New AORN President looks to combine unity with diversity - AORN's New President - Association of Operating Room Nurses

AORN Journal, April, 2003 by Nancy K. Kuehl

Unity combined with diversity is a major theme in the plans AORN's new President, Betty Shultz, RN, CNOR, has for the Association during the coming year. It is one of her favorite messages for members and others. "Without diversity we would not be what we are," says Shultz, "but we have to unite to contribute (to the Association)." Uniting as an Association while maintaining the diversity that has enhanced AORN's success is something Shultz will focus on intently during her presidency.

One of her other goals is working to ensure that AORN is part of the ongoing health care debate on issues like patient and workplace safety. She also wants to continue to build relationships with other organizations, both domestically and internationally. She maintains, however, that AORN's members should continue to be the number one focus of the Association.

BEGINNINGS

Shultz grew up in southern Ohio on a country farm. At that time, there were not many choices for girls who wanted to pursue a career, but nursing nearly lost her to music. A natural musician who played the French horn, Shultz had to make a decision between the conservatory of music and nursing school. Nursing school won out based on the influence of a great uncle who was a physician.

After high school, she moved to Cincinnati and entered the Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, where she quickly found her niche, winning the title of Miss Student Nurse, serving as president of the Student Nursing Council, and getting involved with the National Student Nurses Association. She also asserted her independence by challenging the system. At the time, says Shultz, the rule was that nursing uniform skirts had to be no shorter than 14 inches from the floor, but 14 inches from the floor meant that some nurses were wearing their skirts long while others were wearing them above the knee, depending on the individual nurse's height. Shultz rebelled, and the system was changed to one where skirts had to be worn a certain length below the knee.

Shultz discovered her love of OR nursing during a three-month internship in the OR as a student nurse. She quickly determined that the OR was where she wanted to be; however, when she graduated, there were no OR openings, so she worked in an emergency room until an OR position was available.

Shultz, who met her husband Dick during nursing school, moved to State College, Pa, and worked at Centre County Hospital while Dick attended graduate school. She credits her husband as being one of the most influential people in her life. "He is so supportive of everything I do, and he's a big advocate for AORN," says Shultz.

She also credits much of her early success and interest in AORN to Lela Meyers, RN, her first OR director, who was an early member of AORN. Meyers got Shultz involved in AORN early in her career, and in AORN's Cincinnati chapter, Shultz found friendship, professionalism, and mentors. She quickly immersed herself in her local chapter, and before long, her eyes turned toward the national AORN, where she found even more opportunities for growth. She was in the first group to take the certification examination for CNOR, and she was one of the first perioperative nurses to be certified as an RN first assistant (RNFA). She also helped develop and write the first CRNFA examination. Shultz maintained her CRNFA status until she no longer worked in a hospital setting. She also got involved with a variety of AORN's standing committees and task forces.

MENTORS

Shultz credits much of her success in AORN to the strong mentors she has been privileged to work with. She has worked with and learned from many AORN past Presidents, including Carol Applegeet, RN, MSN, CNOR; Kay Ball, RN, BSN, MSA, CNOR, FAAN; Mark Phippen, RN, MN, CNOR; Ellen Murphy, RN, JD, FAAN; Ruth Shumaker, RN, BSN, CNOR; Brenda Ulmer, RN, MN, CNOR; Ruth Vaiden, RN, CNOR, CRNFA (e); and Sheila Allen, RN, BSN, CNOR, CRNFA. "I've had great mentors from the Board," says Shultz.

She relates a funny story about the first time she ran for the AORN Board of Directors. Phippen came and sat beside her as they were waiting to hear the results of the election. Even though she knew that the results were confidential until announced, she somehow convinced herself that he knew she had lost, and he was there to comfort her when the announcement came. Instead, he was able to congratulate her when it was announced that she had won a seat on the Board.

Shultz also credits her mentors with her political success in AORN. She says they have encouraged her to run for higher offices. They encouraged her to run for the President's office, as well. She did not know that the time would come when "I would have the opportunity to unite (AORN's) membership." Regardless of how she got here, Shultz says that she has numerous plans for her year as AORN's President.

PRESIDENTIAL GOALS

There are a number of important issues that Shultz would like to address, including recruitment and retention of members, education of members, international relationships, relationships with other organizations, patient safety, workplace safety, and ensuring that each state has regulations requiring an RN to circulate. Shultz also sees nursing moving into different arenas, and she wants AORN to explore other opportunities for RNs.