Operating Room Nurses Association of the Philippines (ORNAP): A new asset to be part of

           As a nurse, we envision ourselves to be part of some recognized and respectable nursing career organizations. Being part of it is a great bargain not only to our career as a nurse but also to the benefits we can get from it. We sometimes misjudge or take it for granted to be a member since we easily conclude the financial aspect. But heed it up; you haven’t checked yet the entire vision, mission and the purpose of each organization you are supposed to be with.

Let’s make a paradigm of this topic. At this moment, working in the operating room can really wow not only nurses but also ordinary people. Medical operations depend upon the cooperation of a variety of health care professionals before, during and after procedures. Operating room registered nurses, or R.Ns., set out as a part of this team of professionals. Now, if we are already bombarded with knowledge and learning as an operating room nurse, then, it is time to be part of non-stock, non-political, and non-sectarian organization- Operating Room Nurses Association of the Philippines (ORNAP).

This organization set up way back on 1973 through the leadership of Mrs. Consuelo Gomez-Arabit. Dr. Antonio Oposa, president of the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS) and Medical Director of Johnson & Johnson (Phils.), Inc. served as the Godfather of the newly found association. By 1974, ORNAP recognize as a chapter by Philippine Nurses Association. Until now, this long-serving organization keeps on enforcing and conveys seminars and nursing activities nationwide. The purpose of the said organization is to promote the highest professional standard of Perioperative Nursing. In addition to that, they foresee of being competent and dynamic perioperative nurses committed to innovation and provision of optimum perioperative services locally and internationally.

If we talk about the benefits of ORNAP, I can say there is really egg in one’s beer. The following benefits are as follows:

1. Opportunities to attend seminars sponsored by ORNAP.
2. Opportunities to attend the Annual ORNAP Convention.
3. Scholarship, awards, or recognition.
4. Mutual Aide.
5. Quarterly copy of newsletter.
6. Legal assistance.

 

There are three kinds of membership ONSAP is offering.

 

 

A.ORNAP Regular Membership:

 

1. A registered nurse who currently manages, teaches, or practices perioperative nursing either full-time or part-time.
2. A perioperative nurse enrolled in a formal nursing education or engaged in perioperative research.
3. Regularly pays the annual association dues.

 

 

If you are a regular member you have the right to vote and be voted upon, hold an elective office, participate in all activities of the association, examine the books of the association following the set of procedures, the mutual aide fund of Php 1,000.00, and subscription of the ORNAP Newsletter.

 

ORNAP Associate Membership:

 

1. A former regular perioperative nurse engaged in formal nursing education, teaching, or engaged in perioperative research.
2. Regularly pays the annual dues.

 

It has same rights with regular member but cannot hold an office.

 

ORNAP Life Membership:

 

Any active perioperative nurse who signifies membership for life and pays the dues in the amount determined by the board and has been a regular member for three consecutive years. You are also entitled to all of the privileges of the regular member and entitled to the Mutual Fund of PhP 5,000.

Remember, having an organization is a great deal in our nursing career.