Perioprative nurses' conference aimed to dispel practice myths.

The Perioperative Nurses' College NZNO 32nd conference held in Palmerston North last month focused on dispelling myths surrounding practice issues, scaling new heights, reinforcing and gaining new knowledge and conquering mountains faced in the workplace--all issues reflecting the theme "Myths, Mountains and Motivation". More than 250 nurses attended the conference, hosted by the Ruahine Egmont Region and opened by Professor of Nursing at Massey University and MidCentral District Health Board, Jenny Carryer.

The first keynote speaker was Mark Inglis, a mountaineer who was trapped on Mt Cook for 13 days in 1982 and who susequently had both Legs amputated below the knee because of frostbite. He spoke of how, as individuals and as part of a team, we can be responsible for turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones of life.

Palmerston North-based anaethetist Rob Whitta headed a panel of four who spoke of their roles within the malignant hyperthermia (MH) team. Palmerston North is the national testing centre for MH and Whitta performs the muscle biopsy used for testing for MH. Malignant hyperthermia is an inhertied condition which leaves a person susceptible to a potentially fatal metabolic reaction when exposed to certain anaesthetic agents. Others on the panel were post-anaesthesia care unit nurse Diana Jensen, anaesthetic technician, Matheus Batlajeri and a former genetic counsellor Danielle James.

The other conference keynote speakers were Taranaki-based anaesthetist Lorna Fox, who spoke on her speciality of pain management and Palmerston North anaesthetist Murray Parkinson, who gave a light-hearted presentation comparing cartoon and television characters with operating room staff, with the aim of dispelling any myths these staff were not human.

Concurrent sessions

Four concurrent sessions were held throughout the three-day conference. Topics included pain management; pharmacogenetics; ethical issues in perioperative nursing; laparoscopically-assisted colorectal endosurgery; integrating complementary therapies into health care; the effects of surgery on the patient with diabetes; pressure area care research; forensic dentistry; and Creutzedt Jakob Disease.

Among the award winners at the conference were Auckland nurses Joanne Agnew, Prue Hames and Palmerston North nurse Bettina Marenzi, who each won $1000, the Johnson & Johnson Ethicon Award for a proposal on a subject relevant to theatre nursing care, education, research or management. Nelson nurse Jo Lillico won the Johnson & Johnson De Puy Award of $1000 for best presentation on orthopaedic perioperative nurse eucation, research or management; Auckland nurse Deborah Nelson won the Medchem Poster Award; and the Dissector best paper award was won by Hawke's Bay nurse Jo Wakeman.

The college annual general meeting (AGM) was held during the conference and ratified the 3rd edition of the standards and guidelines for safe practice and the education manual The president of the Australian College of Operating Room Nurses, Kim Hepper, attended the conference and AGM. The conference organising committee was Diane McClelland and Lesley Mullins (Wanganui); Judyth Donaldson and Allison Tijsen (New Plymouth), Kathryn Fraser and college chair Bettina Marenzi (Palmerston North). The college acknowledged industry sponsors and medical trades' personnel for their ongoing support and sponsorship of annual conferences.

Conference report (abridged) by college chair Bettina Marenzi.