From the Editor
Summer’s here! At least, it’s here in the Northern Hemisphere. More hours of daylight than just a few weeks ago and a palpable lifting of spirits as schools let out and vacations set in.
Folks at NIFA have been nose-to-the-grindstone and we are excited to announce the result:
The RNFA program is being completely revamped. RNFA 3.0 debuts on July 1 and features:
* All new online program software
* More sutures used in the workshops than ever before. So much so that the 6-day SutureStar™ workshop will offer up to 30 times more suturing for RNFA students compared to other schools
* Added Quill suture classes in every workshop
* Introducing the largest RNFA student network community in the country
If you’ve already completed a previous version of NIFA’s program, you’ll be impressed to learn that it’s now possible to complete an RNFA in as little as five to eight months, and still get NIFA’s guaranteed more hands-on training than any other program provides.
The new online community will give students opportunities to learn from and support one another as well as amazing avenues for networking coast to coast. It’s a good time to be a student . . . er, right after that vacation. Anyway, stay tuned!
Calling all perioperative nurses! AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) asks you to support National Time Out Day next Wednesday, June 16. It is a day to raise awareness of the vital role taking “Time Out for every patient, every time” can play in reducing wrong-site surgeries and other preventable mistakes.
OR professionals know it’s important to verify correct person, procedure and site before surgery, but when things get busy, it is tempting to make assumptions or gloss over details. From January through March 2010, the Joint Commission received reports of 18 wrong-site surgeries. Typically, not all members of the surgical team are committed to taking the Time Out, so this year’s program focus is to raise the awareness’ and increase the participation of all team members.
Click here to access a variety of tools that AORN has assembled to help you raise awareness and involvement of taking Time Out at your workplace. In addition to press releases, posters and a variety of checklists, you can watch videos of different ways Time Out is used in different institutions. Take a look and take a stand for Time Out in your OR.
Do you wear your scrubs from home to the OR and back, and launder them at home?
Check out this AORN story about the health dangers you may be posing to your family, your patients and yourself. If your workplace does not use an accredited, certified laundry facility, you may find yourself lobbying for one after you read this piece.
Name: Deb BosticCredentials: BSN, RN
City and State: Austin, Arkansas
Current Job: Member of the heart team, harvesting vein for heart surgeons, assisting and closing, White County Medical Center
RNFA Student Status: Graduated May 2010Latest Accomplishment: Passed the CNOR–that was more difficult than boards!! Fortunately, I have a very supportive family (a wonderful husband and three beautiful children) who have been completely understanding of the whirlwind I have been through the last nine months. Also, my position with the heart surgeons only came about in December so I kind of hit the ground running with clinicals. I scrubbed for 12 years and it really helped me accelerate in clinicals. Really I was just wanting to get the course finished so I could get started doing what I love. I just set my goals and, one by one, they are all finished. I completed the NIFA program, including clinicals, in only nine months. I
obtained my CNOR while I completed clinicals, and now I’m doing what I love, every day!Advice for RNFA students: Never stop learning. Use the Internet and other sources to research unfamiliar topics in the course and continue to do that throughout clinicals, when you come across a new procedure or diagnosis you are unfamiliar with. It helps tremendously. Also, for new RNFAs–not every doctor will want your help. That’s OK; just help the ones who do . . . it’s been my experience that the others will eventually come around 😉