JANUARY 1989, VOL. 49, NO I AORN JOURNAL

Headquarters Report AORNs past helps shape its successful future

n Dec, 31,1988, I completed my sixth year 0 as AORN Executive Director. Throughout the years, I have leamed a great deal about AORNs proud history. It is a history that demonstrates consistent growth, progress, and success. Those who came before us saw to it that the foundation was solid and that the building blocks were firmly placed so that we who followed could build upon them. As you may know, the Board of Directors

offered to renew my three-year employment contract, and I have accepted. On Jan 1, 1989, I began my seventh year as AORN Executive Director. The past six years have given me

CliBord H. Jordan, RN, EdD. FAAN, is the executive director of AORN He earned hir nursing d@loma from the Pennyslvania Hospital School of Nursing for Men, P h i M @ h k hik bachelor of science degree in nursing education from Temple University, Philadelphia. his master of science degree in education from the University of Pennrylvania, Phihdelphia. and his doctorate of education from Temple University, Phila&@hia

opportunities, challenges, and much joy and happiness. I have learned so much, proving that there is always more to learn, and therefore, more to do. This column gives me the opportunity to share some of my memories of the past six years and my thoughts on the future.

Mike Corley FrieM Associate

he 36th annual AORN Cungress is dedicated T to the memory of Michael D. Corley, who was until his untimely death on May 4, 1988, the Associate Executive Director of AORN.

Mike joined the staffof the Association in 1971 as Business and Convention Manager and continued over his 17 years with AORN to devote much of his time and his enormous talent to the continued growth and excellence of our annual Congress.

Mike literally loved Congress. He loved the planning. He loved the work. His devotion sustained all of us in the many months of planning through the conclusion of each Congress. Above all, Mike loved the excitement of participating in every Congress, watching it unfold, and seeing its continuing success year after year. His enjoyment derived from the satisfaction and Mfihent of all who were in attendance. Mike never sought accolades for the unfailing success of Congress, rather he attriiuted the success of each Congress to the members-those for whom we as staff serve, and those whose professional lives are enriched through participation. Members, exhibitors, and guests all knew Mike and looked

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forward each year to sharing some time with him. Mike was preparing to achieve certification and

recognition as a cert5ed association executive (CAE) at the time of his death. He had met all of the rigorous and stringent requirements for this coveted designation and was scheduled to take the certitication examination when he became ill. His death occurred before he could sit for the examination. Mike’s associates, however, were determined to have the Board of Trustees of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) confer this certification upon Mike posthumously, and they were successfu1. In August 1988, the ASAE Board of Trustees awarded the credential of CAE posthumously upon Michael D. Corley. We have hung Mike’s portrait in Headquarters with an appropriate plaque that marks his many years of service to AORN and the credential CAE.

The staff misses Mike at Headquarters, and we are going to miss him in Anaheim.

Congress Past, Present

his Congress marks the 36th consecutive T annual Congress of the Association. Planning for each Congress spans a 15-month period, and I believe that careful and complete planning is paramount to a successful Congress each year. I am, as I have each year, looking forward to Congress. It is a happy and fulfilling time for all of us, for charter AORN members who have attended all 36 Congresses, for members who return year after year, and for the many who will attend Congress for the first time and will return.

For me, Congress is the one time each year that I visit with so many of you who I have come to know and admire. It is a happy time for all of us on the staff who bring Congress to life each year.

We believe that this Congress in Anaheim may set records. Preregistration is high; exhibit space has been expanded and is a near sellout. With the help of the Board, national committees, chapters, and individuals, the Congress Program Selection Committee selected education programs that will offer many choices and will meet the

diverse and special interests and needs of AORN members for meaningful continuing education.

Many issues are coming before the House of Delegates this year, and each issue is significant to AORN members, the spectalty of perioperative nursing, and the nursing profession. All of the issues to be decided by the delegates either directly or indirectly address AORN’s continuing com- mitment to the care of the surgical patient.

AORN’sSuccess

11 AORN members should be proud of the A Association’s success. AORN has grown and prospered, and it has enjoyed status and prestige among nursing organizations and other health care associations as it works to ensure the best possible health care for the surgical patient. As an Association, AORN has become an active participant in the issues that confront the entire profession of nursing while concentrating most on those issues that directly affect perioperative nursing practice in all its dimensions.

Why do I believe AORN has made great strides? I offer the following as evidence to support

On Dec 31, 1982, there were 28,830 members in AORN. As this report is being written at the end of October 1988, members numbered 40,660. Headquarters staff numbered 60 in 1982; today the staff numbers 87. This increase was to be expected as AORN grew in size and increased its services, benefits, and products offered to members.

Second, AORN’s commitment to research has been clearly articulated with the work of the Nursing Research Committee and the Board‘s commitment to allocate the necessary resouTces to see two significant research projects come to fition. The Board has approved the “Statement on Plan, Policy and Priority for Research” and has approved the Nursing Research Committee’s grant program.

AORN has enhanced its membership benefits and added to the services and products available to all members. For example, the credit card program, the member loan program, and the disability and liability insurance programs prove

what I say.

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increasingly popular with members. The number and variety of publications has increased 50%, including four new publications ready for sale at the 1989 Congress. The second edition of the OR Product Directory, recently sent to all members is a valued benefit to AORN members and their colleagues in industry. Also, the Meeting Services Department will have available at this Congress a complete directory of audiotapes from past AORN Congresses. It will contain titles of all offerings available from the 1980 Congress through the 1989 Congress, and it will be updated periodically. This directory will be useful to members who wish to order tapes for their own tape library or their hospital‘s library.

