Editorial NOVEMBER 2003, VOL 78, NO 5

E D I T O R I A L

Why have a Perioperative Nurse Week? Nsncy J. G i d ,

RN

N ovember is a good month for perioperative nurses because the week of November 9 to 15 officially has been designated as

Perioperative Nurse We&. This is a time for recognizing and honoring peri- operative nurses everywhere, regard- less of practice site, role, or specialty. The theme of Perioperative Nurse Week this year is "Perioperative Nurses: Providing Safe Patient Care In the OR and Beyond."

IN THE BEGINNING Perioperative Nurse Week had its

beginnings in 1979 at the AORN Congress. The House of Delegates was discussing a proposed regulation by the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to allow surgical technolo- gists to circulate in the OR when a motion was made to have a day com- mitted to educating laymen about what perioperative nurses do. The motion passed, and Nov 14,1979, was desig- nated as OR Nurse Day.

The purpose was to set aside an offi- cial day to demonstrate the importance of having a professional perioperative nurse rather than assistive personnel in charge of the OR. The focus of OR Nurse Day was to target the public, leg- islators, and other health care profes- sionals and educate them about the role of professional perioperative nurses. The "President's Message" in the November issue of the AORN Journal that year contained reasons and sug- gestions for celebrating OR Nurse Day that still are pertinent today.'

EVOLUTION In 1990, OR Nurse Day became a

week-long celebration, but the focus remained on educating the public about perioperative nurses' role. The

week incorporates OR Nurse Day which still is celebrated on November 14. Through the years, many hospitals, chapters, and individual members have developed programs and presen- tations to celebrate Perioperative Nurse Week, including inviting chil- dren and members of the public into the OR, presenting posters at Congress, and having their city or state officially proclaim Perioperative Nurse Week.

My question to all of you is why are we not better recognized by the public, administrators, educa- tors, and even nurses in

have been telling them what we do for 24 years?

other specialties if we The focus of OR Nun@ Dnv wnc to --J ---- -- ---.--

Why do people s d doubt our professional- target the public, ;cm srwl niir I -rr irGrn n F 1011, C U L U "Lu yIc.LuLL "I

nursing? Why is there legislators, and circulating, and why other health care ahnost completely taken professionals and person? educate them

still talk of technologists

have technologists

over the role of scrub

The answers to these questions must be invs- about the role of tigated and debated.

sionals doing right, and

to promote our specialty?

factors, political climates, and socioeconomic fac- tors affect what we do? Are we still on track with the original premise (ie, edu- cating the public)? Should we include other aspects or go in other directions?

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE The motto for Perioperative Nurse

Week this year-Perioperative Nurses: Providing Safe Patient Care in the OR

-

What are we as profes-

what are we doing wrong

How do environmental nurses.

professional perioperative

AORN JOURNAL 73 5

and Beyond-is an excellent way to start. Safety in health care is high on the list of national concerns, and we are in an excellent position to communicate how periopera- tive nurses can positively affect safety.

cate the public remains an outstanding idea, but we must move beyond promot- ing ourselves and focus on how we protect the public. We have to demonstrate that we still are worthy of being called professionals. We also must convince the public and all those with decision-mak- ing abilities that RNs must remain an integral part of the OR. We are obligated to exhibit nursing professional-

The original plan to edu-

ism to legislators, our surgical team members, and other health care professionals, including students. Issues from 1979 have reemerged that are as pertinent and valid today as they were 24 years ago, and technologists and surgical assistants again are laying claim to the roles nurs- es play in the OR. For these reasons and many more, Perioperative Nurse Week remains very important to all of us.

AORN Online lists prod- ucts and informational mate- rials about Perioperative Nurse Week at ht tp : / /m .aorn .org/abou t/nu rseweek.htm . These materials can be used to help members celebrate this week and further educate their

peers, legislators, and mem- bers of the public. I look for- ward to reading how you celebrated Perioperative Nurse Week this year and see- ing the posters at Congress.

This month, go out and tell someone what you do and how much patients need you to keep them safe during their most vulnerable time. Happy Perioperative Nurse Week to you all. 9

NANCY J. GIRARD RN, PHD, FAAN

EDITOR

NOTE 1. B J Gruendemann, “Strong self-image is key to OR Nurse Day,” (President’s Message) AORN Journal 30 (November 1979) 833-834.

Physician Visits on the Rise as Baby Boomers Age s members of the Baby Boom generation grow A older, they are visiting physicians more fre-

quently to manage chronic conditions, seek preven- tive care, and obtain newly available medications, according to an Aug 11, 2003, news release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDCs annual National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, found 53% of patients visiting physicians i n 2001 were older than age 45, com- pared to 42% in 1992. Between 1992 and 2001, the number of individuals older than age 45 increased by 11%, but physician visits by this age group increased by 26%. I n addition, diagnostic and screening services ordered and performed were up 28% since 1992, and physician visits that included counseling and education increased by 34%. Surgical procedures performed i n physicians offices increased by 81% during the 10-year period.

Diabetes was the primary diagnosis i n 27 mil- lion physician vis i ts in 2001, and the percentage of visits for diabetes increased 63% from 1992 to 2001. Other leading primary diagnoses for physi-

cian vis i ts i n 2001, included 0 arthritis and joint disorders, 0 common colds, and 0 high blood pressure.

Sixteen percent of physician visits were for preventive care. Women ages 15 to 44 were twice as likely as men to have preventive care visits, and people who did not have health insurance were less likely to make preventive care visits.

The number of medications prescribed and ordered for patients totaled 1.3 billion i n 2001. This reflects both the need for multiple medications to treat multiple conditions, and the availability of many new medications. Use of amoxicillin, the most-prescribed medication in 1992, decreased 45% during the 10-year period with the realization that antibiotics were being overprescribed.

Aging Boomers Drive Up Doctor Visits (news release, Atlanta: Centen far Disease Control and Prevention, Aug 11, 2003) http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel /r030811.htm (accessed 12 Aug 2003).

736 AORN JOURNAL