Committee members report on 2002-2003 progress

AORN Journal,  Dec, 2002  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

The Research Committee is soliciting research seeking to determine outcome measurements for nursing practice. Committee members also recently funded a research project exploring the relationship between staffing ratios and patient outcomes in a selected surgical population.

In addition, committee members are restructuring the research grant program to incorporate a request-for-proposals format. This will allow the Research Committee to seek the necessary funding for multisite research. These requests for proposals might include research targeted at determining how verbal and nonverbal communication is used in the OR and its influence on the incidence of adverse events or research targeted at identifying strategies to prevent surgical site infections (eg, determining the most effective skin preparations and hand washing and scrubbing techniques).

The Research Committee also is restructuring the grant program into a two-tier program. This strategy will allow for better support of research-based practice in perioperative nursing.

Committee members continue to review grant proposals in a timely manner. According to the established cycle, decisions on grant awards are made by January 1 for November applications and April 1 for February applications. Funding decisions are reported to the AORN Board and the Foundation. AORN and Sigma Theta Tau continue to sponsor a joint research grant funding opportunity. Proposals for this grant are due annually in April.

The "Research Corner" column in the A ORN Journal was converted to a new monthly column titled "Evidence for Practice." This new format provides research briefs about the latest published research relating to perioperative nursing.

GEORGE ALLEN
RN, PHD, CNOR, CIC
CHAIR

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

Since 199l, the AORN Foundation, through the AORN Scholarship Board, has awarded funding for undergraduate and graduate education to AORN members who apply for scholarships and meet the established requirements. In 2001, a new category of scholarship was established to award funding to nursing students who are enrolled in educational programs leading to initial licensure as RNs.

President Watson charged this year's Committee with the following requirements.

* Evaluate the validity of the current scholarship criteria.

* Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the current scholarship processes.

* Incorporate the executive committee's input about changes in scholarship criteria and processes.

* Forward any recommendations about the AORN scholarship criteria and processes to the AORN Board of Directors for approval.

* Develop policies and procedures that outline the process of awarding AORN scholarships; disseminate this to the AORN Board and the AORN Foundation.

* Collaborate with the Executive Committee to identify strategies to include greater involvement by the AORN Foundation in the process of awarding AORN scholarships and grants.

* Recommend a dollar amount for Foundation funding of AORN scholarships and grant awards to the AORN Board.