Board of Directors reviews progress of projects, approves annual reports

AORN Journal, April, 2000 by Betty J. Shultz

CONSUMER EDUCATION INITIATIVES

The publisher reviewed the progress of the Surgical Knowledgebase initiative. Content and illustrations for 20 procedures currently are being authored. Six advisory board members have been selected, and a senior editor of consumer publishing position is being developed. Press releases will be forthcoming shortly.(2)

AORN LOGO

The artist charged with designing an updated AORN logo was invited to the Board meeting to describe her thought processes and design rationale as she presented her work. This will be presented to the membership at AORN Congress for discussion.

POLICY COMMITTEE

The Board approved a conflict of interest policy regarding Board Members' code of conduct. The Nominating Committee will send this policy to all candidates each year, along with the ownership policy. It is thought that knowledge of this policy is imperative for candidates seeking election. A portion of the policy reads,

   Board members must represent unconflicted loyalty to the interests of the
   membership. This accountability supersedes any conflicting loyalty such as
   that to advocacy or interest groups and membership on other boards or
   staffs. It also supersedes the personal interest of any board member acting
   as a consumer of the [AORN] services.

The Board also approved Policy Committee revisions of the state council affiliate application. Changes in the application are to provide additional information and improve ease of use. This will be sent to state council chairs.

GOVERNANCE TASK FORCE

An ad hoc task force to review AORN's governance structure in light of ongoing changes in volunteer membership associations is planned for 2000-2001. The Board wishes to solicit member feedback to guide the task force.

FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Finance and Audit Committee met and reviewed the year-to-date financial status and measures taken to secure that status. The financial report will be presented at the House of Delegates and will be reported in the Post-Congress Journal.

CONGRESS PLANS

Information related to the following discussion and agenda items that will be presented at the 2000 Congress were identified.(3) Theses include

* financial report,

* consumer education initiatives,

* virtual chapter on the Internet,

* Perioperative Nursing Data Set,

* reuse of single-use devices,

* governance task force, and

* AORN logo update.

NEXT MEETING

The next Board of Directors meeting will be held July 6 to 7, 2000, at AORN Headquarters. Agenda items may be sent to President Brenda C. Ulmer, RN, MN, CNOR, or to Executive Director Pat Palmer, RN, MS, MNM, CAE, at AORN Headquarters, 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231-5711.

BETTY J. SHULTZ RN, CNOR, CRNFA 1999-2000 SECRETARY

NOTES

(1.) S C Beyea, "Standardized language--making nursing practice count," AORN Journal 70 (November 1999) 831-838; S C Beyea, "Perioperative data elements: Interventions and outcomes," AORN Journal 71 (February 2000) 344-352; S C Beyea, "Structural data elements: Standardized terms and definitions," AORN Journal 71 (March 2000) 541-549.