NAON News

Association News | 12.21.2022
December 2022: Association News

Renew Your NAON Membership Before December 31

2023 is just around the corner! Make sure you don't lose your access to the NAON community and all we have to offer in the new year. Renew your NAON membership before it expires on December 31, 2022! Renew today.

Registration is Now Open for the 43rd Annual Congress

Registration is open for the NAON 43rd Annual Congress! Start making your plans to join us May 6-9, 2023 in Pittsburgh, PA for another year of education, networking and meaningful connections. Learn more and register today!

Refer New Members by December 31 for a Chance to Win

Share the value of NAON with your network by taking part in our year end referral contest. By referring new members to join us, you could win free registration to NAON's 43rd Annual Congress!

How the contest works:

  • A new member must update their member profile to list the full name of the individual that referred them in the specified field that says "If you were referred by an existing NAON member, please enter their name."
  • Be sure to make these updates by 11:59 pm on December 31, 2022 for this offer to be eligible.
  • The NAON member with the most referrals by December 31, 2022 will win one free registration to Congress!

The winner will be notified via email by January 2023.

Apply for the NAON Orthopaedic Nursing Excellence (ONE) Award

Does your unit deserve to be recognized for its excellence in nursing practice? Apply for the NAON ONE Award! NAON developed this award to applaud those units that meet the defined criteria as stated in this guidebook. Learn more about the application process online and apply today.

Application Deadline Approaching for the NAON Fellow Designation

We are pleased to announce the new NAON Fellow Designation (FNAON). The FNAON is the most distinguished and honorable level of membership, as well as a public hallmark of professional esteem. Fellows are outstanding leaders, leaving behind them an enduring legacy of accomplishment that will continue to shape or guide the profession. Learn more and apply by December 31, 2022.

Have You Logged in to the New Website Yet?

2022 was a year of many exciting things. One in particular for NAON was launching our new branding and website. If you haven't already, check it out and log in to make sure your information is updated on our new site.

The first time you attempt to log in to the new site, you will be prompted to reset your password. Once you've done so and successfully logged in, head to your acount by clicking My NAON in the top right corner of the homepage. Here you can add a new profile photo and udpate all personal information.

Become a Presenter for the Orthopaedic Nursing Review Course

NAON’s Orthopaedic Nursing Review Course provides a comprehensive overview of the entire spectrum of orthopaedic nursing. The one-day or two-day review course assesses concepts needed to care for a broad range of orthopaedic patients. Have you ever attended a NAON review course? If so, have you considered being a presenter? Now is your time to shine: NAON is seeking qualified presenters to join the 2023 ONRC Speakers Bureau.

Qualifications:

  1. Applicant must be willing to travel throughout the US for in-person courses, or the ability to present virtually.
  2. Applicant must be a current NAON member and hold the ONC credential. Applicants with advanced orthopaedic certification (ONP-C or OCNS-C) may present without having an ONC certification.
  3. Applicants must sign a contract and will be retained as a presenter until December 31, 2023.
  4. Presenters must present a minimum of two courses per year.
  5. The presenter must attend a review course for onboarding/orientation. NAON will provide a list of review courses being held in 2023. Additional personal study of the ONRC slides and syllabus will be necessary. Course hosts expect a polished presentation that prepares attendees for the ONRC exam.

Presenters receive a $750 honorarium for one-day review courses and a $1,500 honorarium for two-day courses. Travel expenses are reimbursed by NAON.

To apply: Submit the following to NAON’s Education Associate, Kayla Moor, by Friday, January 6:

  1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  2. Biographical and Conflict of Interest Form
  3. ONRC Speaker Agreement

Questions? Contact Kayla Moor at kmoor@orthonurse.org

Limited-Time Holiday Offer: 10% Off Core Curriculum Products

Use code SPREADCHEER at checkout to receive 10% off your purchase on the following Core Curriculum products! This offer expires at 11:59 pm on December 31, 2022.

