Secretary Report 2021
The International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN) is a global organisation dedicated to actively promoting perioperative nursing. IFPN is the world’s largest organisation that represents perioperative nurses and those that work alongside registered perioperative nurses. We have 16 members representing approximately 80 000 perioperative nurses around the world. The purpose of IFPN is to represent and serve as the voice of perioperative nursing worldwide, and to promote quality perioperative patient care internationally. IFPN strives to improve perioperative care for everyone, everywhere.
December 2021 is the end of the three-year tenure of the current IFPN Executive and January 2022 marks the commencement of the new executive – President, Patrick Voight from Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), Treasurer, May Karam from European Operating Room Nurses Association (EORNA), and Secretary, Meryem van Giersbergen, from Turkish Surgical and Operating Room Nurses Association (TSORNA).
In the past three years we have overhauled our website and added a broad range of resources and links for the perioperative community to access. Due to COVID-19 impacting the activity of IFPN, the executive have attended numerous conferences and study days virtually, and engaged with federation members via telephone, facetime, zoom and WhatsApp. The WhatsApp Presidents group, has allowed us instant connectivity. It facilitates communication with association presidents all over the world, and there has been particularly good engagement throughout the pandemic, which continues to the current time.
In 2020 IFPN adapted the terms of the ICN Nightingale Challenge, in order to provide our own engagement with the international community, in terms of offering a programme of support and leadership. There were ten participants who have successfully enrolled in this programme from associations in the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. The programme was facilitated directly by the IFPN executive. This was a vibrant interactive group that extended into 2021.
The IFPN has been active with the International Council of Nurses, including attending the 2019 ICN Conference in Singapore and also participating virtually at the recent 2021 Virtual ICN Conference. IFPN has also had several face-to-face meetings with Annette Kennedy, ICN President, ensuring that the voice of perioperative nursing is heard worldwide.
We are pleased to announce that 2022 will bring a new project to review all the IFPN position statements and policies. This is being undertaken with the support of a 3M Educational Grant. These materials must continue to meet best practice standards while being workable within local constraints and the rules of each nation and their professional organisations.
In conclusion, I want to recognise and thank my own professional association, ACORN (Australian College of Perioperative Nurses), for the valuable contribution and support provided to IFPN, and to me as secretary. ACORN’s support has been continuous and unwavering throughout my tenure.
Sarah Bird
Secretary IFPN 2018–2021
Past president ACORN 2016–2018
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