2006 Press Releases
Nurses invite public to tour operating room in celebration of OR Nurse Week ROME – The public is invited to visit the operating room at Rome Memorial Hospital in celebration of Perioperative Nurse Week. The open house will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8. These highly-trained registered nurses host the annual event to share their professional pride and educate the public about their contributions to quality patient care. The nurses will offer demonstrations of medical equipment and instrumentation, guided tours of the operating and recovery rooms, and refreshments. The event gives students who are interested in a career in nursing an opportunity to speak to experienced operating room nurses and see the work environment. It also provides the public with an opportunity to become familiar with the hospital’s surgical and recovery facilities when they are well to help allay their anxieties in the event that they ever need surgery. During the open house, the nurses are especially attentive to the elementary grade school children who can be especially curious, even apprehensive, at the thought of surgery. “The open house is an excellent opportunity for students who may be interested in a career as an operating room nurse to learn more about the field,” said Operating Room Nurse Manager Donna Ciotti, R.N., BPS, CNOR. “There are tremendous career opportunities in the nursing field. It’s a career that enables people to truly make a difference every day one patient at a time.” “Perioperative Nurse Week previously known as “Operating Room Nurse Week” has been celebrated nationwide since 1979. The recognition week was renamed by the national association to more accurately reflect the broad spectrum of patient care services provided to surgical patients before, during and after procedures. “We have dedicated this year’s theme, “We’re There for Safe Care,” as an inspiration to the visibility of the perioperative nurse and a reminder that patient safety is one of the key elements of our daily practice,” said Paula R. Graling, RN, MSN, CNOR, CNS, president of the national Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. Perioperative nurses have a long tradition of working toward patient safety and improving the quality of patient care. “When you are faced with the prospect of surgery, it’s important to know that you can rely on the skills, knowledge, and expertise of perioperative registered nurses,” Ciotti said. The program is free. No advance registration is required. Tours will start in the hospital’s cafeteria on the ground floor. Refreshments will be served. | 