Save the Date for 2023 Webinars

2023 will be here before we know it. Get ahead of the game by marking your calendars and registering for NAON's 2023 scheduled webinars. View details.

A Message from Outgoing Director of Education, Tandy Gabbert, MSN, RN, ONC

So Thankful: My grandfather encouraged me to study medicine and be a doctor but my path led me to the nursing profession.  It was the best decision of my career. For 18 years, I worked at the hospital where was born and had opportunities for a variety of roles. Then, I became the Head Nurse of the orthopedic unit.  The first day in my new position, a Care Coordinator at another nearby hospital called me and invited me to a meeting. It was my first introduction to NAON and I was hooked.  I have remained an orthopaedic nurse (and NAON member) for 27 years and I have enjoyed every moment.  I worked at three different hospitals over 19 years, dedicated to growing orthopaedic programs. NAON was my beacon, giving me access to resources that I could take back to the teams so we could improve outcomes and cultivate collaborative interprofessional groups.  Eight years ago, I joined NAON as the Director of Education. I have learned so much about what goes on “behind the curtain” to keep NAON strong. Most of all, I’ve had the joy of ‘giving back’ to the organization that most influenced my nursing career.

I will retire from NAON at the end of December. Reflecting on the many projects and colleagues I have encountered, I am So Thankful for the opportunities I’ve had.  I recently came across a picture from the 2005 NAON 25th Annual Congress, where I asked Robin Voss, the NAON President, if we could have a picture together.  She was one of my many role models with NAON and her leadership consistently encourages me to strive for excellence, even today. I still remember the theme for her Congress, “Leading the Way to Endless Possibilities”.

Retirement does not mean leaving; I will continue to be a (Premium) member of NAON and serve wherever I can.  I am excited to attend the 2023 NAON 43rd Annual Congress in Pittsburgh and hope to see many friends and colleagues there.  Thank you, NAON and NAON colleagues, for the wonderful journey.

Take care,
Tandy Gabbert, MSN, RN, ONC

Introducing NAON's New Director of Education, Karen M. Myrick, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, ANP-BC, ONP-C, FAAN

Karen M. Myrick, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, ANP-BC, ONP-C, FAAN joins NAON as the new Director of Education. Dr. Myrick has significant experience working in orthopedics, teaching orthopedics and has an active clinical and scholarly agenda.  Karen is a Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Health and Science, Department of Nursing, University of Saint Joseph, in Connecticut, and the track coordinator for the Post-Master's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Certificate program for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants.   She is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Dr. Karen Myrick has earned tenure at both USJ and QU. Dr. Myrick's current clinical practice is as a nurse practitioner in an orthopedic urgent care. Karen's research focus is on athletes and sports medicine. Karen is the recipient of multiple grants and works to improve the clinical health assessment of her patient population. Dr. Myrick is the author and editor of several textbooks and is a national speaker.  Karen is a triathlete, martial artist, and runner. Her personal interests are well-aligned with her expertise in the area and her research. Karen is excited to step into NAON’s Director of Education role and have the opportunity to lead NAON’s education strategy and support NAON’s mission. This is a terrific opportunity for Karen to share her expertise with NAON and give back to her orthopaedic community. 

Healthy Tips from ANA's Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™ Blog Submitted by Laura Hixon, MSNE, RN-BC, ONC

As everyone is preparing for the holidays this December, there has been a sharp increase in hip fractures in the local Texas acute care setting. The CDC website notes the 3 million emergency visits, 950,000 hospitalizations, and 32,000 deaths in 2018 (CDC, 2021). The statistics are staggering and as the older population grows, so do the numbers.

