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AORN of New Orleans Chapter 1902 Announcements
NEW!
AORN National Board
2020-2021
President
David A. Wyatt, PhD, MA, MPH, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR
President-elect
Holly S. Ervine, MSN, RN, NPD-BC CNOR
Vice-President
Elizabeth S. Pincus, MSN, MBA, RN, ACNS-BC, CNS-CP, CNOR
Secretary
Darlene B. Murdock, BSN, BA, RN, CNOR
Treasurer
Vangie Dennis, BSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO
Board of Directors
Nakeisha M. Archer, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, CSSM
Stephen Balog, MSN, RN, CNOR, RNFA
Vicki J. Barnett, MSN, RN, CNOR
William (Bill) Duffy, MJ, RN, CNOR, FAAN
Brenda G. Larkin, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CNS-CP, CNOR
Brandy Miller, MHA, MSN, RN, CNOR
Kristy P. Simmons, MSN, RN, CNOR
Nominating Committee
CHAIR:
Laura A. Gayton, MHCA, BSN, CNOR, CSSM
Amy Brunson, MSN, RN, CNOR
Jeffrey R. Keane, BSN, RN, CNOR
David Reinhart, MSN, MBA, RN, CNOR
David L. Taylor, MSN, RN, CNOR
ADVISOR
Missy Merlino, MHA, RN-BC, CNOR, CSSM
President's Message
To the chapter members and friends of AORN 1902:
First, I’d like to thank Mary Anne Toledano for taking the time to send out a message about all meetings being cancelled until further notice. The Board is having a Zoom meeting in the coming weeks to figure out possible alternatives to meetings and social events. Please stay tuned for more information.
Second, please check the AORN website for the new COVID-19 toolkit as well as information on the virtual Surgical Conference and Expo starting May 1. It’s free for all members and a great benefit for everyone in light of the cancellation of 2020 Surgical Conference and Expo. If you’ve never been to our annual conference, I urge you check it out and see what the education sessions at Expo are like.
Finally, as chapter president, I knew I needed to address the membership as our work (and life) situations changed with COVID-19; however, like many of you, I was working on the front lines at one of our area hospitals when everything started. At the end of the workday, I simply had no words left to send. I’m sure many of you understand what I’m saying.
As nurses, we’re all in this together. There has never been a more important time to prioritize protecting ourselves mentally and physically to be able to not only function as caregivers but as humans navigating their way through this. As perioperative nurses without elective cases to work, we’re finding our roles shifting uncomfortably, our works hours reduced drastically, or even our jobs being put on an indefinite hold.
The transition of responding to a global pandemic in New Orleans has been intense, abrupt, and shocking. A coworker said something a few weeks ago that really hit home with me: this is scarier than the worst hurricane. We can evacuate to a place out of the hurricane’s reach. With (COVID-19), there’s nowhere to evacuate and we don’t know when this particular ‘storm’ is going to pass. We began the month of March making small talk about COVID-19. A few weeks later, we saw our regular hospital environments dissolve and we started gearing up as if going into battle.
Reality changed rapidly for all of us and change no longer happened gradually, but hourly. Part of the new normal in our hospitals involved getting new directives to replace ones instituted earlier that morning. Everyone is practicing and delivering care in different and creative ways in order to accommodate issues not typically seen in the American health care system. Our work environment completely transformed, and the energy shifted to something surreal: the air is heavy, hallways are eerily silent, and it’s frightening. Confusingly, at the same time, it is more positive, encouraging, and supportive than ever.
Things seem to be improving ever-so-slightly as the days pass; however, we’re not out of the woods yet. Because of this, my message to you is that it is important for everyone in health care to find ways to decompress in order to sustain their energy levels and capacity to keep pushing through physically and emotionally. Keep working on your craft, on your art, on whatever lights you up outside of work, and share it online with the world if you choose. We are nurses, but we are human beings first. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that and step out of “nurse mode” to stay mentally healthy.
To those still making it happen on the front lines: I was honored to work beside many of you when COVID-19 became our reality and turned our hospital and personal lives into something we thought we’d only see in a movie. Keep up the positive spirit and hard work. This too, shall pass.
To those not working in a hospital environment: please be patient, considerate, understanding, and supportive of those who are. Take one moment to remember that it’s not business as usual when they clock in for their shifts. When it’s time to clock out, some are okay with being the heroes everyone is celebrating in this crisis, but others just want to be non-nurse humans for a few hours.
As I said before, we’re all nurses, and we’re all in this together. Support those who are working tirelessly through all of this and understand that, when COVID-19 is just a memory, some may still have a long journey ahead to recover from what they’ve seen and experienced. Find a way to help a perioperative nurse who may have found themselves unexpectedly furloughed or their hours drastically reduced even if you’re out of work and can only afford a word of encouragement or a socially distanced shoulder to cry on. Count your blessings, be grateful for today, and appreciate those who might be getting on your nerves at home all day. Some of your fellow nurses only have virtual human contact right now. Most importantly, take care of yourselves and your families. The things we put on the backburner when this all started will still be here waiting to be dusted off and picked back up when normal returns.
