Guesf ediforial

What's it take to get going?

Motivation! What does it take to really get going?

For years I've really felt the urge to "do something" each and every time something I saw or heard touched me. I'd get all fired up and say to myself "I'm going to do something about that," or "I'm going to write in about this or that." What happened to my good intentions? Maybe that was the night the baby wos sick, or I had to take the youngsters to Scouts, or I had a meet- ing to go to. The urge dies easily without something to feed upon and good resolu- tions wither to nothing.

Nurses are notorious for not pushing, for accepting things as they are - poor working conditions; salaries; poor hours; and I might add, doing anything that doesn't fit into housekeeping's, the aides', or the PN's iob description. Interested and concerned lay persons have often remarked to me over the years that when unskilled and semi-skilled labor receive more con- sideration, pay and benefits than the trained nurse then things are in a sad state

and should be looked at and reevaluated. The worst part of the whole thing i s that it i s true. Nurses have all too often and for too long accepted things as they come, ex- pecting someone to hand us our due on a silver platter. I'm afraid we'll wait an eter- nity.

As president of an AORN chapter of 168 members, what can I do to wake up these nurses to the clear facts around them? We have one of the most active (MOTI- VATED) and progressive AORT chapters in the nation in our area. They have a work- shop every three months, they hold social events for the group several times a year (great time to have fun and st i l l pick up and pass on ideas). They push, encourage, help and prod all their members into ad- vancing their education. Thanks to the ef- forts mainly of this group we now have basic and advanced classes available in the area for our operating room tech- nicians. Their aim at the time was to estab- lish courses that would help their members to pass the certification exams. Their or-

May 1972 21

agnization is a "GOING AND GROWING'' concern. They want to expand their experi- ences and don't mind a bit of hard work and much involvement to do so. MOTIVA- TION? They're full of it.

Operating room nurses - where are you? Where are you going? What are you going to do? The world around you is calling you! Get involved to help yourself, and get in- volved to help others. We don't need 168 names on paper just to look good. We need 168 active members to stand up and be counted, and heard among those who are motivated and trying to look into the fu- ture and be prepared for it. Don't refuse when contacted to chair or serve on a com- mittee. Don't turn down an appeal to run for an office. Don't sit on your hands when approached from the podium for volun- teers. Who is going to make our organiza- tion a success if not you-you-you? We need individuals, one and all working together, to help AORN reach its full potential. Where are those workshops - seminars - institutes and conventions and other ed- ucational opportunities if we members don't set them up, attend them and pass the word that they are available.

Along with the special programming is the daily and monthly routine of your or- ganization. HELP! Publicity, newsletters, by-

laws, programs, membership, hospitality, AORT advisory boards, nominating com- mittees, boards, officers and last but not least, fund raising to send the best and most interested people to represent your members and bring back trends and changes to all from the conventions and other educational opportunities offered, All of the above positions need motivated workers (you) to insure the success of the greatest group of RN's ever-AORN.

Yes, there i s a place for each and every one of you and a need for each. Step up and be recognized as a volunteer who car- ries her share of the load. With each and every one motivated, caring and looking for and ready to work for a goal as yet un- attained, the load for each of us would be lighter and the accomplishments greater than was ever dreamed possible.

Wake up OR nurse. Things are not sta- tionary. They move forward, ever chang- ing, and we must go along with the changes and get involved enough to see that the changes are what we want, need and approve.

Stand up OR nurse - be counted! Be- come involved! Become motivated! 0

Pat Myers, RN Southfield, Michigan

Job hazard evaluat ion guide The U S Department of Health, Education, and Welfare has announced the availability of a new one-page instructional form for use by employers and employees in requesfing evaluations of potentially toxic substances used on the job.

The form was developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Health Services and Mental Health Administration.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, NlOSH i s required t o respond t o written requests from employers and employee representatives for determining possible toxic effects of substances used in the workplace. The new form is intended to assist requesters i n providing the information necessary for a proper initial evaluation by NlOSH technical staff and for uniform record keeping. The Hazard Evaluation program i s applicable to al l of the approximately 57 million workers and 4 million places of employment covered by the Act.

Copies of the form are presently available from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20852. They may also be obtained from the Institute's Division of Technical Services, 1014 Broadway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, and from each of the ten NlOSH Regional Offices.

22 AORN Journal