2008 Online Candidates' Caucus
(The candidates' answers are unedited for content, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.)
1. What are your goals for the association and explain how you would plan to achieve these goals?
Patrick Voight
My goal is to ensure the future of perioperative practice and the safety of our patients. Development and implementation of strategic objectives impacting the direction of the Association isn't done in isolation. It is a group effort requiring the input and deliberation of members and the many partners who influence our practice. As the leader of our Association, I will foster and facilitate the strong collaborative relationship between the AORN Board and Headquarters staff; and promote an environment which inspires unique and creative solutions to the issues that challenge our members and the patients for which we care.
2. Identify what you feel are the key issue(s) for perioperative nursing and for AORN. Describe a strategy you would implement to address the issue(s).
Patrick Voight
AORN has the responsibility to be the catalyst for change ensuring that current and future trends and key issues for perioperative nursing are identified and addressed. Those issues include: generational and aging workforce; nursing shortage; workplace and patient safety; quality; advocacy and technology.
The best solutions for addressing issues to advance our perioperative profession are determined through strategic planning and continued collaborative relationships. The voice of perioperative nursing must be heard by legislators and regulatory agencies. My personal and professional relationships will guarantee that AORN is the voice at those tables which influence health policy and perioperative practice.
Online Questions for the Vice President Candidates
1. If something were to happen to the current president, resulting in your need to assume the role. How are you prepared to immediately step in and assume the role of president?
Charlotte Guglielmi
Ben Kinsley in the role of VP in the movie "Dave" stated, "I plan to continue President Mitchell's call to arms, this isn't my Presidency, this is his Presidency, and I can't think of a better way to insure his legacy than to continue the principles that he initiated." My job would be to continue our President's agenda for AORN.
Experience as VP, tenure on the Board, understanding of AORN operations, established relationships with external partners and most importantly my connection to the needs of our members has prepared me to step into the role as President.
Anne Marie Herlehy
Although the President sets the theme for the year, it is the overall strategic goals of the Association that directs the priorities. Whenever the Board of Directors meet, the focus is on how to best meet the needs of the membership, via strategic goals. If I needed to step in and assume the role of President, my immediate task would be to continue that momentum. The whole Board is responsible for the roll out of the initiatives. I am confident that I would have the support of the Board, membership, and employer to carry on the advancement of perioperative nursing.
2. What challenges do you foresee impacting AORN in the future that would impact your vision for AORN and how would you address those challenges?
Charlotte Guglielmi
I see prescriptive practice, increasing regulatory requirements and the trends toward external entities impacting practice and the autonomy of the nurse.
AORN must keep safe patient care as its number one priority. We must be at the table influencing these entities. We also, must be nimble, flexible and efficient at providing our members with the relevant education, tools and networking they need in the workplace everyday. Through our actions we must engage nurses of all ages to join in our mission. Foremost, AORN must encourage each of us to fall in love with nursing again and again.
Anne Marie Herlehy
AORN has never been absent when responding to issues that affect our profession. Even though having a response to trends is necessary, one of our challenges is to be proactive versus reactive. Multiple disciples are finding it difficult to keep up with technology, and so it is with AORN. Knowing that the safety of our patients and colleagues is important, AORN needs to continue to pioneer the creation of "safe" initiatives. Lastly, the make up of our membership is always a focal point. It is vital that we acknowledge the multiple generations in the workforce and bring any issues forward.
Online Questions for the Secretary Candidates
1. If elected how will you prepare to take on the Secretary's responsibility?
Jane Flowers
I have served AORN as Secretary for the past 2 years. I've learned that the role of Secretary involves specific skill sets around communication between the Board and our members. I've written the Board Reports, taken and reviewed minutes, motions and other Board Communications. I've communicated with committees and special interest group by sending letters stating the decisions of the Board, and have served as Chair of the Credentialing Committee. By re-electing me to this office the transition will be seamless. I intimately understand the role of AORN's Secretary, and want to continue competently serving you as Secretary.
