Vicki Dreger, RN, CNOR
A large percentage of certified CNOR nurses are AORN members. Through web portal access, chapter activities, and regional or national conferences, we get access to colleagues across the country and even around the world. We have the chance to share stories and successes in each others’ professional practice.
Let’s presume that all CNORs demonstrate integrity and honesty in their workplace activities. After all, the CCI homepage states, “Your credential is a personal commitment to higher standards that inspires credibility and confidence with patients and peers in your workplace.” Integrity and honesty are personal resources. What other resources do we have access to?
This column, every other month, will explore workplace situations, resources, and most importantly, how we handle the challenges. It will provide an opportunity to discuss what keeps us going in our commitment to highest standards, as well as the challenges that we face. A few questions can prompt some discussion right now, about the resources available to us for advancing in professionalism, and how we can utilize them. For example,
- Are you sponsored in your certification, or do you pay for it yourself?
- Do you have access to AORN’s latest edition of Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guidelines? Do you have your own copy, or access to it at work? How can we keep up with standards if we don’t know the latest?
- Do you have Internet access at the bedside, to be able to find evidence-based literature, e.g., an online journal database or even AORN Journal? Or library access to those publications?
- Do you have a supportive mentor, or at least a colleague who will listen attentively to your concerns, be a ‘sounding board’ and explore ways to most effectively meet the challenge with constructive feedback?
Feel free to enter the discussion! Voice your concerns, and your inspirations! Help us all become the role models we want to be.
