Well it finally happened, the words that you dread to hear, 'I think you will need progressive lenses.' I don't know about you but I always have a little anxiety going to the eye doctor for my annual checkup. Most people I've spoken with are anxious from the air puff test where a small burst of air, shot onto the surface of your eye, calculates the pressure inside the eye and tests for glaucoma. I kind of like that one, my anxiety starts when the doctor has you look through the phoropter or refactor to determine your prescription. This test brings back memories of pop quizzes in school, or maybe it's the feeling of being on a game show trying to win a new car. The doctor has you read the eye chart while changing the lens setting and asking for subjective feedback on which setting is clearer, one or two, this one or this one, over and over to you get it right or they get tired of hearing 'they're both close, maybe the first one.'
Having good vision is important, not only for individuals but for organizations like NAON as well. The word vision can be defined in several ways. One could define vision as a mental image of the future, eyesight, thought, or something dreamed or imagined. Visions can help show how dreams can come true, or fulfill hopes or aspirations. Organizations use a vision statement to help provide clear direction of what they would like to achieve, dream, or accomplish. In essence, the vision of an organization should tell everyone, not just its members their purpose or what they aspire to accomplish, simply stated, why they exist.
NAON has a vision or purpose that is summed up in this statement seen in our trademarked logo, 'Advancing the Art and Science of Orthopaedic Care.' Vision can also be seen in our sister organizations such as the NAON Foundation, whose Vision is to 'promote excellence in musculoskeletal health by supporting orthopaedic nursing' (NAON Foundation, 2015). The Vision of the Orthopaedic Nursing Certification Board states, 'The Orthopaedic-certified nurse credentials are the standard for knowledge and excellence in professional practice' nicely rounds out the three groups vision of musculoskeletal health promotion (Orthopaedic Nursing Certification Board, 2015).
While developing some of the Visions for NAON, one of the methods used was a three-part process: what is new, what can we do next, and what is better? One of the many values of membership is the six free webinars that NAON currently offers its members, a $210 value. Nonmembers can also view and participate in the webinars live or download and watch them from the NAON store for $35 each. As you can see, educational webinars are a convenient way for members and nonmembers to log on at their convenience and receive continuing education credits. My Vision for 2016 is to increase the number of webinars offered to 10, a $350 value to members. Offering more webinars increases the value of your membership by offering more opportunities to earn free continuing educational credits.
A second Vision for NAON's hopefully will be seen at our 36th Annual Congress, which will be held May 21-24, 2016, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL. Using the process, what is better, the Vision was to find more ways to engage both our long-term members/attendees and build excitement among first-time attendees. One way to accomplish this would be through more tactile activities and advanced practice classes. I don't know about you, but one of the ways I retain information learned is through hands-on activities. Because everyone processes information and learns in different ways, and to accommodate the differing learning styles; kinesthetic, visual, and auditory material needs to be presented in several formats to ensure understanding by our attendees.
One could reason or make a case that an association's vision and/or mission statements are their dreams put into words. This statement may not always contain the most inspiring words, but it should tell the dreams that the organization would like to turn into reality. Visions can show how dreams can come true, and hopes can be fulfilled, such as orthopaedic nurses having their own special day to celebrate and be recognized for the care we give each day to our patients.
Since 1990, October 30 has been recognized and celebrated as International Orthopaedic Nurses Day. This special recognition began when then President George H. W. Bush signed a proclamation that was presented by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) to honor orthopaedic nurses. Orthopaedic nurses can trace their roots back to Victorian England to Dame Agnes Hunt, who is considered to be the first orthopaedic nurse. Hunt, who was crippled from septic arthritis in her hip, spent her entire career as a nurse helping to improve the lives of crippled children and those who were injured during World War I.
Musculoskeletal diseases and problems affect all ages and are cared for by orthopaedic nurses in numerous settings such as hospitals, clinics, physician offices, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and in home healthcare. In the hospital, an orthopaedic nurse may be found on an orthopaedic specialty floor, medical/surgical floor, pediatrics, oncology, operating room, and so forth. As you can see, orthopaedic nurses can be found anywhere in every healthcare setting, and are truly taking care of and educating patients from 'birth to the grave.'
Orthopaedic nurses spend time daily educating not only their patients but also the caregivers on musculoskeletal health issues, care, and disease prevention. While the month of October ends with NAON members celebrating International Orthopaedic Nurses Day, the month is packed with activities and events that will increase awareness about bone health. For example, the week of October 12-20 is Bone and Joint Health National Action Week. Events scheduled this week are World Arthritis day (12th), World Spine Day (16th), World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day, a.k.a. PB&J (19th), and World Osteoporosis Day (20th). As you the reader can see, there are numerous opportunities for you to become involved in a bone and joint health event during the month.
The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) website, http://USBJI.org, is a great resource for locating information on the aforementioned events. One educational program from the USBJI that you may be familiar with is the 'Fit to a T' program on osteoporosis and bone health. One component of bone and joint health is simply prevention of disease or injury. Osteoporosis risk factors/prevention and public education about fragility fractures is the focus of the 'Fit to a T' program. Osteoporosis, a metabolic bone disorder in which new bone formation decelerates while bone resorption accelerates, can be defined simply as porous bones, which over time become fragile and can then easily fracture. For nurses who may have the Vision of conducting an educational session on this topic and how to avoid fragility fractures, the program provides you not only with a PowerPoint presentation, but resources material on risk assessments and how they can find their T-score. Your T-score is a bone density test result that measures susceptibility to fragility fractures, hence the name of the program 'Fit to a T.'
Looking back to Victorian England to Dame Agnes Hunt, we may never know what her Vision was when she became the first orthopaedic nurse, but I think she would be amazed at what NAON nurses do every day. As you celebrate International Orthopaedic Nurses Day, take time to reflect on why you chose orthopaedics as a way to care for others during your nursing career. We would love to see pictures of you and your fellow nurses and/or family celebrating International Orthopaedic Nurses Day or participating in some of the other Bone and Joint Health events mentioned previously, so please send them into the NAON office or post them to our Facebook page.
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