Nurses Invite Public To Tour

Operating Room In Celebration of OR Nurse Week

October 11, 2002

ROME – In celebration of Perioperative Nurse Week, the public is invited to visit the operating room at Rome Memorial Hospital during an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

To share their professional pride and to educate the public about their contributions to quality patient care, these highly-trained registered nurses host this annual event. The nurses will offer demonstrations of medical equipment and instrumentation, guided tours of the operating and recovery rooms, and refreshments. 

“The open house provides the community with an opportunity to find out what to expect when preparing for surgery as well as how surgical procedures can make a positive difference in their lives,” said Operating Room Nurse Manager Donna Ciotti, R.N., CNOR.

Although the event is open to all members of the public, she explained, it is geared particularly for elementary grade school children who can be especially curious, even apprehensive, at the thought of surgery.

“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.

“Perioperative Nurse Week (Nov. 10-16), 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.

This year’s theme, “Perioperative Nurses: Your Safety is Our Job…We Take it Seriously,” conveys the message that perioperative registered nurses have a long tradition of working toward patient safety and improving the quality of patient care.

The program is free.  No advance registration is required.  Tours will start in the hospital’s classroom on the first floor.  Refreshments will be served.