AORN Congress: First House of Delegates

AORN members approved four position statements and agreed to refer one back to the National Committee on Education during the First House of Delegates meeting at AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo on Monday afternoon.

With a smile, President Darlene Murdock enthusiastically called the meeting to order, offering a warm welcome with a rap of the gavel. Following the adoption of the House agenda and rules, President Murdock announced the appointment of the Reading Committee and reviewed voting procedures for the five position statements scheduled for approval.

Members first approved the new Position Statement on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Perioperative Nursing, which states that "AI cannot and must never be a replacement for the perioperative RN."

Next, members addressed the Position Statement on RN First Assistants, along with a proposed amendment from the floor to improve certain language. The Position Statement was approved as amended by a strong majority.

The Position Statement on Preventing Wrong-Patient, Wrong-Site, Wrong-Procedure Events was then approved as presented.

Members also considered an amendment to the Position Statement on the Role, Value, and Scope of the Perioperative Nursing Professional Development Practitioners and Specialists. This amendment reinstated "Educator" in the title, clarified terminology, and added a glossary definition of the role.

The proposed new title of AORN Position Statement on the Role, Value, and Scope of the Dedicated Perioperative Educator and Nursing Professional Development generated the most discussion and action at the microphones during the meeting, with additional discussion on whether an advanced degree should be required or preferred for the role.

About 30 minutes were spent reviewing the statement and gathering feedback.

One member said it's important to align terminology with the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD), while others suggested specifying that the perioperative nursing professional development practitioner/specialist in the statement hold both an "advanced degree and the CNOR."

One member also added: "When we are looking at this, getting stuck in the language is not where we need to be."

Before loud applause, a majority agreed that the statement be referred to a committee to be appointed by incoming President-elect David Reinhart, DNP, MBA, RN, CNOR.

Members subsequently approved the Position Statement on the Value of Clinical Learning Activities in the Perioperative Setting in Undergraduate Nursing Curricula.

The newly approved position statements will be posted on the AORN website and published in the AORN Journal in the coming weeks.

President Murdock closed the session by urging attendees to enjoy the AORN Foundation General Session and come back for the Second House of Delegates on Tuesday where election results will be announced.