2005 slate of candidates

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2005  

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The highlights of Flower's service to AORN include that she is a member of the National Committee on Education (2004-present). She was a member of the Nominating Committee (2002-2004), a member of the Awards Committee (1999-2001), the Maryland membership state coordinator (2001-2003), and the Maryland state legislative chair (1997-1999). She also is chair of the Nurse Educator/ Clinical Nurse Specialist Specialty Assembly (2003-present) and she was vice-chair of the Maryland/Washington, DC, State Council (1999-2000). Flowers also was president (1995-2001), newsletter editor (1995-2001), and continuing education committee chair (1995-2001) for AORN of Lower Eastern Shore.

Flowers is a member of the Maryland Commission on the Crisis in Nursing (2000-present) and the Maryland Nurses Association (1995-present). She was a member of the Maryland Board of Nursing Task Force on RNFA Issues (2003-2004), legislative coordinator for the Eastern Shore (2001-2002) for the Maryland Hospital Association, and a member of the Urology Nursing Society (1995-2002). She was campaign treasurer for the Tom Flowers for County Council Campaign (2002), a judge at a community-sponsored dog show (2002, 2004), a member of the Cambridge/Dorchester County Christmas Parade Committee (1995-2002), and a volunteer for the Blackwater Ironman Triathlon (2001).

Election Statement: AORN is a powerful organization devoted to the provision of quality perioperative nursing care, and I am extremely proud to be a part of it. I accept that we, as leaders of the organization, have the responsibility to recognize and address major challenges facing the organization, including

1. the recruitment and retention of professional nurses in perioperative work settings, our communities, our grassroots nursing organizations, and our parent Association, AORN;

2. the establishment of workplace safety as a priority for our members. Workplace safety is multifaceted. Safety includes banning "bad behavior" from our workplaces and developing cost-effective and ergonomically safe equipment for use by the perioperative team;

3. the challenges of keeping abreast of the technology explosion, using the latest research, updating our standards and recommended practices, and providing educational programs to ensure that our members stay competent;

4. the involvement of each of us as perioperative nurses to educate the public, administrators, and our legislators to the role of RNs in the perioperative setting. Registered nurses have always given the highest level of care to perioperative patients; and

5. collaboration with other health care providers and organizations to ensure that our mission is heard and recognized as a powerful voice.

I make a commitment to you, my fellow AORN colleagues, that I will work hard as a member of the Board of Directors to represent you in ensuring the success and viability of AORN and its mission.

Beverly A. Kirchner, RN, BSN, CNOR, CASC, is chief executive officer and president of Genesee Associates, Inc, Highland Village, Tex. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Texas Woman's University, Denton, Tex.