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State councils—collaboration, networking, and education - Limited

AORN Journal, Nov, 2003 by Ellen O'Connor, Patrick E. Voight

AORN members created AORN's state councils to reach out to perioperative nurses in individual states. State councils were formed to enhance collaboration and networking, as well as perioperative education. As part of collaboration and networking, state councils advise, consult, and discuss issues important to perioperative nurses in their respective states. In addition, state council educational programs have evolved so that education is coordinated among several states instead of being offered by individual state chapters alone. An example of this collaboration is the North Carolina and South Carolina state councils. These councils' combined education seminars have been such a success that they have become an annual event.

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AORN's state councils have helped members as they have pursued legislative agendas at the state level. AORN Ombudsman, Vivian Watson, RN, CNOR, says the following about state councils.

State councils will become more important to AORN in the future. Councils have a rich history of being active in the legislative arena. They have been supported by AORN members from the beginning, and since they represent the statewide views of their members rather than a local view, the opportunity to influence political action can be Jilt greater: The councils are structured to accommodate the needs of the members, providing flexibility for meeting schedules in different areas of the state. The energy at those meetings can be seen and felt, thus paving a road for progress on issues. I believe AORN is wise enough to tap that talent and energy, using yet another resource to move perioperarive nursing forward by working hand-in hand, the state councils, and AORN collectively, will be stronger as we build a staying power. (1)

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

AORN state councils have been in existence for decades. "Over the years, local chapters were interested in forming state councils so that there was wider access to programs and OR nursing leaders." (2) There were a number of AORN Board of Director meetings and meetings with Headquarters staff members during the years to discuss how to embrace state councils because they were not covered in AORN's Bylaws. Although initially there was no formal recognition of state councils from AORN, this did not deter the councils from organizing or quench members' enthusiasm for reaching out to all perioperative nurses in their respective states on issues pertinent to their work settings. Currently, there are 27 state councils across the United States.

The New York State Council (NYSC), Texas Council of Operating Room Nurses (TCORN), Illinois Council of perioperative Registered Nurses (ICORN), and Florida Council of Operating Room Nurses (FCORN) were among the first state councils to organize. They were created to advise, consult, and discuss issues that were significant to perioperative nurses in these respective states.

These state councils have recorded a number of achievements. For example, TCORN has held major education seminars in areas of Texas not served by local chapters to reach out to the needs of members at large. The NYSC, which initially was affiliated with the State Alliance of Nursing Organizations (SANO) when it formed in 1973, (3) has worked to strengthen relationships among organizations and present a unified front as a nursing community in New York. In June 1979, the NYSC broke away from SANO to become an independent organization with its own policies.

The ICORN also initially affiliated with other associations (ie, the Illinois Nurses Association [INA], the Illinois State Board of Nursing) so that perioperative nurse members of ICORN would have a voice in legislative issues concerning their work settings within the nursing profession. The affiliation still exists today, but the Illinois state council now is an entirely separate association working with INA to promote nursing legislation.

More state councils were formed during the 1980s, including the Georgia State Council (GSC), the Operating Room Nursing Council of California (ORNCC), the Indiana Council of Operating Room Nurses, the North Carolina Council of Operating Room Nurses (NCCORN), the Ohio Council of Operating Room Nurses (OCORN), and the Maryland/Washington, DC State Council.

The ORNCC was formed after members realized the importance of watching legislative and regulatory activities in California. (4) Both the Indiana Council of Operating Room Nurses and OCORN became involved with their state boards of nursing in revisions of state nurse practice acts so they would have input about having an RN as supervisor in the OR.

The Louisiana State Council and Mississippi Council of Perioperative Nurses were formed in 1993. Members of the Louisiana State Council used bylaws from the Ohio State Council and the expertise of members from AORN of Greater Houston to organize. Their primary purpose was to network and enhance communications between state chapters. They also focused on sharing information related to educational activities to increase meeting attendance and develop statewide support for AORN's standards and recommended practices throughout Louisiana and Mississippi.

Health Care Industry

State councils—collaboration, networking, and education - Limited

AORN Journal, Nov, 2003 by Ellen O'Connor, Patrick E. Voight

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