Federation discusses guidelines, approves purpose, functions The Federation of Specialty Nursing Organiza- tions and ANA (American Nurses Association) approved a statement of purpose and func- tions but ran aground on who should be mem- bers Dissatisfied with its informal structure and organization the Federation has been working for some time on guidelines for a more formal operation

The Federation met in Dallas June 27 and 28 during the record-breaking heat wave with temperatures reaching 11 3 degrees Few ven- tured from the hotel during the two-day meet- ing hosted by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners (NAPNAP) Margaret K Hicks president, pre- sided Representing AORN were President Barbara B Stanewick and President-elect Nancy Mehaffy

The Federation had set aside Saturday morning to consider guidelines proposed by a task force These guidelines were presented at the last meeting in January and taken back to the boards of the individual associations for discussion The proposed guidelines would have broadened the focus of the organization from specialty practice to a more general con- cern with the improvement of health care de- livery and opened membership to other than specialty practice nursing organizations

On Friday the ANA whose Board did not support the task force s guidelines distributed a statement and proposed operating rules for what it called a Coalition of Nursing Organiza- tions From informal comments of members,

3 Federation report

there was considerable interest in these operating rules. Yet at the Saturday morning meeting, it proved difficult for ANA to introduce its substitute proposal. The chair decided the task force guidelines would be considered sec- tion by section.

Considering first the purpose, the Federa- tion rejected the broad task force definition "to improve health care delivery by advancing the profession of nursing through collective ef- forts." A number of organizations spoke in favor of the Federation remaining a specialty nursing practice organization. "By changing to nursing organizations in general, the specialty nature is lost," said Helen Burst, president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. ANA President Barbara Nichols said the pro- posed change affected the autonomy of the individual group members.

After defeat of the task force recommenda- tion, the ANA purpose was proposed and after discussion unanimously approved. It reads:

This organization is a voluntary, unincorpo- rated organization whose purpose is to work toward coordination and cooperation among participating nursing organizations in mat- ters that relate to nursing practice. educa- tion, socioeconomics. legislation affecting health care, and other matters of mutual concern. Turning to functions. the Federation rejected

the proposed task force functions as too broad and approved the ANA-suggested functions: As approved, they read:

The functions shall include: 1 . supporting collective efforts to improve

nursing practice 2. developing statements on matters of na-

tional concern for nursing 3. facilitating cooperation among the

CP AORN Jonrrinl. ScJpterrzher 1980, Vol J2, No 3 367

Federation supports R N as circulator In response to the publication of the Medicare/Medicaid regulations that would permit technicians and licensed practical (vocational) nurses to circulate in theoperating room, the Federation approved the following Mailgram, which was sent to the Health Care Financing Administration.

The 21 member organizations of the Federation of Specialty Nursing Organizations and ANA (American Nurses' Association) representing approximately 327,440 members, oppose regulation file HSQ-16-P, Section 482.41 (a) (4) that would permit technicians and LPN's (LVN's) to circulate in the operating room. Using the technician, LPN (LVN) in the circulating role may jeopardize patient safety at a time when a patient cannot protect himself. The Federation further believes that the nonprofessional does nor have the educational background necessary to perform a professional role, and make decisions based on nursing judgments. The Mailgram was approved by all the

organizations except the American College of Nurse-Midwives, which could not vote on the Mailgram without prior approval of its board.

member organizations 4. sharing information periodically on the

activities of the member organizations, and

5. emphasizing nursing's role as a patient advocate.

But membership criteria proved more dif- ficult. The Federation supported the concept of keeping membership to specialty nursing prac- tice groups when it rejected the task force rec- ommendation that would have opened mem- bership to "national nursing organizations whose majority of voting members are regis- tered nurses." There seemed to be a consen- sus, however, that it would be helpful to have the National League for Nursing, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and the American Society for Nursing Service Admin-

istrators as official members rather than at- tending as auditors. But the group seemed un- able to amend the ANA proposed membership criteria to include these organizations and "not everyone under the sun." The ANA member- ship criteria, which would have limited the membership to specialty nursing organiza- tions and ANA, failed by one vote to gain 75% approval. The current membership criteria re- main in effect.

The question of a new name was not con- sidered due to time limitations. The Federation will resume work on the proposed task force guidelines at its next meeting in January.

