really fun picnic (bring family) and share the joys of being perioperative nurses!

Respectfully,

Roanne

MEETINGS AND EVENTS:

May 5 2007: “Life in an Iraqi OR” by Kurt Rhynhart MD. Concord Hospital Concord NH .
May 5 2007: “The 3 Ps of Perioperative Practice” by AORN Vice President Charlotte Guglielmi. Littleton Hospital , Littleton NH .
May 2007: Election of Chapter officers
June 2007: Picnic at North Hartland Dam, date and time TBA

Life in an Iraqi OR

By Kurt Rhynhart MD

· Saturday May 5 2007

· Concord Hospital , Concord NH , Conference Room A

· Registration begins at 8:30am, program 9-noon

· $10 per person at the door

· CEUs available

· Refreshments available

· Chapter business meeting to follow educational session

Thank you notes

Each year our Chapter selects delegates to represent us at the AORN Congress and we financially support them in their travels. This year we were happy to support 4 delegates. 1st time delegate Donna Barber sent the following message to the Chapter:

“Dear Chapter 3001: Thank you for your financial help for the AORN Congress. It made my trip and experience of Congress much nicer. I had a wonderful time and learned things to help me perform my nursing duties.

Thank you all again, Donna”

____________________________

In a new initiative, our Chapter asked its members to identify themselves as 1^st time attendees to AORN Congress so that we mighthelp to fund their travels. The 1 member that came forward was Rhonda Billingham. She wrote:

“ Lorraine (Chapter Treasurer): I wanted to send a thank you to Chapter 3001 AORN of NH for the $100 check for being a first time Congress attendee. It helped with the expenses. You’re right! It was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot and as an alternate I was also given the opportunity to partake in the voting on the last day for Deb Hastings. How exciting! Thank you again, Rhonda”

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CHAPTER BUSINESS MEETING 3/31/07

Ø 10 members and guests present

Ø Active members are needed; advantages to active participation include the ability to network with peers at other hospitals, CEUs available at most meetings and the perks of belonging and getting involved in national AORN.

Ø Willingness-to-serve forms have been distributed via email and were also available at this meeting. Creating a ballot was deferred as the Nominating Committee members were not present. The ballot will be distributed in May, and results tabulated and announced at the June meeting.

Ø We received 2 thank-you letters for our financial contribution in sending Donna Barber and Rhonda Billingham to AORN Congress this year. The letters were read aloud.

Ø The treasurer’s report indicated we collected $140 today in fees for the conference, Sweet Feet sales were $43 and the 50/50 drawing contributed $7 to the Chapter.

Ø The June meeting plans were discussed

Ø Pat Abrams was the lucky winner of the 50/50 drawing. She collected $8 and the remaining sum went to our Chapter treasury. Congratulations Pat!

Management of Perioperative Pain

On Saturday March 31 2007, at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene NH Thomas Provost, D.O. talked to us about perioperative pain management. His talk covered the types of pain (somatic, visceral or nerve) and the longevity of pain (either acute or chronic). He described the pathophysiology of acute pain, the pharmacology of pain medicines and medical treatment of perioperative pain. He discussed allodynia and hyperpathia as well as the pathophysioplogic consequences of pain. NSAIDS, opioids, ketamine, gabapentin and local and regional anesthetics were discussed. This program was worth 2.0 contact hours.

Many thanks to Dr Provost for his fascinating talk.

Many thanks also to Kim Cotter who worked tirelessly to arrange this meeting in Keene . The facility was wonderful and the refreshments were outstanding.

OSHA Signs New Alliance with Nurses Association

Registered nurses and other healthcare providers will benefit from a safer workplace as a result of a new Alliance signed between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN).

"This agreement will provide AORN's members and other perioperative healthcare providers with information, guidance and access to training resources to stay safe and healthy at work,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "The Alliance will particularly focus on preventing exposure to bloodborne diseases, ergonomic injuries and exposure to smoke generated from the use of electrosurgery units and lasers.”

Under the Alliance , AORN will work with OSHA to develop training and education programs for AORN members and others regarding the prevention of percutaneous injuries. AORN will also work with OSHA to develop information in the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards and to develop ways of communicating this to employers and employees in the industry.

"The provision of patient care cannot be separated from the health and safety of the perioperative care givers. Establishment of a safe work environment provides a means to protect perioperative caregivers from occupational injuries. This Alliance is an opportunity for OSHA and the perioperative nursing community to work together to educate people to work safely in order to avoid debilitating occupational injuries,” said Paula Graling, AORN president.

The association's mission is to promote quality patient care by providing its 40,000 members with education, standards and services.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Chapter 3001 Membership for April 2007

Member Type	Count
Standard Member	107
Retired Member	3
Student Member	1
Associate Member	1
Facility Member - 1 Year	1

Total Members	113

Improve your memory with a good night’s sleep

Sleep is essential for memory consolidation as well as overall health. Research suggests that six to eight hours of sleep a night is ideal for most people. Perhaps even more important than the amount of sleep is the quality of sleep. For better sleep and memory, try the following:

· Establish and maintain a consistent sleep schedule and routine. Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.

· Plan to do your most vigorous exercise early in the day. Exercising in the hours immediately before bedtime causes physiological changes that interfere with sleep.

· Avoid coffee and other sources of caffeine (e.g., chocolate, many soft drinks, some brands of aspirin, and many types of tea) after midmorning, because caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake for hours afterward.

· Avoid napping during the daytime. Napping can disrupt your natural sleep cycle and prevent you from feeling tired enough to fall asleep at night.

· Don’t take sleeping pills unless nothing else works. If you do take a prescription sleep medicine, work with your doctor to use it effectively but only on a short-term basis.

· Don’t try to sleep if you’re not tired; otherwise you’ll set yourself up for tossing and turning. If you’re still awake after about 20 minutes in bed, get up and read awhile to relax.