2008 Forum and House of Delegates agenda: Sunday, March 30, to Thursday, April 3, 2008

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2008  

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The AORN House of Delegates will meet twice during the 2008 Congress in Anaheim, California--Tuesday, April 1, and Thursday, April 3. Both House sessions will follow strict parliamentary procedure. Two Forums also are scheduled---one on Sunday, March 30, and one on Wednesday, April 2. Depending on the content presented, RNs may be able to earn contact hours by attending the Forums and House of Delegates sessions and correctly completing the scan form provided at Congress.

Any additions to the Forum agenda will be published in the February issue of the AORN Journal and in Congress Resources. If you have items to be included on the House of Delegates or Forum agenda, mail the information to Mary Jo Steiert, RN, BSN, CNOR, AORN President, 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231-5711, or stop by the Headquarters/ Board Office at the Anaheim Convention Center. Items to be voted on in the House first must be taken to a Forum for discussion.

At press time, the following items were scheduled to come before the House of Delegates for a vote:

* new Mission Statement and new Vision Statement (Table 1),

* Proposed Position Statement on Criminalization of Human Errors in the Perioperative Setting,

* Proposed Position Statement on Surgical Smoke and Bio-Aerosols,

* International Plan,

* Legislative Principles (Table 2),

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to the Purpose of the Association (Table 3),

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to Student and Associate Membership Requirements (Table 4),

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to the Nominating Committee (Table 5),

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to Meetings and the Business of this Organization (Table 6),

* Proposed Order of Articles V through VII in the AORN Bylaws (Table 7).

The text of the position statements can be found at the end of this article. Any updates to this information will be published in the February issue of the Journal.

AGENDA FOR FORUMS

FIRST FORUM: SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2 TO 3:30 PM

* new Mission Statement

* new Vision Statement

* Proposed Position Statement on Criminalization of Human Errors in the Perioperative Setting

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to the Nominating Committee

* Legislative Principles

SECOND FORUM: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 8 TO 9:30 AM

* Proposed Position Statement on Surgical Smoke and Bio-Aerosols

* International Plan

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to the Purpose of the Association

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to Student and Associate Membership Requirements

* Proposed Bylaws Amendment Related to Meetings and the Business of this Organization

* Proposed Order of Articles V through VII in the AORN Bylaws

HOUSE OF DELEGATES

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 8 TO 9:30 AM
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1 TO 3 PM

   I. Call to Order
  II. Credentials report
 III. Adoption of agenda
  IV. Adoption of House of Delegates rules
   V. Appointment of floor tellers
  VI. Appointment of reading committee
 VII. Announcement of tellers committee
VIII. Adoption of auditor's reports
  IX. Finance report
   X. Annual reports
      A. Officers
      B. Executive Director's Report
      C. Nominating Committee
      D. AORN Foundation Update
  XI. Unfinished business
      A. Legislative Principles
 XII. New business
      A. Proposed Position Statement on
         Surgical Smoke and Bio-Aerosols
      B. Proposed Position Statement on
         Criminalization of Human Errors
         in the Perioperative Setting
      C. Proposed Bylaws Amendment
         Related to the Purpose of the
         Association
      D. Proposed Bylaws Amendment
         Related to Student and Associate
         Membership Requirements
      E. Proposed Bylaws Amendment
         Related to the Nominating
         Committee
      F. Proposed Bylaws Amendment
         Related to Meetings and the
         Business of this Organization
XIII. Teller's report
 XIV. Introduction of new officers, Board,
      and Nominating Committee members
  XV. Announcements
 XVI. Adjournment

PROPOSED POSITION STATEMENT ON SURGICAL SMOKE AND BIO-AEROSOLS

PREAMBLE

AORN recognizes that exposure to surgical smoke and bio-aerosols poses a hazard to patients and perioperative professionals. Smoke and bio-aerosols are routinely produced by surgical instruments (eg, lasers, electrosurgical units, radiofrequency devices, ultrasonic devices, power tools). Research studies have confirmed that plume and bio-aerosols contain odor-causing and odorless toxic gases, vapors, dead and live cellular debris (including blood fragments), and viruses. (1-7) These airborne contaminants can pose respiratory, ocular, dermatological, and other health-related risks, including mutagenic and carcinogenic potential, to patients and operating room personnel. (1-7)

OSHA estimates that 500,000 health care workers are exposed to surgical smoke each year. (8) Although the long-term deleterious effects from exposure to surgical smoke and bio-aerosols have not been clearly established, AORN supports the need to be proactive to prevent harm. Understanding the environmental hazards of surgical smoke and bio-aerosols produced during operative and invasive procedures is paramount to the implementation of adequate protective measures for both patients and personnel involved in their care. AORN also recognizes that this hazard exists in practice areas that extend beyond the perioperative environment, such as obstetrical surgical services, cardiac cath labs, emergency rooms, interventional radiology, endoscopy suites, clinics, and physician offices.