INDUSTRY INSIGHTS AORN

challenges and operate with different regulatory requirements (compared to hospitals) and, often, limited resources, so organizers decided to create an entire space dedicated to ambulatory surgery. The sessions address hot topics for leaders and clinicians including expanding service lines, cultivating a culture of safety and sharing research on clinical practice outcomes. Some of the topics include “Infection Prevention in the ASC Environment,” and “Designing Ambulatory Surgery Centers for the Future.”

The new hub is just part of AORN’s commitment to the ambulatory nursing practice.

AORN launched its new ambulatory division in the beginning of 2023 with a goal of supporting outpatient surgery facilities by offering clinical education, reporting resources, networking opportunities and connecting industry partners to outpatient leaders. And that’s in addition to its current ambulatory surgery solutions which include online courses that are specific to the setting.

“Our goal is to create a larger community and build more resources so our members can learn from national experts and connect with their peers to discuss the challenges and solutions they experience on the job,” Dennis said. “We have a growing population of nurses in the ambulatory setting, and they are in desperate need of high-quality education related to important issues such as operational efficiency, revenue management and regulatory compliance.”

Mentoring the Next Generation AORN has resources in place for members – both at AORN Expo and throughout the association – focused on helping nurses entering the profession or looking for professional development. Each year, association members receive a discount on conference registration along with more than 200 contact hours, guideline implementation tools, career resources and more benefits to support their practice.

Nursing students who attend AORN Expo receive a complimentary registration and a one-year AORN student membership. AORN also created a special program during the last day of Expo where students can practice hands-on activities (think gowning and gloving, surgical prepping, preparing a sterile field, and handling instrumentation). And in the afternoon of April 4, they’ll have access to an exhibit floor session exploring the complexity of surgical products and equipment.

Nurses can also connect with a mentor at AORN Expo.

At the conference, nurses can sign-up for AORN’s Member Mentor Program or meet their match in person. The program pairs nurses with a mentor for a year and offers a collection of resources that help establish program goals and focused conversations. For attendees looking for something less formal, the conference hosts a first-time attendee lounge (where attendees can network with veteran nurses), and speed networking activities.

“We have built in plenty of networking opportunities for nurses and leaders to connect and grow their professional support system,” Dennis said. “We are also excited about the host city of San Antonio and the night events and parties we have planned. It all contributes to building strong connections and showing everyone that we are in this together.”

Next year, AORN will present its Global Surgical Conference & Expo in Nashville – save the date – March 9-12, 2024. Registration opens in October 2023.