Deborah Spratt
I believe that I am currently prepared to be the AORN Secretary. Having served on the Board of Directors for two years, I have had the opportunity to closely observe the secretarial role and responsibilities. While a Board member, I was a member of the Bylaws Committee and I am currently Chair of the Policy Committee. In addition, I was elected Secretary of my Chapter several times and have served both the Leadership and Ambulatory Specialty Assemblies in the Secretary/Treasurer role, keeping minutes of all meetings and tracking our finances. I am also knowledgeable in Roberts Rules of Order.
2. Describe your organizational and management skills that have prepared you for the role of Secretary.
Jane Flowers
Being a nurse requires a person to be organized and to manage multiple projects at any given time. First of all I am a perioperative nurse and manager. Time management and dealing with people are what I do. Secondly, I have made a commitment to AORN and our membership. I take this commitment seriously and have been able to flex my time to meet the demands of AORN, my employer and my personal life. I'm passionate about AORN. It's easy for me to find the time and energy to give AORN 100%. I'm committed to the success of AORN.
Deborah Spratt
I have been in perioperative management and leadership positions for almost 30 years in University and Community Hospitals and a Freestanding Surgery Center. Experience in operational and strategic planning, daily management of people and supplies, and accountability to patients and outside regulating and accrediting organizations have given me the tools to be a leader in the workplace and in our professional organization. I am pleased that I am again working at the facility where I started my career and working with staff that were my mentors. I build relationships and set expectations, critical skills for all elected AORN officers.
Online Questions for the Board of Director Candidates
1. Do you see taking on the role of "Devil's Advocate" or taking a position other than your own for the sake of discussion as important? Please explain why or why not.
Darin Prescott
AORN and perioperative nursing continue to grow in its diversity of nurses and practices. I believe members want their views to be considered, as decisions affecting the future of our association and profession are made within the board room. For that reason, I believe it is important to explore and dialogue about issues prior to a decision being made. This may include playing the "Devil's Advocate" to promote a healthy discussion and represent the diverse viewpoints of the association membership and stakeholders within the board room.
Marilyn Sanderson
Presenting a point of view other than my own keeps my ego in check and allows me an opportunity to hear the "rest of the story" thereby making the best decision possible on behalf of our membership. Having said that, I believe I have a responsibility to present the other side of an issue objectively; I never allow myself to stand on biased principles. I try to remember that the purpose of discussion is to promote clarity and achieve resolution; it is not about my personal agenda.
Rosemarie (Rosie) Schroeder
Yes, I believe that by taking on the role of "Devil's Advocate", or looking at a situation from how another may perceive it, is important in bringing all possible opinions and options to the table for consideration and discussion. I have a mix of historical perspectives on various issues, in addition to forming personal opinions through reading and personal experiences. By discussing any pending issues with members, I would prepare to orchestrate concerns and questions. Addressing these concerns and questions in the Board room would later aid in explaining the process of how and why a particular decision was reached.
Rose Seavey
Taking the role of "Devils' Advocate" is sometimes important because many issues are complex and the answers are not always clear until all options are explored. AORN is a diverse organization and decisions made by the board can have profound and long-term consequences. There are times when it is important to challenge each other to discover all the pros and cons in order to come to an informed decision. Occasionally, we need to step out of our comfort zone and explore the other points of view. I am comfortable taking on this role.
David Wyatt
I see playing the role of "Devil's Advocate" important when making decisions, particularly those that there is no apparent right or wrong solution. Taking other positions and perspectives into consideration is a part of the information gathering process when making decisions. Boards of associations such as AORN deal with complex and sometimes financially significant issues - gathering all of the information, understanding all of the potential positions and their potential consequences is a part of due diligence that is a requirement for a leader in our association.
2. What programs or service do you envision that AORN could provide which would enhance or improve member service?
Darin Prescott
Electronic communication is an area I believe needs to be developed further within AORN. As perioperative registered nurses become increasingly technologically savvy, the use of downloadable messaging, including voice and video, may offer additional communication and education options to members. Electronic video conferencing and webinar are also forms of communication to be further developed.
I believe another area that AORN could expand lies in working with our industry partners. We could collaborate to improve standards for work settings through appropriate design of space, equipment, flow and lighting. This would facilitate a safe and ergonomically-friendly workplace for our diverse workforce.