This has become more personal as my family dealt with a fall and consequent partial hip replacement. The trauma of the fall, surgery recovery and therapy are very familiar to an experienced orthopaedic nurse. The CDC (2021) has an initiative to help reduce the fall risks of older adults called STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries). The coordinated care plan is presented along with patient resources and links for caregivers. The website shares many fall prevention steps that can impact institutions and the community. Here are a few that are outlined for the patients to prevent falls:

  1. Talk openly about fall risks and prevention- evaluate risky medications that can cause dizziness and supplements for bone health.
  2. Exercise for balance and strength, weakness increases fall risk
  3. Regular vision and feet assessments, inappropriate eyeglasses, and footwear can increase risk
  4. Safe home environment- hazards can be rugs, step stools, bathtubs and showers, poor lighting, no handrails or grab bars next to the toilet

The reality is no one intends to fall, but the discussion and the possibility are still very high for older adults. Recovery for my family member is just starting, so safety is at the forefront of everyone's mind, but I hope it stays there as a long-term goal!

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!

CDC. (2021). Stopping elderly accidents, deaths, & injuries (STEADI). https://www.cdc.gov/STEADI

Movement is Life Contribution Blog Submitted by Donna Kurek MSN, RN, MHA, ONC, CMSRN

The Movement Is Life Caucus 2022 Addressing Musculoskeletal health disparities was held November 10-11 in Washington DC. The Caucus was packed full of exceptional speakers Like Cara McClellan, JD, MEd providing insight into Racism in Healthcare- affirmative Health Action. Walgreens and Aetna senior leadership provided insight into new initiatives geared at advancing health equity in the community with various outreach programs and having providers in pharmacies to provide health care services such as medical checkups and patient education.   MIL provided many activism workshops and movement workshops to include DEI, creating a health equity start up, shared decision making, and engaging the body and brain through African drumming.

I always leave the MIL Caucus feeling empowered to make change and come out armed with more tools and resources to help guide my efforts.  Beyond the great speakers and events, the program materials provide such insight into disparity drivers like social determinants of health, the cost of chronic pain, and empowering the community to combat disparities. One of the most influential tools is the interactive disparities journey.  The QR code below will take you to the MIL social determinant discussion kit resource page.

Social determinants of health are said to have a greater impact on quality of life and life expectancy than the medical services people receive. In fact, these “non-medical” factors are estimated to account for 80 to 90 per cent of a person’s health. As we know, social determinants include aspects such as where we live, where we learn, where we work, where we age, our socioeconomic status, and demographic parameters such as our race or ethnicity. Let’s look at a few key drivers of health inequity.

Socioeconomic status: Redlining, is refusing to provide financial assistance to someone because they live in an area deemed to be poor or increased risk.  Despite being outlawed in the 1960’s redlined communities continue to be ones impacted by health disparities and deviations in social determinants of health.

Access to food and/or health care: As rural hospitals close, access to specialists such as nephrologists and orthopedic surgeons involves longer and longer journey times, and an increased dependence on primary care.

West Virginia has consistently had the highest overdose, obesity, and diabetes rates in the United States. Drug overdose rates increased by over 40% in 2020. Other chronic conditions with high prevalence include COPD, with as many as 1 in 5 coal miners having developed black lung disease

Food deserts in our cities are another inequitable consequence of redlining.  The USDA defines a food desert as a place where at least a third of the population lives greater than one mile away from a supermarket for urban areas, or greater than 10 miles for rural areas. By this definition, about 19 million people in America live in a food desert.

This is just a small sample of the inequities and disparities related to social determinants of health. I encourage you to view the QR codes and use the integrative maps to help you identify barriers and opportunities in your area. Visit the Movement is life Caucus webpage for the full Caucus program guide for additional resources that will help you on your journey and with educating your communities and providers (Link in Reference).

Reference: MIL_2022-Caucus_Program-Guide_Digital-Use.pdf (movementislifecaucus.com)

Are You Taking Advantage of this Member Benefit?

A benefit of NAON membership is having access to the NAON Discussion Forums, where you can discuss important topics and ask questions with your NAON colleagues. To access the Discussion Forums, simply log into orthonurse.org, navigate to the "Members" tab and select "Discussion Forums."

TIP! Subscribe to the discussion threads you care about by clicking the mail icon.

 

 

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