SE2 SFMC Perioperative Nursing Unit Practice Council Report

SFMC Perioperative Nursing Professional Organization Participation Summary from Unit Practice Council, October 2010

We have numerous nurses that belong to our specialty's professional nursing organization, ASPAN (American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses).  GI lab - Vicki Jack-Blue RN  Preadmission Testing - Becky Curtis RN, Mary Dupey RN  Preop - Joanne Pinto RN, Carol Wirbal RN, Melissa Chesonis RN, Jane Hutson RN, Cassie Lawless RN  PACU - Sandra Freeman RN, Mary Jane Kornblate RN, Mary Nott RN, Kathy Hoops RN

In 2010, RMPANA (Rocky Mountain Perianesthesia Nurses Association) renewed energy for our district. Several of us attended the start-up meeting on January 4, 2010. The majority of nurses that participated were from SFMC! We had a district meeting and CEU offering on February 25th at Memorial North. On April 29th SFMC hosted the meeting and CEU offering, with a speaker on Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Melissa and Cassie spent a great deal of time putting this together and we had a great turn out of nurses from our district. We had a district CEU Offering on May 15 covering several topics, again with a great turn out. Melissa and Cassie volunteered to help with this one as well. We have been dormant for the summer, but plan on starting up again in the fall. Cassie was a leader in getting us "stirred-up".

Our education council purchased "A Competency Based Orientation and Credentialing Program for the Perianesthesia Setting, 2009 edition" available through ASPAN. We divided the 20 chapters up so that we could get through this in a year. I believe that everyone learned a great deal from doing this. Although it was not mandatory, everyone participated.

ASPAN provides a journal 10 times per year that contains articles relevant to our specialty. There are CEU's available each month. We have really seen a difference in the articles over the last few years, as most of the articles are evidence-based now. There are numerous sub- committees in ASPAN for other specialties. Just recently I submitted a question regarding OSA and received numerous responses from nurses across the nation!

We have purchased the Perianesthesia Nursing Core Curriculum and the Standards of Perianesthesia Nursing Practice and refer to these throughout the year.

Belonging to our professional nursing organization keeps us up-to-date on what is happening in our field since change has become so rapid. We are enthusiastic about education. We develop confidence that we are providing excellent, quality care to our patients. We can be confident that we are prepared for emergencies when they occur and the patient has a good outcome. We participate in our practice council to make continuous improvements in our area. We collaborate with one another to do this. Every February has a Perianesthesia Nurses Week. We celebrate this with daily CEU offerings, potlucks, giveaways, lectures from our anesthesia doctors. Everyone is enthusiastic about our celebration!