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Communication between Board and members a two-way street
President's message
Communication between Board and members a two-way street Concerns were expressed at Congress over communications. Communication can be a problem in any organization or employment situation. It is the most important aspect of our professional and personal relationships. In a statement regardingrecent resignations of nurses from the Headquarters staff, the Denver chapter asked that channels of communication be opened. The Board of Directors has attempted to increase and improve communication to the membership in recent years. Associationnews is carried in the Journal, which is sent to all members, as well as the AORlV Newsletter, which goes monthly (except during the summer) to chapter presidents and OR supervisors. When a special notice is required, the Board has sent out letters. When the US Department of Health and Human Services proposed regulations were published that would permit technicians to circulate, every member received a letter alerting her to the comment period. The resignations were reported to the membership in a letter to chapter presidents that they were urged to share with their members. We are dedicated to the continuation of the communication process. Board reports in the Journal publicize the dates of the Board’s next meeting.Anytime you have itemsfor the Board to discuss, please send them to me in care of Headquarters in Denver. I would like to remind you, though, that communication is a two-way street. The Board
is approachable. When questions and concerns arise, don’t hesitate to write to me. If appropriate, these concerns may be sent to the entire Board for review and deliberation. Remember, this kind of communication takes time. Board members have full-time jobs and must often relegate AORN activities to weekends or evenings. Be assured that you will receive an answer. A major topic, which requires communication in the Journal, AORN Newsletter, or a special mailing, will take more time because I will ask for input from the Board members. The concerns expressed in statements and at Congress will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and the management consultant hired by AORN. Any decisionswill be communicated to the membership. The suggestion of an educational program at the 1982 Congress that would include information about the Board, staff, committees, chapters, and membership relations will be considered at the spring Board meeting. At its post-Congress Board meeting, the Board felt that this was an excellent idea and would serve to assist every member in understanding the Association‘s functioning. The Board considers each decision in terms of its benefitsto the majorityof its members. To accomplish this, we need to know what you envision for AORN’s future. For instance, at Congress in the forum and House of Delegates, Board member Joan Koehler gave a comprehensive report on credentialingin nursing. There were few comments or questions. The Board needs to know what your views are on this important nursing issue. Articles in the Journal (January 1980 and January 1981) have kept you up-to-date on progress in credentialing. Please review them and send your
AORN Journal, June 1981, Vol33, No 7
1223
views to us. The forums at Congress were designed to inform the delegates about the issues to be voted on in the House of Delegates. It was believed that the informal structure, without parliamentary procedure would be more conducive to discussion. There were concerns expressed at Congress this year that the forums did not elicit discussion and that the communication was all one-way. The Board has received written suggestions from the Greater Houston chapter. These are appreciated and will be discussed. I ask each chapter president to discuss this in your chapter meetings and send me your suggestions and comments. It is the Board’s desire to encourage members’ participation in the decision-making process. We will be reviewing the evaluations of those who attended Congress and using that information to plan for the 1982 Congress in Anaheim, Calif, March 7 to 12. At the close of Congress, we were pleased to hear many comments that this was “one of the best.” In the April “President’s message,” I shared several goals for the Association. At chapter meetings, these and other AORN activities that interest you should be discussed, and suggestions forwarded to the Board of Directors. It is everyone’s responsibility to assist in AORN’s growth and development. Although we have come a long way, there is still much to be done. As I stated as I accepted the presidency at the closing session of Congress, “May we all return home with a renewed sense of purpose, recommitted to operating room nursing and the patients we serve.” Let‘s keep that momentum throughout the‘entire year.
Nancy L Mehaffy, RN
President
1224
Nursing group endorses credentialing concept The Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (NAACOG) Certification Corporation (NCC) has issued a position statement on the American Nurses’ Association’s (ANA) Study of Credentialing in Nursing: A New Approach. In the statement, the NCC indicated support of the study’s concept of the establishment of a credentialing center but could not endorse the study’s specific recommendations. The study, released by ANA in February 1979, proposes a freestanding center that would actually conduct credentialing for nursing. The center would carry out accreditation, certification, and registration. It would be governed by a federation of nursing groups and other interests. The NCC called for clarification of several issues discussed in the report and identified major concerns: 0 practicability of a shared governance philosophy for operation of the credentialing center 0 lack of identification of the sources of funding for the credentialing center 0 lack of a definition of the role of specialty organizations currently providing certification programs within the proposed center 0 need for consensus on the definition and purpose of certification among all groups involved. The NCC also called for the study committee to continue its efforts to solicit input from the pertinent groups as the study committee further defines its recommendations in the future. The NAACOG Certification Corporation was established in 1975 and is chartered to develop and administer a certification program for the obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal (OGN) nursing specialty. The NCC has certified over 1200 nurses with the OGN nursing specialty to date.
