State councils - Letters To The Editor - Letter to the Editor

AORN Journal, March, 2004 by Maryanne Coughlin

I am the chair for the Virginia Council of periOperative Registered Nurses (VCORN). It has come to my attention that a recent article published in the AORN Journal "State Councils--Collaboration, Networking, and Education" (vol 78, November 2003) did not contain any information regarding VCORN. The VCORN was formed in 1977 to develop better communication between AORN chapters; to discuss issues, ideas, and opportunities; and to develop and maintain goals for perioperative nursing in Virginia. The council has helped increase the awareness of chapters and chapter members on many issues and is recognized for being one of the first and strongest proponents for establishing guidelines and recognition for the RN first assistant.

MARYANNE COUGHLIN

RN, MBA, CNOR

INOVA SURGERY CENTER

ANNANDALE, VA

Editor's response. The article in question was not meant to be an all-inclusive history of AORN's state councils. Those councils that were discussed responded to the authors' request for information. Although the article lists some of the accomplishments of various state councils, much of its focus was on providing information on forming state councils.