AORN’s national seminars, courses, and designed educational offerings continue to enjoy increased attention and participation. The AORN Journal home study program continues its enormous success. The Modular Independent Learning publications are popular, and at this Congress, AORN will demonstrate updated Software on credentialing and preliminary work on software being developed for staffing/ scheduling of operating room personnel.

AORN enjoys enviable fiscal strength. Oper- ational and capital expenditures have increased and will continue to increase as AORN grows in size and stature. Fortunately, the Association income has also increased. Its reserve fund is substantial, and it has grown. As long as the reserve fund is allowed to grow and is not used as a source of operational income, AORN will be able to weather any crisis or large financial obligation.

Perhaps AORN’s greatest accomplishment is its commitment to direct involvement in federal legislation and regulations of concern to the profession and to our specialty. AORN’s presence on Capitol Hill, through its contract with the American Nurses’ Association (ANA) for lobbying and legislative consultation, is now well established. The people in the legislative and executive branches, including those in the regulatory agencies, now know AORN. The collective voice of perioperative nurses has benefited the profession because AORN contrib- utes its presence and its weight to other specialty nursing associations and to ANA’s effectiveness

in influencing legislation and regulation concerning nursing and health care.

We have participated fully with ANA and with all specialty nursing organizations and special interest groups in nursing in the effort to see the American Medical Association’s proposal for the registered care technologist withdrawn. Your direct involvement in these efforts and other legislative efforts will ensure our success. AORN is in this fght to its resolution, and I believe nursing will succeed in its effort to defeat this proposal.

AORN’s Future

ORN is in a period of growth that demands A change and planning for the future. The 1987 universe study showed that there are approxi- mately 83,000 perioperative nurses in the United States. Even though the number of perioperative nurses in the Association has increased dramat- ically, and AORN has about 50% of its universe, we cannot rest on our laurels. AORN will continue to encourage perioperative nurses to join the Association so they can enjoy the benefits of membership.

The Information Systems Department will continue to explore new technology that can be used to support the work of Headquarters staff in serving the members. Additional personal computer software will be developed for OR management (ie, staff scheduling, nursing care

The AORN Journal staff will continue to publish an award-winning journal for perioper- ative nurses. The editors will be making themselves more available to members who are interested in learning how to go about submitting manu- scripts for possible publication. The business division will continue to bring you the latest information on OR products via the ads in the AORN Jouml and the annual OR Product Directory.

The Education Department staff systematically explores clinical specialty practice for topics appropriate for national seminars. This 1989-1990 year there will be two new national seminars: “Intraoperative Critical Care” and “Same Day Surgery.” Look for the dates and cities for all

Plans).

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national seminars in the “AORN Educational Opportunities” column of the Jouml each month.

If its present phenomenal growth continues, more staff will become necessary, and the AORN Headquarters buildings are almost filled to capacity now. In the years ahead, AORN Headquarters will need more space.

AORN must continue to plan each fiscal year with a balanced budget while it continues to grow and expand services. The Board of Directors is closely examining income from dues and other sources in relation to the cost of AORN services and products.

AORN has increased its revenues beyond those that come from membership dues through what is known as unrelated business income (ie, income from services not tied directly to the Association’s purposes and mission). AORN derives such income from travel commissions, commissions from the sale of credit cards and the member loan program, and commissions from professional liability insurance available to members. AORN, along with all other nonprofit associations, may have to pay taxes on its unrelated business income if Congress levies such a tax. When that happens, AORN will experience a sharp increase in its operational expenses.

Early this year, the Board of Directors began the process of reviewing the AORN “Strategic Plan,” adopted in 1986. The present Board is examining it with an eye to the future. When this process is complete, it will be reported to all members. The staff anticipates that a clear vision of AORN’s future will emerge from these activities and others soon to be identified by the Planning Committee.

We are gratified by your consistently positive response to Congress and to the efforts that the Board of Directors, other elected and appointed officials, and the staff have made to contribute to your happiness, your enjoyment, and your professional growth.

CLIFFORD H. JORDAN, RN, EdD, FAAN

Data Base Collects Information on Claims Since the American Nurses’ Association (ANA) initiated a National Nurses Claims Data Base last year, it has collected information on more than 30 liability claims and incidents involving nurses. In addition to monitoring professional liability claims for the nursing profession, the data base is seen by the ANA as a way to ensure that liability insurance is available to nurses at reasonable cost.

The data base, which is independently admin- istered by Woodsmall Risk Service, is designed as a resource for nurses defending against liability suits. It also gives detailed claims information that the nursing profession can use in negotiating with insurance companies. It also can be used to help in developing risk management programs on avoiding malpractice.

Of the 30 liability claims reported, one half have not yet resulted in legal action. The other half are claims made against nurses; 10 of those claims are closed, and five have resulted in pay- ment. The total paid out in those cases was nearly $261,000 with the largest being $250,000, according to a press release from the ANA.

The claims involve alleged failure to provide proper prenatal care, alleged inadequate diagno- sis, alleged wrong treatment for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, and alleged complications during birth. Not all claims involved malpractice. Claims were filed against nurses over alleged sex- ual abuse, alleged failure to protect a patient from staff, alleged civil rights violation, and alleged slanderous remarks.

Nurses named in the liability claims include general duty nurses, nurse practitioners, a nurse midwife, a nurse administrator, a home health nurse, and an OR nurse.

Nurses who experience a liability claim or incident are asked to obtain and complete a reporting form and return it to the National Nurses Claims Data Base. Reporting forms are available by calling (800) 821-5834 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM central time. Missouri residents are asked to call (816) 4745720.

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