Students at Peakview Elementary School in Centennial brought their beloved teddy bears and other tattered toys to the "hospital" on Monday, November 10, where operating room nurses sewed, buttoned and bandaged them, teaching students a unique lesson about health care right in their classrooms.
Part of the Association of the Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Perioperative Nurse Week
(www.aorn.org), the Teddy Bear Hospital helps decrease children's anxiety about hospitalization and medical staff, and prepares them in case they ever have to face surgery.
A team of nurses repaired the stuffed animals for Peakview's kindergarten through second grade students. After the animals were triaged according to the severity of their "injuries", the children then followed their toys from pre-op to post-op. They also received a certificate for bravery after the surgery.
"Perioperative nurses are the emotional connection between the patient and surgery team," said
Linda Groah, president of AORN. "We want kids to not be afraid of hospitals and the health care staff, and to look up to nurses as role models."
Perioperative registered nurses provide patient care before, during and after a surgical procedure, from admission to anesthesia, and from surgery to recovery. Since 1979, Perioperative Nurse Week has educated the public on the diverse roles that operating room nurses play and raised awareness for the profession.
Activites during Perioperative Nurse Week include a "Future of Nursing" student writing contest open to any AORN member pursuing a BSN degree. The winner of the contest will receive a $500 award provided by the AORN Foundation.
The theme for this year, "Influencing the future of safe patient care," recognizes excellence in perioperative nursing and dedication to patient care, including safe medication administration and reduction of medical errors. The Teddy Bear Hospital provides an opportunity to explain perioperative nursing and to promote careers in nursing and health care.
"The need for operating room nurses is greater than ever," said Groah. "Nurses who leave the profession or retire are not being replaced because nursing schools don't have enough instructors to train new recruits. We hope to educate the public on this admirable career and inspire interest among young students."
Denver-based Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), is a national association committed to improving patient safety in the surgical setting. With more than 43,000 members nationwide, AORN is the premier resource for perioperative nurses, advancing the profession and the professional with valuable guidance as well as networking and resource-sharing opportunities. For more information visit
www.aorn.org.