Marilyn Sanderson
Practice issues and concerns do not conform to a five-day workweek. I believe we have a responsibility to be available to our colleagues working the evening and night shifts as well as the weekends. We could offer a service in the form of a "crisis line" or email box for those issues, which demand an immediate response. Our members would then have AORN as a resource during their working hours. This would demonstrate our professional obligation to provide leadership and direction, enhancing our commitment for excellence. All surgical patients and staff would benefit from our expertise twenty-four hours per day.
Rosemarie (Rosie) Schroeder
Technology has come a long way in cataloging and increasing services available through AORN. Internet access to education, the internship program, job searches, Board updates, SA chat rooms, literature searches, all need to be reviewed, updated and grown. Development of a standardized template for a universal perioperative record, using PNDS with industry criteria and customized "add options", would facilitate charting and data comparison. Unification of medical organization and regulatory agency definitions of scope of care criteria is needed. Mentoring programs, connecting students and Interns with retired perioperative nurses, would be a win /win situation for schools and health care facilities.
Rose Seavey
Member service could be enhanced by:
- Offering more regional conferences with education linked to AORN recommended practices.
- In this age of consumerism, AORN could help members market to their customers by creating more consumer educational tools such as videos and brochures.
- Creating a task force, made up of perioperative professionals, representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and industry to look at reduction of waste in the perioperative setting.
- Offering training for vendors in the OR.
- Using the expertise of the specialty assemblies to influence strategic partners and other professional organizations related to perioperative nursing.
David Wyatt
The nursing shortage has continued to stress hospitals and nursing staff. As the leader in Perioperative nursing I would like to see AORN focus on issues surrounding recruitment of nurses into the Perioperative setting. Development of recruitment programs that can be used to recruit new nurses to Perioperative nursing will assist in reducing the stress of the nursing shortage. In addition to recruitment efforts, development of tools for leaders that focus on retention of Perioperative nurses would also affect the shortage. AORN's focus on recruitment and retention of Perioperative nurses would address some of the stresses experienced by AORN members.
Online Questions for the Nominating Committee Candidates
1. What would you consider to be the most important attributes when deciding on which candidates are best suited for the ballot?
Callie Craig
The leaders of AORN will set the course for the future of this organization and serve as ambassadors for the profession of perioperative nursing. As our elected representatives, it is imperative that candidates demonstrate consistent professionalism, personal accountability, and servant leadership. They must set an example of professional growth through national certification, education advancement, and organizational and political activism. Above all, candidates must have a passion for the profession of perioperative nursing and have a vision for the future of this organization.
Holly Ervine
The most important attributes for considering a candidate is their dedication to periOperative nursing exemplified by their involvement in AORN, their leadership experience and positive feedback from colleagues concerning their ability to work well within a group. The candidate's previous experience on the local and state level, as well as National involvement, should also be considered. They should demonstrate a strong work ethic and meet all deadlines with accurate and thorough results. Finally, the candidates must be willing to meet and get to know the members to be able to make decisions that are best for the Association.
Donna Ford
Excellent candidates possess good interpersonal skills, are dedicated to the profession of nursing and are highly motivated individuals. Good interpersonal skills include having the desire to meet and interact with people, being able to effectively communicate with others and possessing a friendly and open demeanor. Dedication to the profession includes commitment and devotion to nursing and to the safe care of each and every patient. This attribute is also demonstrated through a commitment to lifelong learning and engaging in various scholarly activities. Being motivated is a key attribute since this inspires others and helps facilitate change.
Mary Renee (Renee) Khalar
The important attributes are same as those in a desirable employee. Officers, in essence, are employees of the membership. Based on that analogy, the top 3 characteristics needed for any officer in AORN include:
- Accountability - to self, the membership, the Board, and the profession.
- Responsibility - for ethical management of organizational resources, for a professional work ethic, for creating an open dialog within the membership, and for demonstrating professional behaviors within health care communities.
- Integrity - loyalty to the business of national AORN and local chapters, honesty to the membership, and personal commitment to nursing.
