Editoriat

Giving. giving a darn, that is.

How often have we heard, ' I . . . . no one gives a darn anymore. . . ."

More and more we have the feeling and are witnessing the "don't give a darn" atti- tude. We don't care about the other guy's lake, car, appliance or job. This could hardly be levelled at the OR nurse-or could it? Is she too caught up in the tidal wave and propelled to the extent she finds it difficult to anchor her feet?

The foul-ups across the land and around the world make our own annoyances grow and provide us with an existence fraught with sickening frustrations. All because no- body gives a darn. The constant grinding soon becomes destructive to individuals and to our nation.

One of our last frontiers we know of really caring i s the OR and the nurse who makes it function properly. She cannot succeed without caring. If she loses her drive to be responsible, her competence declines. In her working day, mutual con- cern and cooperation are the adhesives which make things go. A society or organi-

zation without them cannot solve problems nor build anything. Indeed, it cannot sur- vive.

Why then don't we stop blaming the other guy? Why do we expect more from others than we expect from ourselves? Aren't our apologies sometimes feeble and our excuses slim? Why blame the other guys -the yippies, the computers, the numbers in the lottery of life? "People" isn't the "other guy." It's you and it's me. It's all of us.

When people really want to do some- thing, it gets done. Take AORN. Isn't car- ing what makes it go? Caring by many dedicated people. Should we then be sat- isfied? Why don't we make it even better?

Once we become complacent and forget to care, we have lost-you name it, and we have lost it.

Chapter presidents who .don't advise their officers and members of changes, happenings, proper organizational proced- ures, contribute a bit to the complacency. Isn't "not doing" usually blamed on some

November 1970 7

feeble excuse - the other gal, the isola- tion theory that one person's actions will not rock the world? Do you really under- stand the responsibility required of you?

Why do some officers and committee members serve in name only? Why do some members take all and give nothing? responsibility to nursing end as we close the OR door behind us each day?

If you belong - contribute. Be there - communicate. Do it.

Jangle local AORN or National AORN with ideas, Send reports on time. If you accepted a committee appointment, com- municate, work, produce. If you are a chapter officer, over-react on the job - get things done ahead of time. See to it that others get things done.

Don't accept complacency.

When we do not contribute, doesn't this reflect on community, society, AORN? Not returning a phone call, not answering cor- respondence, not being on time - not doing these things will sap the strength of AORN.

If a situation arises which prevents you from performing job requirements, don't hide behind feeble excuses. Ask for a replacement! Don't try to disappear, un- noticed into the shadows.

Human potential i s related to our own drives - not the Peter Principle. Man's greatness does not lie in perfection but in striving for it, The continued growth, suc- cess and power of AORN depend on all of us caring. The Association will not auto- matically propel itself beyond the present. It will only grow, will only happen, because ORN does "give a darn." 0

The Purdue Frederick Fellowship For

Gradvate Training in Operating Room Nursing Requirements: -The applicant must be in need of financial ossistance to continue her education, - The applicant must be pursuing a degree/diploma/certificate which will benefit the appli-

-The applicant must be endowed with the attributes for success in the practice of operating

-The applicant must have been a member of the Associotion of Operating Room Nurses

-The applicant must submit a paper (500 words or less) on how this educational experience

-Three letters of recommendation shall be submitted as to why the applicont should be

cant in the field of OR nursing,

room nursing.

for a minimum of one year.

wi l l be of benefit, personally and professionally.

considered (one letter from current employer.)

Mefhod of Selection ond Payment: The Committee i s composed of four members of the Association, one each representing the

East, Middle West, West, and South. The Direcor of Education of the Association of Operating Room Nurses chairs the committee and recipients are selected by majority vote.

1. Applications together with letters of recommendotion and paper must be submitted to the

2. The committee will choose the recipients by Feb 1. 3. The Awards will be paid in one lump sum of $500, and announcements made at the

annual meeting of the Association. The role of the Purdue Frederick Company in regard to these fellowships i s limited to pro-

viding Award funds and consultation to the Associotion of Operating Room Nurses. The selection of recipients i s made by the Association of Operating Room Nurses.

committee by Jan 1 of the year in which the award will be mode.

8 AORN Journal