Survey shows success of educator's conference

AORN has completed an analysis of follow-up questionnaires sent to those who attended AORN's Invitational Conference of Nurse Educators in June 1980. Representatives from 24 baccalaureate schools of nursing attended the conference, which was called to explore advantages of incorporating perioperative role concepts into their curriculum. Sixteen of the 24 schools responded to the questionnaire.

Fifteen of the schools indicated they now have or are planning to have a course that includes perioperative nursing. Of these, 12 have a required course, 1 has an elective course, and 2 are now planning such a course.

The form of perioperative experience varies, however, and only ten of the schools respond- ing specifically defined the type they offer. Five require students to follow patients from the preoperative through the postoperative phase. Four schools require students to have a "hands-on" intraoperative experience in addi- tion to preoperative and postoperative care, and one school has such an experience as an elective.

The survey also asked representatives if the Invitational Conference had, in any way, influ- enced the school to alter its curriculum plan- ning or student experience. Although nine of the schools had not altered their curriculum, seven of these said it was because they were already offering a perioperative experience. Of the other two schools, one reported such a proposal had been vetoed by its curriculum committee, and the other school was limited by finances.

In the seven schools where the curriculum was altered, three expanded the perioperative experience they offered to students. Two of the

conference attendees had developed new perioperative nursing courses at their schools. Two other schools reported plans to incorpo- rate a perioperative component in the 1981 - 1982 school year.

When asked whether they were able to use the concepts and ideas presented at the Invita- tional Conference, 11 of the 14 schools an- swering the question responded positively. The other three said they did not use the infor- mation presented because they already in- cluded perioperative nursing in their curricula.

Five of the schools reported they used the material by incorporating it into the curriculum or into student experiences. Three attendees, whose schools did not alter their curricula, said they had, however, presented the information to colleagues and to students. Another three reported the conference had increased their own knowledge base and incentive for includ- ing perioperative nursing.

The respondents also gave suggestions for content at future conferences. Five requested information and guidance be given on ways to provide instruction and student experiences for the intraoperative period. Two also recom- mended that OR content be presented by schools of nursing already incorporating a hands-on perioperative component.

AORN believes the high response rate to the questionnaire indicates the participants are in- terested in the Association's efforts to assist nursing schools in including perioperative nursing. One year after the conference, it ap- pears that the nurse educators who attended are using the information learned and, for the most part, are influencing the type of perioper- ative experience offered to students.

772 AORN Journal, October 1981, Vol.34, No 4