ASORN’S 20TH Anniversary was indeed a celebration of Pride in Practice!

More than 450 ASORN members attended this year’s anniversary cele- bration and annual meeting in Chicago. The 4-day conference was the celebration of ASORN’s 20th anniversary as an organized society striving to meet the educational and professional needs of registered nurs- es working in ophthalmology.

The meeting began on Saturday, Oct. 26, with a leadership seminar presented by Joan Kyes. The program titled, “Leadership Development for < :hanging Times,” was noted by par- ttcipants as “the perfect combination of strategies” for the whirlwind arena of health care currently in an almost constant state of transformation.

Sunday through Wednesday noon, the conference was balanced between general sessions and concurrent courses. Participants could acquire up to 31 nursing education contact hours as ASORN is an accredited provider through the American Nurse’s Associ- ation. Many courses were also accred- ited for technical continuing educa- tion through the Joint Commission for Allied Health Personnel in Oph- thalmology UCAHPO).

Luncheon and Joint Symposium brought the celebration to a fitting close. More than 7.5 questions were generated by participants’ attendance at item writing sessions scheduled throughout the conference. At- tendees received a free hour of con-

tinuing education, and for every cor- rectly formatted test question, their name was placed in a box. One $100.00 and 10 $50.00 cash prizes were awarded from names drawn from the box at the closing luncheon on Wednesday. What a wonderful way to simultaneously assist the organization and be rewarded!

ASORN/Ophthalmology Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future were a fit- ting summation to the 1996 annual meeting ceremonies. The Joint Symposium held between ASORN and the AA0 featured prominent nurse presenters Heather Boyd- Monk, RN, BSN, CRNO, Edna E. Ashy, RN, BSN, Marlene C. Burgess, RN, BSN, Jean E. Hill, RN, BSN, CRNO, Mary S. Merchant, RN, BSN, Pamela J. Schultz, RN, CRNO, and Carol A. Ruehl, RN, CRNO. Camille Servodidio, RN, MPH, CRNO, was ASORN’s ceremonial host.

Tabletop exhibits new this year! ASORN had eight in-hotel tabletop technical exhibit participants this year. The companies included Alcon Surgical, Becton Dickinson/Beaver, Christian Eye Ministry, Escalon Medical Corporation, Mosby-Year Book, Ortho-Prone, Promotional

Marketing Association, and Slack Incorporated. In addition to brows- ing the McCormick Center’s hun- dreds of technical and scientific

INSIGHT The Journal of the American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses, Inc.

exhibits, meeting attendees could take advantage of browsing right in the lobby area of the Hyatt Regency as well!

General sessions were big hits! The keynote address by Marilyn Moats Kennedy, “War Between the Boomers and the Busters” helped us better understand cross-generational differences. She says 40-something Boomer managers tear their hair out when trying to communicate what they consider ordinary ideas with 20- to 30-year-old Busters. For example, when a Boomer says to a Boomer, “this needs to be done,” both under- stand that is an order but nicely put. But when a Boomer says to a Buster, “This needs to be done,” the Buster hears an observation, not an order.

Boomers are astounded when they say to a Buster, “Would you mind?” and he or she states that quite frankly “I would” and exactly why!

Kennedy emphasized two manage- ment strategies that will help bridge gaps between communication styles. First, customize the training for each group’s learning style. Boomers like classroom learning because it’s more personal. Busters, on the other hand, grew up with manipulating their data. They want to be able to fast for- ward anything they don’t want to listen to. Video tapes and CDs work best for them. Second, encourage Boomers and Busters to complement and mentor each other. When work- ing on teams together, Boomers should process information whereas Busters should do the research.

Ms. Kennedy writes a newsletter called the Career Strategist. For a sample copy, write KCS, 1150 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette IL, 60091 or e-mail at MMKCareer @aol.com.

Volume XXI, No. 4 December, 1996 13s

ASORN news

Thank You Chicagoland ASORN! The Association of Chicagoland Ophthalmic Registered Nurses (ACOKN) hosted the ASORN annual meeting participants like royaltv! ‘l‘he hospitality suite felt like a warin cozy family room. ACORN members were alway\ present with smiles on their faces and answc’rs for any clues- tion. ACORN local chapter provided complimeritar)~ mugs and a great navy tote bag to all the registered 111 e et i n g at t e n d e e s 0 II S u n d a y evening, pizza and Eli’s cheescake were the fare on a (:hicago/I,ake Michigan boat ride. ‘l‘he skyline after dark was magnificent. Even the mid- west Fall weather was great-at leact over the weekend.

Local chapter hospitality can make a meeting a truly spectacular event! And the ACORN local chapter did just that!

ASORN announces award winners Pam Schultz was the recipient of the Edna Ashy award. Pam presented the process of writing an ophthalmic book chapter to the meeting atten- dees. Watch for a written version in the March 1997 issue of Irzs&llt. Pat Lamb from the Arizona chapter won this year’s Local (Chapter Leader award.

Ann Barton and Deborah Koerner won advanced educational scholar- ships sponsored by Mentor Ophthal- micr on behalf of Mr. Paul C. Haffey. And Susan Finn and Lucie Elfervig won advanced educational scholar- ships sponsored by Akorn.Metico. This year honor awards went to Eileen Keltramba, I.ucie I<lfervig, Susan Finn, Carol Guenzler, Betty Ann Kirchhofer, and Camille Servodidio. Finally, the winner of the Excellence in Ophthalmic Nursing went to Ms. Floyce Scherrer from St. Louis, MO. A more personal overview of these award winners will be fea- tured in the I’eoplc section of the March 1997 I~r.sig&.

Edna Ashy Award Winner (from left): Mike Crocetta, Mentor Ophthalmics, Inc.; Edna Ashy, ASORN Founder; Pamela Schultz, Award Winner.

Release of new materials ASORN announces release of New Core Curriculum and Volume II of the Procedure Manual. The long awaited arrival of the Core Curriculum for Ophthalmic Nursing became a reality at this year’s annual meeting. The Core Curriculum’s pub- lisher is Kendall Hunt of Dubuque, Iowa. It provides current and future ophthalmic nurses with knowledge about a large number of ophthalmic health problems. The major portion of the curriculum consists of specific ophthalmic health problems and the related nursing care of patients with those problems. The curriculum is formatted as an outline. Each chap- ter contains a specific reference list and bibliography. To order the (:ore Curriculum for Ophthalmic Nursing call 800/228-0810 or fax 800/772- 9165. The cost is $75.00 plus $4.00 shipping and handling and sales tax where applicable.

Volurnc 11 of Ophthalmic Procedures: A Nursing Perspective is also now available from ASORN headquarters. Volume II has many procedures that arc often done in an office practice setting. And guess what? Volume III is in the drawing board stages and will focus on oper- ating room information specific to ophthalmology. Call .4SORN head- quarters at 415/561-85 13 or ASORN’s fax on demand 908/935-2764.

Deadlines for Journal

June Journal March 4, 1997

September Journal June 4, 1997

Please submit all items to Sarah Smith, RN, MA, CRNO, Editor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospitals and

1 Clinics, 200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa ~ City, IA 52242-1091. I