195 - Nurses Know Best - Sharing the Care in the Community

Description: AORN's focus on ESG initiatives highlights a commitment to health, safety, diversity, equity, and inclusion across its sphere of influence, encompassing nurses, employees, healthcare organizations, product development, and broader community impact. Recognizing that healthcare often operates in silos, which can limit patient access to and awareness of available resources, AORN champions community-based initiatives that empower nurses to enhance patient health literacy and compliance, ultimately improving surgical outcomes.

Bridging the traditional divide between community and hospital-based nursing, we have recognized the significant value of integrating these two disciplines. Engaging hospital-based nurses, particularly perioperative nurses, in community health initiatives such as health fairs, lectures, and screenings, leverages their specialized knowledge to benefit patients. This community presence provides access to procedural information often unavailable otherwise, enhancing patient preparedness and compliance, particularly for surgical procedures. By reducing pre-operative anxiety through education and clear communication, patient outcomes are improved. This integration is facilitated through collaboration between Community Outreach and Marketing departments and perioperative staff, creating opportunities for engagement within the communities surrounding hospitals and surgical centers. This collaboration can seek to increase nurse satisfaction and engagement, while also providing them with opportunities that can be utilized for their clinical ladders (where applicable).