Due to rising Covid-19 cases in Orange County, FL, the 2021 AORN Conference will no longer have an in-person option and will be fully virtual. For more details, visit the conference website here.
How to Optimize Your Experience for Continuing Education and Networking
Written by Mary Hamilton, MSN, RN, NE-BC – Prolink Director of Clinical Solutions
The Association of Peri Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Surgical Conference and Expo is arguably the most important event for nursing professionals to attend each year. With over 200 continuing education contact hours being offered and a multitude of networking opportunities, the August 2021 conference brings front-line workers, industry experts, leading researchers, and world-renowned speakers together to explore the important challenges and solutions encountered in the world of nursing. Held in beautiful Orlando, Florida, the conference experience promises to be both educational and exciting.
People are the heart of our business and to understand the needs of nursing professionals, we connect at every opportunity, whether it be with individual facilities or at large events. We’ve put together a short guide to help you make the most of your time at the AORN Conference, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Registration and Attendance
The conference has a full virtual option for those who prefer to attend from the comfort of home. AORN has also established a generous refund policy for anyone who needs to cancel due to Covid illness or exposure. To connect with Prolink before, during, or after the conference, send us a message and we will make sure you speak with the recruiter, clinical team, or whoever in the Prolink Family is best able to meet your needs.
Global Surgical Conference
With the incredible line-up scheduled for this conference, planning ahead will be key to making the most of your time there. Taking into consideration the unique social, economic, and healthcare issues we have faced as a nation and worldwide since early 2020, Prolink’s clinical staff has highlighted the following Global Surgical Conference sessions for their relevance to current events:
- Title: OPENING GENERAL SESSION-Transforming How We Tackle Challenges
Speaker: Walter Bond
Date: Saturday, August 7
Time: 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
What intrigues us: “As registered nurses, you have the advantage of being identified by the public as a member of the most trusted profession. Walter will teach you strategies to boost confidence, create buy in and engagement, and ultimately, accountability.”
- Title: PEDIATRIC SPECIALTY ASSEMBLY MEETING/EDUCATION-Mental Health First Aid: Early Intervention is Prevention
Speaker: Saundra W. Falk, BSN, RN, CNOR
Date: Sunday, August 8
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
What intrigues us: “According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, about one in five children have significant mental health challenges. Half of teenagers, who are living with mental illness that is severe enough to cause significant impairment in their day-to-day lives, are not receiving treatment.”
- Title: When Stress Hijacks Your Brain in the OR
Speaker: Amy E. Bair, PhD, PMP, BCIA & Spencer L. Byrum
Date: Sunday, August 8
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
What intrigues us: “Stress has a profound effect on attention and decision-making skills within these circumstances, yet staff cannot afford to make errors or work under diminished conditions. This presentation will have a lasting and positive impact on future OR performance by providing participants with the programming they need to identify and implement critical behavior change tactics.”
- Title: Jerry G. Peers Lectureship
Speaker: Dr. David Williams
Date: Sunday, August 8
Time: 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm
What intrigues us: “The presentation provides an overview of large and persistent socioeconomic and racial/ethnic inequities in health. It also shows that tackling social determinants of health can lead to improvement in health and reduction in health inequities.”
- Title: Hot Topic! What We Have Learned
Speaker: Bernard C. Camins, MD, MSc
Date: Monday, August 9
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
What intrigues us: “Dr. Bernard C. Camins is an infectious disease specialist in New York, New York, and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West Hospitals, and Mount Sinai Hospital. He will discuss the lessons of the pandemic.”
Leadership Summit
We are also looking forward to attending sessions at the Leadership Summit throughout the conference. Start the day with Coffee & Networking Breakfast and/or the Breakfast Symposiums, which will feature special speakers and networking opportunities on Saturday through Monday from 7:45 to 8:50 a.m. (starting at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday).
One of the leadership speakers we don’t want to miss is Pamela S. Hunt, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, who will be speaking on “True Leadership” and what it means (Saturday, August 7, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.). Jason Goodwin, MSN, MPH, RN, CNOR, is presenting “Give Me My Surgical Teams! Using Predictive Analytics to Manage OR Staffing, Service Proficiency, and Get Ahead of the Succession Curve,” which also promises to be an interesting and informative topic.
Student Nurses
The Student Nurses Program offers current student nurses an incredible opportunity to receive complimentary conference registration. While there, they can follow a patient through the perioperative experience from admission to discharge via an interactive presentation. After the presentation, student nurses can tour the Expo Hall and meet with the Prolink team, as well as check out the newest technology in the field and enjoy a complimentary lunch. Attending the conference is a great opportunity to network and learn about current trends and technology they will soon encounter in the nursing world.
Happy Hour
In addition to our booth at the Expo Hall, Prolink is hosting a Happy Hour at the Capital Grille (9101 International Dr Suite 1000, Orlando, FL 32819) on Monday, August 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. Join us for appetizers and drinks while we approach the last day of the conference and enjoy relaxed conversations with our fellow nursing professionals. Please RSVP here to attend.
We look forward to meeting everyone there and learning from the speakers and panels, as well as from attendees. At Prolink, we understand the value of collaboration and its invaluable role in driving patient-centered care. Whether you are just getting started in your nursing career or have a wealth of experience, we look forward to learning more about your needs and how we can be a vehicle to get you where you are going.
