Delegates try new keypad voting system, listen to task force reports, and vote on workplace safety statement; Monday, March 23, to Thursday, March 27, 2003 - Business Sessions - Association of periOperative Registered Nurses conference

AORN Journal,  June, 2003  by Nancy K. Kuehl

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World Conference. President Watson updated delegates on the status of AORN's World Conference planned for Hong Kong, which was postponed earlier this year. The Board evaluated the current climate in Hong Kong, and based on their assessment and information from outside sources, including the US State Department, decided Hong Kong was not an appropriate location at this time. World Conference was rescheduled for 2004. World Conference also will be held in 2005 as originally scheduled. Nancy Davis, RN, CNOR, CRNFA, Boise, Idaho, expressed concern that it would not be economical to have World Conferences in consecutive years. President Watson took the opportunity to poll delegates using the keypad system, and 77% were concerned about having World Conferences in consecutive years.

SECOND SESSION: HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Delegates cheerfully employed the new keypad system to report the number of delegates present during the second session of the House of Delegates. Lorraine Butler, RN, MSA, CNOR, chair of the Credentials Committee, reported that the number of authorized delegates registered was 1,323.

Correct site surgery: During the past year, the Board of Directors brought the revised AORN "Position statement on correct site surgery" to the House for consideration using the proxy system that was initiated based on a motion passed at the 2002 House of Delegates in Anaheim, Calif. Voting on the issue was conducted via a mail-in ballot, and discussion occurred via the Interact. The voting results included 856 ballots that were completed and returned. Twenty of these ballots were ineligible due to late postmarks, no signature, or a signature with no vote. The 2002 House of Delegates approved the position statement.

Workplace safety. A motion was made to adopt the "Proposed AORN position statement on workplace safety," which was published in the March issue of the AORN member newsletter. President Watson called delegates' attention to a new reference that had been added to the position statement since it was published in the January 2003 issue of the AORN Journal. Spratt, who brought the position statement before the House for approval, moved to amend the position statement by changing the words "to protect the perioperative nurse" in the first sentence under the paragraph titled "AORN's Position" to "to protect all those present in the workplace." There was no discussion, and the revised wording was approved. Delegates voted to approve the "Position statement on workplace safety" as revised. The revised statement will be published in the 2004 Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guidelines.

Election results. Nominating Committee chair Sylvia Durrance, RN, BSN, CNOR presented the teller's report. President Watson then announced the election results. Delegates elected two new members to the Nominating Committee: Rhonda L. Anders, RN, BSN, CNOR and Deborah G. Spratt, RN, BSN, MPA, CNOR, CNAA.

Members elected to the Board of Directors are Susan K. Banschbach, RN, BSN, CNOR; Pat Hickey, RN, BSN, MS, CNOR; Kathleen A. O'Toole, RN, BS, BSN, CNOR; and Mary Jo Steiert, RN, CNOR. The new Treasurer is Paula R. Graling, RN, MSN, CNOR, and the new President-elect is William J. Duffy, RN, BSN, MJ, CNOR.