AORN Journal, June 1981, Vol33, No 7
Communication between Board and members a two-way street Concerns were expressed at Congress over communications. Communication can be a problem in any organization or employment situation. It is the most important aspect of our professional and personal relationships. In a statement regardingrecent resignations of nurses from the Headquarters staff, the Denver chapter asked that channels of communication be opened. The Board of Directors has attempted to increase and improve communication to the membership in recent years. Associationnews is carried in the Journal, which is sent to all members, as well as the AORlV Newsletter, which goes monthly (except during the summer) to chapter presidents and OR supervisors. When a special notice is required, the Board has sent out letters. When the US Department of Health and Human Services proposed regulations were published that would permit technicians to circulate, every member received a letter alerting her to the comment period. The resignations were reported to the membership in a letter to chapter presidents that they were urged to share with their members. We are dedicated to the continuation of the communication process. Board reports in the Journal publicize the dates of the Board’s next meeting.Anytime you have itemsfor the Board to discuss, please send them to me in care of Headquarters in Denver. I would like to remind you, though, that communication is a two-way street. The Board
is approachable. When questions and concerns arise, don’t hesitate to write to me. If appropriate, these concerns may be sent to the entire Board for review and deliberation. Remember, this kind of communication takes time. Board members have full-time jobs and must often relegate AORN activities to weekends or evenings. Be assured that you will receive an answer. A major topic, which requires communication in the Journal, AORN Newsletter, or a special mailing, will take more time because I will ask for input from the Board members. The concerns expressed in statements and at Congress will be reviewed by the Board of Directors and the management consultant hired by AORN. Any decisionswill be communicated to the membership. The suggestion of an educational program at the 1982 Congress that would include information about the Board, staff, committees, chapters, and membership relations will be considered at the spring Board meeting. At its post-Congress Board meeting, the Board felt that this was an excellent idea and would serve to assist every member in understanding the Association‘s functioning. The Board considers each decision in terms of its benefitsto the majorityof its members. To accomplish this, we need to know what you envision for AORN’s future. For instance, at Congress in the forum and House of Delegates, Board member Joan Koehler gave a comprehensive report on credentialingin nursing. There were few comments or questions. The Board needs to know what your views are on this important nursing issue. Articles in the Journal (January 1980 and January 1981) have kept you up-to-date on progress in credentialing. Please review them and send your
AORN Journal, June 1981, Vol33, No 7
1223
views to us. The forums at Congress were designed to inform the delegates about the issues to be voted on in the House of Delegates. It was believed that the informal structure, without parliamentary procedure would be more conducive to discussion. There were concerns expressed at Congress this year that the forums did not elicit discussion and that the communication was all one-way. The Board has received written suggestions from the Greater Houston chapter. These are appreciated and will be discussed. I ask each chapter president to discuss this in your chapter meetings and send me your suggestions and comments. It is the Board’s desire to encourage members’ participation in the decision-making process. We will be reviewing the evaluations of those who attended Congress and using that information to plan for the 1982 Congress in Anaheim, Calif, March 7 to 12. At the close of Congress, we were pleased to hear many comments that this was “one of the best.” In the April “President’s message,” I shared several goals for the Association. At chapter meetings, these and other AORN activities that interest you should be discussed, and suggestions forwarded to the Board of Directors. It is everyone’s responsibility to assist in AORN’s growth and development. Although we have come a long way, there is still much to be done. As I stated as I accepted the presidency at the closing session of Congress, “May we all return home with a renewed sense of purpose, recommitted to operating room nursing and the patients we serve.” Let‘s keep that momentum throughout the‘entire year.
Nancy L Mehaffy, RN
President
1224
Nursing group endorses credentialing concept The Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (NAACOG) Certification Corporation (NCC) has issued a position statement on the American Nurses’ Association’s (ANA) Study of Credentialing in Nursing: A New Approach. In the statement, the NCC indicated support of the study’s concept of the establishment of a credentialing center but could not endorse the study’s specific recommendations. The study, released by ANA in February 1979, proposes a freestanding center that would actually conduct credentialing for nursing. The center would carry out accreditation, certification, and registration. It would be governed by a federation of nursing groups and other interests. The NCC called for clarification of several issues discussed in the report and identified major concerns: 0 practicability of a shared governance philosophy for operation of the credentialing center 0 lack of identification of the sources of funding for the credentialing center 0 lack of a definition of the role of specialty organizations currently providing certification programs within the proposed center 0 need for consensus on the definition and purpose of certification among all groups involved. The NCC also called for the study committee to continue its efforts to solicit input from the pertinent groups as the study committee further defines its recommendations in the future. The NAACOG Certification Corporation was established in 1975 and is chartered to develop and administer a certification program for the obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal (OGN) nursing specialty. The NCC has certified over 1200 nurses with the OGN nursing specialty to date.
AORN Journal, June 1981, Vol33, No 7