Stay safe and be well.
Carrie
Carrie Simpson
President 2019-2020
AORN of New Orleans Chapter 1902
Saturday January 11, 2020
7a - 3p
AORN Chapter 1902 Annual Winter Seminar
Agenda
7:00 - 8:00 Registration, Breakfast, and Welcome
8:00-10:00
11:30 -12:30
12:30 -13:30 Evaluation/Certificate/Raffle
13:30 - 15:30 Louisiana State Council of AORN Chapter meeting
For Driving Directions:
http://ejgh.org/patients-visitors/maps-a-directions
Registration by 1/12 on site
AORN Member $35 $45
Non-Member $45 $55
Nursing Student’s $25 $25
Send registration fee to:
Melissa Guidry
340 Aurora Ave.
Metairie, LA 70005
PayPal also available at:
aornofneworleanschapter1902.com
CE credits:
CE credits is provided through AORN. AORN is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by ANCC.
Criteria for successful completion, to obtain CE Credits: the participant must attend the entire event; no partial credit is awarded.
Purpose
The objective of this educational offering is to enable the RN to increase his/her awareness of options and opportunities available to improve professional awareness. Being proactive is essential to provide safe, optimal patient car
Register by PayPal
*Louisiana State Council to AORN Chapter - Meeting
to follow Seminar
AORN of New Orleans - Chapter 1902
(2019-2020)
BOARD of DIRECTORS
President
Carrie Simpson, MSN, BSN, RN-BC, CNOR
President-elect
Judy Montello, BSHCA, RN, CNOR
Vice President
Mary Anne S. Toledano, BS, BSN,
RN, CNOR
Secretary
Mandy Martin-Sanchez, BSN, MEd,
RN, CNOR
Treasurer
Melissa Guidry, RN, MPH, CNOR
Board of Directors:
(2018-2020)
Linda Levesque, MSN, RN, CNOR
Roxanne McNally, BSN, RN
Elaine Stock, BSN, RN, CNOR
(2017-2019)
Tammy Sill RN
Geri Tannehill BSN, RN, CNOR
Nominating & Leadership
Development Committee:
Christal Cook, MSN, RN, CNOR
(Chair)
Ramie K. Miller, MSN, RN, CNOR
LA State Council Liaison:
Mary Anne S. Toledano, BS, BSN, RN, CNOR
Legislative Committee:
Nathalie Walker MBA, RN, CNOR
- Chair
Newsletter Editor:
Mary Anne Toledano, BS, BSN, RN,
CNOR
Assistant Editor:
Frances Hughes,BS, RN, CNOR
Webmaster:
Ramie K. Miller, MSN, RN, CNOR
Education
TBD
Winter Seminar
January 2020
February/March 2019
President's Message
Respectively,
Carrie Simpson, MSN, RN-BC, CNOR
President AORN of New Orleans-Chapter 1902
Legislative Report by
Nathalie Walker, MBA, RN, CNOR
Respectfully Submitted by,
Nathalie Walker MBA, RN, CNOR
AORN - Past President
AORN of New Orleans Chapter 1902- Legislative Chair
HOLIDAYS
Thursday November 28, 2019
- Thanksgiving
Wednesday December 25th, 2019
- Christmas
No Meeting
Wednesday January 1, 2019
- New Year's Day
Wednesday January 22, 2020
Meeting
Ochsner Kenner
5p
Tuesday February 25, 2020
MARDI GRAS
My First Expo
by Angela Young
Wednesday March 11, 2020
University Medical Center (UMC)
5p
Cancelled due to COVID-19
Vendor Fair $200
AORN Member $35
Non AORN Member $45
Student $25
Saturday March 28, 2020
Cancelled due to COVID-19
AORN Surgical Conference & Expo
Anaheim, CA
Sunday March 29 2020
Louisiana Council of AORN Chapters
- MEETING/SOCIAL @ 7p
Monday March 30, 2020
- tba
Tuesday March 31, 2020
-tba
Wednesday April 1, 2020
-tba
LOUISIANA STATE COUNCIL OF
AORN CHAPTERS
Cancelled due to COVID-19
cordially invites you to join us for appetizers at the
2020 AORN Surgical Expo & Global Conference
Louisiana AORN Chapters Meet and Greet
Place: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Anaheim Garden Walk
Time: 7-9 on the Surf’s Up Patio
When: Sunday March 29, 2020
Wednesday April 22, 2020
CHNOLA
Meeting 5p
Wednesday May 27, 2020
SOCIAL
-TBA
Wednesday June 24, 2020
5:00p - 7:00p
Installation Dinner -
$35 per person:
pay by Check or PayPal
Saturday July 2020
Louisiana State Council of AORN Chapters
- Meeting 10a
- TBD
???What's Going On Around Town???
