AORN - Leadership


When I first started my practice in the operating room, I was scared. Everything was new and exciting, but I felt alone. I joined AORN because it was engrained through my nursing school that it was my duty to protect nursing by becoming a member of my professional organization. A couple months later, I found myself among true friends who had been through my struggles. I found mentors who enjoyed my presence and wanted me to shine. A couple years later, I found myself at the surgical conference and expo and I will be honest, I was burnt out. I didn’t know if I could last 5 years in the OR. I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders and there was very little I could do to change. When I left the conference, I was a new woman, a new perioperative nurse. I was empowered to take charge and put my foot down. Instead of enraged at my coworkers’ practices, I was determined to show everyone what real perioperative practice could be. I would lead by example and stop taking anything for granted. 

This was all due to the leadership of AORN. I felt the connection when AORN put on seminars and keynote speakers that knew exactly how I felt and could make me turn 180 degrees. I was disappointed that I had let myself get so jaded, but AORN lifted me back up. I made friends and danced with the officers at the Foundation party. I felt at home with people I barely knew. I felt inspired by AORN’s leadership and decided then that I was an AORN representative for life.
I went home and bought a lifetime membership that night. I went home and decided this would be my passion for life. It is through the AORN leadership that I am able to thrive, because I trust that they will take care of me, my practice, and my education.

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