Principles to be Used in Evaluating Allied Health Legislative Initiatives
At the annual AORN Congress in Anaheim, CA in March 2008, the House of Delegates approved adoption of the "Principles to be used in Evaluating Allied Health Legislative Initiatives" recommended by the Legislative Principles Task Force to the Board of Directors in August 2007.
Legislative principles developed for evaluating allied health personnel legislation are intended to be used as a guideline for all states reviewing this type of legislation. States will continue to determine their specific legislative strategy.
As adopted at the AORN Congress in March 2008
(1) Evaluation of legislation related to allied health personnel in the perioperative environment will be guided by AORN position statements as approved by the House of Delegates.
(2) If the legislated practice of the allied health personnel falls within perioperative nursing practice, as defined by the AORN position statements, the regulation of this practice must be through the state Board of Nursing or the allied health personnel must function under Registered Nurse delegations and be supervised by a registered nurse.
(3) The allied health personnel's range of functions must be precisely defined in the legislation. The definition must not be overly broad, and it may not permit the practice of nursing.
(4) Legislation that specifies a range of functions for allied health personnel may not prohibit registered nurses from performing the perioperative registered nurse’s scope of practice.
(5) Statutory regulation of allied health personnel must provide the public with protection of accepted regulatory standards including establishment of an effective mechanism for discipline.
AORN will oppose allied health personnel initiatives seeking regulation that do not meet the criteria set out in the above principles. If the criteria are met, AORN will further evaluate the legislation.