Karen Knapp
The important attributes are those of leadership, mentorship, member dedication and commitment to advancing our practice. Leadership that we will respect and follow; mentorship because they must encourage others to reach for the stars. Dedication to individual member needs is important because they are what makes AORN so amazing; and a commitment to advancing our practice that will lead us into the future. We need leaders who understand where we come from, are open to change and can use the knowledge gained to enlighten our nursing practice and broaden our horizons. We want those who will share their passion!
Kevin Metzing
Important attributes include:
- Integrity, trustworthiness and credibility: displaying consistency between words and actions as well as a reliable history of being prompt and prepared.
- Articulating innovative risk taking ideas to achieve successful change: identifying and mobilizing talented people and connecting them with necessary resources to create positive outcomes.
- Competency, seasoned experience and confidence: a cooperative spirit, and the wisdom to surround oneself with talented colleagues complementing one's skill set.
- Financial literacy: leadership decisions have fiscal implications.
- Steadfastness, decisiveness and resiliency: the ability to be tough when the going gets rough, yet willing to lose the battle to win the war.
2. What will you do to seek out candidates that not only have the experiences needed but also represent the diversity present in this association?
Callie Craig
It is important that the leaders of this organization represent members of all ages, ethnic groups, geographical locations, small and large chapters, rural and metro areas, ambulatory surgery centers, clinics, and acute care facilities. Soliciting feedback from members, observing leaders in action, and mentoring potential perioperative leaders through specialty assembly participation, membership committee involvement, grassroots activism, education conference attendance, web portal participation, as well as chapter, state, and national leadership roles provides me the opportunity to network with AORN members from across the nation and actively seek candidates from many diverse settings of AORN.
Holly Ervine
Educate and Communicate. Let the membership know what qualities are being sought for our future leaders. Encourage the membership to submit names of potential candidates from each type of hospital: large and small, urban and rural, as well as, industry, our military and ambulatory surgery centers. Promote selecting nominees from any area that provides care to the perioperative patient or provides services to the surgical area (such as sterile processing). When preparing the ballot, the nominating committee should ensure that the different roles within the periOperative arena are represented. Be available and open to discussion with the membership.
Donna Ford
Diversity this Association is represented by members' geographic location, size and type of practice setting, work experience, generation, culture, race, and ethnicity. Candidates of diverse backgrounds and possessing the necessary experiences can be identified many ways. I use various opportunities to interact with AORN members, both personally and electronically. Electronic correspondence, including Membertalk, is an effective way to interact with AORN members from all over the world. Networking with AORN members at the chapter and national level is an excellent way to meet individuals who may have the desire and potential to become a candidate for AORN office.
Mary Renee (Renee) Khalar
Two primary processes should be used. The first is direct referral to the Committee from members familiar with their performance, character, and talents and who believe this individual will further the work of AORN. Second method comes from committee members' personal interactions with members who participate in various ways during Congress, regional conferences, continuing education offerings, and local chapter activities. Persons who have overtly made themselves known to other members within these national and local venues are usually persons with commitment and desire to work at other levels. The application process further enhances the screening for desired traits and skills.
Karen Knapp
Seeking the future leaders of AORN is an ongoing challenge. It is a constant awareness of those around you, whether in person, online, or on conference calls. Listening to those with knowledge to share at educational sessions, in networking activities, and participating in online discussion boards can help identify leaders. One can also solicit information from our past and current leaders who have extensive networking connections. Our future leaders will not be restricted to educational levels, race, creed or location; they will those who desire to give of themselves for the betterment of patient care and our organization.
Kevin Metzing
Diversified candidates are in our S/As and governing councils. Potential candidates with leadership experience belong to the Leadership and Retired Nurses S/As. Candidates representing a cross section of racial and ethnic backgrounds have joined the Multicultural S/A (and eChapter). The Federal Nurses S/A is where I might find more men with leadership potential. Young nurses could be involved with the Informatics S/A. I would monitor list serves and COP pages to get a sense of who is involved, attend these groups' meetings at Congress and Fall Conferences to see who is active, and encourage those individuals to seek National Office.