Congress 2023: Second House of Delegates

AORN’s 70^th annual Congress wrapped up at the Second House of Delegates where members heard from their officers and CEO before hearing the Teller’s report with their elected leadership for the coming year and closing ceremonies.

AORN’s outgoing President Vangie Dennis offered highlights of her year at the helm. This year’s theme has been No Limits with major initiatives and accomplishments that included:

• Membership growth
• Complimentary Prep for CNOR for members
• Renewal discounts and grant funding for renewals during these challenging financial times
• AORN also provided a one-time payout of $10 per member to chapters to assist with member engagement and Expo travel.

In response to member asks at last year's Expo, AORN issued a guidance statement on the surgical services director role.   

Dennis celebrated the growth of diversity in AORN’s membership and AORN’s commitment to diversity in AORN staff, membership, patient support, community, elected leadership, the AORN Foundation, and our LGTBQ+ advisory group. Dennis closed by reminding attendees, “We are in a distinctive profession and blessed to be perioperative nurses. We set our mind, heart, physical being, and soul to tend to others. These are unique times to our profession, and we are evolving at an incredible pace. It is every part of who you are, and it is no small thing that you have signed up for – thank you for rising to the challenge with such courage.”

AORN CEO and executive director Linda Groah then invited members to take a moment to consider and appreciate all the caring work they have done and the lives touched during their careers, especially during the last three years. Groah emphasized that staffing shortages will continue, and challenged attendees to each seek out the dean of their alma mater and introduce them to AORN’s Introduction to Perioperative Nursing to expose and recruit new nurses to the operating room. (AORN’s education department is preparing a power point and script members can use for their discussion.)

Groah shared her hope for members in 2023 to continue to show compassion to others – your patients, your colleagues and yourselves. “I hope you will take pride in all that you do every day to provide safe care for patients and gratitude for each other.”

Past president and AORN Foundation Trustee Martha Stratton thanked the perioperative community for supporting the Foundation and making a difference in so many nurses and patients’ lives. She presented the Foundation report, celebrating 2022 accomplishments:

• 130 professional development grants for assistance with CNOR, CSSM and CNAMB certification
• 85 nursing scholarships for the 2022-23 school year
• 318 Expo attendance grants
• 2,455 membership grants
• 25 grants to chapters

AORN 2022-23 Nominating Committee Chair Christopher Hudgins presented the Teller’s report – the election results for new members of AORN’s Board of Directors and Nominating Committee, including AORN’s new president-elect, Nakeisha Archer. Full election results for the new 2023-24 officers are available.

2023-2024 AORN president Elizabeth Pincus introduced her theme for the coming year – Making Your Mark. Pincus promised to continue to prioritize and expand practice resources with tools to improve practice, patient safety, and add value to teams and facilities, ultimately thanking members for “doing what you do every day” and “for your ongoing dedication to your patients, your colleagues and to AORN.”

Vangie Dennis then presented AORN president Elizabeth Pincus with her gavel, presidential ring, and nametag for the upcoming year. Pincus closed by inviting everyone to Nashville for AORN’s 2024 Global Surgical Conference & Expo.