Durir?g the two-day session, the Federation dealt with a number of topics and made these decisions:

0 Approved a statement affirming ANA as the appropriate representative of nursing in collective bargaining. The statement reads:

Whereas, collective bargaining is recog- nized as a legal right of workers; Whereas, nurses may or may not choose to organize and engage in collective bargain- ing; Whereas, there is intense activity by various unions to organize and speak for nursing and nurses on all professional issues; there- fore be it Resofved, that the Federation of Specialty Nursing Organizations and ANA affirm that if a nurse chooses to engage in collective bargaining that the professional nursing or- ganization is the appropriate representative of nursing and nurses.

As required by Federation guidelines, the statement received 75% of the vote of those present and voting. Seven organizations ab- stained, including AORN. At the annual Con- gress in March, AORN delegates voted against a similar statement. The American Col- lege of Nurse-Midwives and the American As- sociation of Nurse Anesthetists were among those abstaining.

Approved a Mailgram to the Health Care Financing Administration supporting the nurse as the circulator in the operating room (see accompanying article). In informing Federa- tion members of the publication of the Medi- careiMedicaid regulations on June 20, AORN President Stanewick said they "impact on all of nursing."

0 Approved a motion by the Emergency

370 AORN Journal, September 1980, VoZ 32, N o 3

Department Nurses Association advocating changing the title of the Emergency Medical Services Act to Emergency Health Services Act. In making her motion, Marta Prado, presi- dent of EDNA, said that the current terminol- ogy emphasized medical services, but that the emergency care system is composed of multi- ple kinds of health professionals. The Emergency Medical Services Act will be up for reextension in October.

0 Decided to hold an invitational breakfast at the International Council of Nurses. The ICN will meet June 28 to July 3, 1981, in Los Angeles. The breakfast will be for presidents, national nursing secretaries, the board of di- rectors, and official representatives of the Federation. Each Federation organization will be assessed $300 for the breakfast. A brief explanation of the Federation will be included with the welcome. ANA President Nichols cautioned Federation members that "the con- cept of specialty nursing is alien to many foreign nursing groups."

0 Admitted to membership the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Nurses, a group of 450 nurses and licensed practical (vocational) nurses. About 85% are RNs.

In other business, the Federation 0 Reviewed a draft of the Federation history

presented by Dorothy Talbot, American Public Health AssociationIPublic Health Nursing Sec- tion, and Dorothy Saller, executive director of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. Members were invited to make comments and return them to the authors by Nov 1.

0 Heard a report on the Task Force in Cre- dentialing by Ira Gunn and Sister Maurita Soukup. Sister Soukup invited Federation members to participate as resource groups and support the Task Force. which will be test- ing and refining modelsfor a credentialing cen- ter. A target date of July 1982 has been set for establishing a credentialing center as outlined by the Credentialing Study. which has pro- posed a major overhaul of credentialing in nursing. Resource groups will meet Nov 1 in Minneapolis.

Heard a report on the "Nature and Scope of Nursing Practice and Characteristics of Specialization: A Social Policy Statement," a draft report on a definition of nursing prepared by the ANA Congress for Nursing Practice.

Norma Lang, chairperson of the task force that prepared the document, asked Federation members for comments in writing on "what you agree with and what you have problems with." She stressed that the document is "social pol- icy for the future." Marguerite Kinney, presi- dent of the American Association of Critical- Care Nurses, expressed concern about the requirement in the draft that the specialist in nursing practice have a master's or doctoral degree.

The next meeting of the Federation will be in Chicago in January, hosted by the American Association of Neurosurgical Nurses.

Elinor S Schrader Editor

Neurosurgical nurses call for program papers The American Association of Neurosurgical Nurses (AANN) has issued a call for papers to be presented at its 1981 annual meeting. The theme of the meeting, to be held in Boston, April 6 to 9, is "Neuroscience Nursing-Prescription for the Future."

AANN is especially interested in papers dealing with all aspects of nursing research, neurosurgical and neurological nursing practice, operative neurosurgical nursing, nursing aspects of head injury and spinal cord trauma, rehabilitation, innovative concepts in nursing practice, and the expanded role of the nurse. Other topics are also welcome.

honorarium or to reimburse speakers; however, all papers selected will be reviewed for publication in the Journal of Neurosurgical Nursing.

The meeting program committee would like to receive abstracts as soon as possible, so they may notify authors of acceptance by Dec 1, 1980. Abstract forms may be obtained by writing AANN, 625 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1519, Chicago, 111 6061 1.

The association will not be able to offer

372 AORN Journal. September 1980, Vot 32, N o 3