President’s Message
February, 2001

It is amazing what you will find in an operating room staff lounge. While sitting in the lounge, on one of those very rare morning breaks, I came across a copy of the AST journal, The Surgical Technologist, December 2000. In the magazine, there is an article titled, Bachelor’s degree for education of the CST/CFA: Time for Action. The article intrigued me. In the article, the author clearly states his dismay at his own association. At their national conference last year a proposal was introduced to establish a bachelors degree for CST to first assist. It was defeated by a margin of 3-2. He goes on to the discuss the reaction of the American College of Surgeons. They were disappointed at the defeat of the proposal. He stated that, "Our competency to practice was being compared to the Physician Assistants (PAs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and Registered Nurse First Assistants, (RNFAs). CST/CFAs came up painfully short."

Upon reading that article I started to re-evaluate my own education. Someday I want to expand my own scope of practice, whether to go into management or become a RNFA, Nurse Practitioner , what ever, and one thing is perfectly clear, education is the key. We must encourage every nurse to continue their education, become involved on some level with AORN. To encourage these nurses, our chapter is establishing a scholarship fund in the hope of one day being able to help our members to further their education. AORN already has scholarships available to Perioperative nurses all you have to do is apply. Lets not allow a lack of education keep us from the future or out of the competition.

Nanette Hamley-Hanauer, RN, BS, CNOR
President: Chapter 1016

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URL: http://www.afn.org/~afn06072/