ORN is preparing forCongress this month, and amajor goal of Congress is toexpand perioperative nurs-ing knowledge. Congress

presentations, poster sessions, andexhibits build on past knowledge andadd new information as our professionmoves forward. Building on the exist-ing body of knowledge is essential ifperioperative nursing is to remain aviable specialty.

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGEEvery profession functions using

theories or concepts that pertain to itsrole and purpose in society. Considerthe medical profession. New informa-tion about diagnostic, treatment, orbiobehavioral developments appears inthe news daily. Theories and hypothe-ses of care are expanded throughresearch, case studies, and practicefindings. New theories of disease andnew surgical techniques all build onpast experiences and findings. Thus,medical knowledge is continuallyexpanding in breadth and depth. Theprofession of medicine is poised to takea giant leap forward with new techno-logical and research advances.1 Some ofthese are nanotechnology, personal-ized medicine (ie, determining whichmedication and dosage is best for anindividual or a population), moleculartargeting (ie, design of medicationsthat specifically attack diseased or can-cerous cells), and of course, new surgi-cal interventions. Will perioperativenursing knowledge keep up with theknowledge explosion in medicine?

Most of the knowledge on whichnurses based their practice in the pastcame from professions other than nurs-ing. We used medical and biologicalconcepts from medicine, psychosocialinformation from psychiatry and social

science, and teaching and learninginformation from education. This his-tory makes it more difficult to identifythe uniqueness of nursing, let alonebuild on specific information fromnursing practice.

Often, nurses expend considerableenergy reinventing something thatalready exists. This happens for tworeasons. First, nurses are hesitant topublicize what they do. They do notconsider their innovativepractices importantenough to write about, sothe information is notshared. Second, whennurses start a project,they often fail to considerwhat other nurses havealready done. This is evi-dent in literature reviewsand references in themanuscripts the AORNJournal receives. Too oftenthe citations are fromonly medical or hospitalliterature, with few or nonursing references usedor nursing resourcesgiven. It is amazing howmany manuscripts aresubmitted without a sin-gle substantial nursingreference. The combina-tion of these two factorscan lead to a stagnantprofession, one that not only does notmove forward but that also becomessuspect as a profession.

BUILDING ON NURSING KNOWLEDGEMore and more AORN members are

conducting clinical projects that buildon past information, or they are con-ducting empirical research using a the-oretical or conceptual base. We can dobetter, though. As nurses, we can be

AORN JOURNAL • 599

Editorial MARCH 2006, VOL 83, NO 3

Expanding perioperativenursing knowledge

E D I T O R I A L

Nancy J. Girard,RN

ANurses are hesitant to

publicize whatthey do because

they do not consider their

innovative practices important

enough to writeabout.

600 • AORN JOURNAL

MARCH 2006, VOL 83, NO 3 Editorial

braver about sharing informa-tion with each other, withother professions, and withthe community. For any proj-ect, using research and find-ings from other sources isimportant. References fromnursing literature should beincluded, if possible, whenwriting articles for journals,especially nursing journals.Nurses should not hesitate towrite about a new nursingactivity, a new surgical proce-dure for which nursing hasadapted preparation or imple-mentation, or even a revisionof an old process. This issueof the Journal contains the firstof a series of articles on writ-ing to provide members withmore support and guidance insharing their information andknowledge.

MOVING FORWARDFor those of you who are

fortunate enough to attendthe AORN Congress, carefullyexamine the research postersand presentations. What pastinformation was used? Doesnew information build on

past knowledge? How couldthe knowledge presented beused to move perioperativenursing forward?

Information sharing willincrease understanding ofwhy we do what we do and isthe foundation of evidenced-based practice to provide thehighest quality and safestpatient care. We need to moveforward from where we are asnurses and continue to ex-pand the unique knowledgebase of nursing. ❖

NANCY J. GIRARDRN, PHD, FAAN

EDITOR

NOTES1. “Future of innovation,”Innovation.org, http://www.innovation.org/index.cfm/FutureofInnovation (accessed 30 Jan 2006).

Nurses should nothesitate to write

about a new nursingactivity, a new

surgical procedurefor which nursing

has adapted preparation or

implementation, oreven a revision of an

old process.

Most American children and adolescents are defi-cient in calcium intake and weight-bearing

exercise, according to a February 2006 article inPediatrics. This places them at greater risk of devel-oping osteoporosis later in life and may predisposethem to bone fractures during their adolescentyears.

Calcium is necessary for healthy bone forma-tion, and weight-bearing exercise increases bonestrength. A calcium-rich diet in the absence ofexercise, however, does not ensure good bonehealth.

Physicians are encouraged to monitor both cal-cium intake and exercise in children at least threetimes during childhood. This screening is recom-mended in children• at two to three years old, after they are weaned

from breast milk or formula;

• at eight to nine years old, before the adolescentgrowth spurt; and

• again during puberty or in the teen years.This screening may include simple questions aboutcalcium intake, exercise patterns, and any familyhistory of bone fractures or osteoporosis.

The article also recommends that childrenreceive an adequate intake of vitamin D as well asfruits and vegetables that aid in the uptake andretention of calcium. An increased emphasis on bonehealth in early childhood may improve awarenessand encourage healthy dietary practices later in life.

F R Greer, N F Krebs, “Optimizing bone health and calciumintakes of infants, children, and adolescents,” Pediatrics117 (February 2006) 578-585. Also available athttp://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/117/2/578 (accessed 6 Feb 2006).

Many Children Deficient in Calcium Intake and Exercise