Meet the AORN Journal Editorial Board - Association of periOperative Nurses

AORN Journal, August, 1999

Eight members of the AORN Journal editorial board provide global and visionary insight into Journal needs to stay on the forefront of perioperative practices. In addition to making recommendations regarding publication, they advise the Editor about current trends in practices and about how the Journal can meet readers' needs. This column introduces the Editorial Board members, who have practice, education, management, and research expertise.

Althea Dunscombe, RN, PhD, CNOR, CRNFA, is president and chief executive officer of Professional Assistants PRN in Naples, Fla. She works as a perioperative nurse, legal consultant, RN first assistant program director, instructor, and lecturer. Dr Dunscombe believes that the Journal allows perioperative nurses to be connected in their profession and is also beneficial as a primary source of information. She identifies the value and availability of continuing education credit that is pertinent to perioperative practices and information on equipment, instrumentation, and surgical techniques. Dr Dunscombe views the Journal as a forum for communicating important information such as legislative issues and initiatives. She encourages nurses to subscribe to the Journal, as "it is the most complete source of up-to-date perioperative nursing information at a reasonable price."

Kathleen Gaberson, RN, PhD, is a professor of nursing at Duquesne University School of Nursing in Pittsburgh. She teaches in the PhD, MSN, and BSN programs. Her responsibilities include conducting research and supervising graduate students' research. Teaching assignments include the clinical rotation in the OR for BSN students and directed study for BSN students who want to specialize in perioperative nursing. Dr Gaberson believes that the Journal is an important vehicle for communicating information that professional nurses need to improve perioperative care and that perioperative nurses will benefit from the up-to-date clinical knowledge to help them improve their professional practices. Dr Gaberson says nurses should subscribe because "this award-winning journal is the best source of information to support improved professional perioperative nursing practice in any role and any setting now and in the twenty-first century."

Mary Gilley, RN, MS, CNOR, is an office-based perioperative nurse in St Louis. She coordinates perioperative care for patients requiring colon and rectal surgery and provides preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. In addition, she serves as a resource person and educator for team members. Gilley emphasizes that perioperative nurses need the Journal for professional growth, to learn information about new developments and techniques, and as a forum to voice opinions and ideas. The Journal helps perioperative nurses increase their knowledge related to best practices, communicate with colleagues, and obtain advice on legal and ethical issues. The reason Gilley believes perioperative nurses should subscribe to the Journal is to "demonstrate their commitment to professional growth."

Linda Groah, RN, MS, CNOR, CNAA, is responsible for the strategic development, planning, and managing of the delivery of patient care services (including the perioperative service line) and functions in four Kaiser hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Responsibilities include developing and implementing quality utilization standards for patient care services to ensure that the delivery of care and services across the continuum of care is delivered in a cost-effective manner. Groah is also chief operating officer for Kaiser San Francisco, where she is responsible for day-to-day management of the hospital and ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements. Groah views the Journal as an asset because it links the novice to the perioperative world outside the immediate environment, and it can be a resource for experienced nurses as well. She adds that articles and advertisements stimulate and motivate nurses to think beyond what they are doing to gain knowledge about technology, services, or concepts. The Journal also is a link with the business activities at AORN. She believes nurses should subscribe to receive "the kaleidoscope for perioperative practice and professional issues that affect how the registered professional nurse delivers safe and effective care."

Ellen Murphy, RN, MS, JD, FAAN, is responsible for teaching the next generation of nurses at the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing, Milwaukee. Murphy believes that perioperative nurses need the Journal to remain current and forward thinking in their chosen specialty and to raise awareness and interest in topics relevant to perioperative nursing that they do not encounter in everyday practices. When asked what the Journal's priorities for editorial content should be, Murphy reflects on the Journal priorities identified in the 1963 inaugural issue that continue to be significant. These include bringing current, useful information to OR nurses and helping readers provide better and safe care for patients in the OR. Murphy states that perioperative nurses should subscribe to the Journal to receive information to be the best perioperative nurses possible.