The American Society of Plastic Surgical Nurses (ASPSN) is the premier organization for plastic and reconstructive surgical and nonsurgical nurses. ASPSN was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1975. Plastic surgical nursing is a diverse multidisciplinary field that encompasses various practice settings and educational backgrounds, including pediatric reconstruction, skin care, aesthetics, burns, adult reconstruction, craniofacial, operating room, postanesthesia care, office settings, management, nurse injectors, independent practitioners, advanced practice nursing, nurse educators, physician assistants, surgical technicians, licensed practical nurses, and industry. ASPSN will help you enhance your practice by providing information on current trends, patient safety initiatives, and legislative updates.

MISSION

The mission of ASPSN is to employ education and research to promote practice excellence, nursing leadership, optimal patient safety, and outcomes by using evidence-based practice as a foundation of care.

Objectives

1. Education: To provide relevant and timely education programs that will enhancethe practice of plastic surgical nursing:

a. Develop, plan, implement, and evaluate the ASPSN Continuing Education Agenda.

b. Provide alternative methods for the membership to attain CE credits.

2. Research: To encourage and develop research-based plastic surgical nursing practices:

a. Facilitate the process of plastic surgical nursing research.

b. Develop, plan, and implement a research agenda for ASPSN.

c. Identify research priorities for ASPSN.

d. Provide incentives and support for plastic surgical research-related activities.

3. Organizational growth and development: To increase community and awareness of ASPSN and to promote membership growth and involvement in ASPSN:

a. Retain and promote membership in ASPSN.

b. Create a process to analyze membership for continued growth.

c. Promote leadership interest and involvement within the ASPSN organization.

d. Promote corporate membership retainment and support; promote ongoing collaboration and partnership with the ASPS.

e. Increase community awareness of our organization.

The history of the establishment of American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses (ASPRSN) began in 1975. We are so very grateful today that this group of special nurses acted on their vision and created a specialized organization for plastic surgery nurses. In March 1975, Sherill Lee Schultz attended a plastic surgery convention in Southern California. At this meeting, the importance of continuing education to renew RN licensure was discussed. It was decided to start a local telephone campaign to see whether there was an interest in a few nurses willing to start an organization. Fourteen nurses responded and their first meeting was held on May 9, 1975, at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Southern California. It was unanimous that a society was needed and this prompted the founding members to form an organization known as ASPRSN. The elected officers were Sherill Lee Schultz (President), Dottie Henderson (President-elect), and Mary Helen Gianini (secretary/treasurer). On June 5, 1975, this newly formed organization was presented to the board of ASPRS (American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons) in Chicago. The ASPRS board voted to approve ASPRSN's goals and purpose, which was to provide accredited continuing education for members. ASPRS invited the ASPRSN members to join their meeting in the fall 1975, Toronto. Dorothy Henderson accepted chairmanship of the Program Planning Committee for the first national meeting. Invitations were mailed in the United States and Canada and the response was overwhelming. The first ASPRSN convention was attended by 55 of the society's 100 charter members.

In less than 18 months, the name, logo, bylaws, incorporation, and CE provider accreditation had been achieved. By August 1976, there were 13 local ASPRSN chapters throughout the United States and Canada (Davis, 1999).

Ken Michaelsen, a commercial artist from Fort Bragg, NC, designed the Society's logo especially for ASPRSN. Each symbolic element of the logo is significant. The two faces represent "male and female" and also "before and after." The open book reminds us of the purpose of the Society and signifies "continuing education." The torch sheds the "light of knowledge," while the laurel leaves represent "peace" (Figure 1).

FIGURE 1. Original ASPRSN logo from 1976.

The members could not be more proud of the path ASPSN has taken, right from the first meeting back in 1975. The insight that these nurses had has forever changed the way plastic surgical nurses educate, take care, and view our specialized field of nursing. I raise my glass in your honor and thank you from the bottom of my heart (see Table 1 and Figure 3).

FIGURE 2. Updated ASPSN logo from 2003.

FIGURE 3. Some of the past presidents of ASPRSN. Front row left to right-Elaine Cline Escajeda 1982-82, Dorothy Henderson 1979-77, Linda Williams 1992. Back row left to right-Virginia Finnie 1989, Georgia Moncada 1987, Barbara Dugas 1991, Jeannie Prin 1994, Susan Hockenberger 1981-82, Aija Markland Coolbagh 1983-84, Sandra Smyth 1993.

TABLE 1-a The Presidential History of ASPRSN/ASPSN

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I thank all the past presidents who contacted me to fill in the blanks in the timeline. If I have forgotten to include anything within your year of presidency, please let me know so it can be added. The future ASPSN nurses will continue to know and appreciate the roots of our great organization.

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