- Email: [email protected]
Your AORN Membership Committee—where it all happens
APRIL 2002, VOL 75, NO 4 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Your AORN Membership Cornmiflee-where it all happens
E
ach year, AORN’s Membership Committee works hard to promote and maintain the growth and development of the membership and chapters of the Association. Though some members have worked directly with a Membership Committee volunteer on a recruitment activity, many members have little knowledge of the committee and the services it provides.
COMMITTEE RESPONSlBlLlTlES The Membership Committee acts as a resource for chapters and facilitates chapter problemsolving. Committee members provide information and guidance to members who are interested in organizing a local chapter and to members in states who are interested in forming a state council. The committee maintains MemberTalk, AORN’s e-mailbased discussion group, and the AORN Speakers Bureau. Members of the committee travel to chapters to present “Revitalizing Your Chapter,” which is designed to infuse energy and enthusiasm into chapters by promoting member motivation and strategies for involvement. The Membership Committee is an integral part of both the AORN Congress and the yearly Leadership Conference, and committee members maintain high visibility during both events. In addition, many of AORN’s leaders began as members of this committee. The 2002 slate of candidates for AORN national offices includes
five members who currently serve on the Membership Committee and two members who served on the committee last year. Advisory group. The Membership Committee comprises a fiveperson advisory group and a state coordinator in each state. For 2002-2003, the advisory group includes Barbara Jane Alcock, RN, BSN, CNOR, chair; Elizabeth Berter, RN, BSN, CNOR; Tim Clemons, RN, CNOR; Patricia Madsen, RN, BSN, CNOR and Armando Riera, RN, BSN, CNOR. Members of the advisory group assist state coordinators in performing their responsibilities and implement the yearly plan developed by the incoming AORN President. The President’s plan for 2002-2003 includes the following items. Assist in securing a state coordinator for each state. e Develop and disseminate a student nurse recruitment tool kit to attract adult students into a nursing program. Develop ideas for a new AORN campaign, including identifying a recruitment theme for attracting and retaining new members. Develop one outreach program for each of the following AORN member segments: managers, RNs, students, and associate members. Write one article describing the work of the committee to be submitted to the AORN Journal. 847 AORN JOURNAL
Evaluate and recommend to the AORN Board of Directors options on how the activities and functions of the Membership Committee could be sustained if standing committees are dissolved. State coordinators. State coordinators are the heart of the Membership Committee. Their responsibilities include communicating regularly with assigned chapters, including making telephone calls and sending e-mails to chapter presidents and making chapter visits; communicating with assigned advisory member and staff member liaisons; facilitating chapter problemsolving as requested by Headquarters or advisory members; and promoting chapter and membership strategies, including promoting the Member Ambassador Program (ie, Member-Get-A-Member) and providing items for discussion on MemberTalk. RECRUITMENT The Membership Committee plays a large role in recruitment and retention, and because it covers such a wide area, AORN is always looking for members interested in serving. For the 20022003 committee year, the Membership Committee is recruiting state coordinators in each of the following states: Alaska,
APRIL 2002, VOL 75, NO 4
I Arizona, 5
a
m I I 5 5
5
I I I
a
m
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. If you would like to be a part of this exciting committee and play a leadership role in your Association, please submit a willingness-to-serve form to AORN Headquarters.You can frnd the form online under the Member Groups tab at http://www.aorn .org. If you would like more information on the state coordinator in your state or the “Revitalizing Your Chapter” presentation, con-
tact Kendra Keene, chapter relations coordinator, at (800) 7552676 x 250 or via e-mail at [email protected]. The Membership Committee really is where it all begins. The committee looks forward to working with you in any capacity. JANE RINQLER RN, CNOR CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP COMMITEE 2001-2002
KENDRA KEENE CHAPTER RELATIONS
COORDINATOR
Colorado Hospitals Use Creative Recruiting Methods Some hospitals are using educational programs, quality designations, and customized reentry programs to recruit and retain nurses, according to a Feb 1,2002, news story from the Denver Business Journal. Some approaches will not provide immediate relief for the nursing shortage, yet others are expected to fill open positions quickly. Registered nurses make up the largest health care occupation, with more than two million positions nationwide. Nursing also is one of 10 occupations projected to have the largest number of new jobs. The University of Colorado Hospital, Denver, recently became the second hospital in the state of Colorado to receive magnet status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This honor should make recruiting and retaining nurses easier for the hospital. Less than 50 hospitals throughout the country have received the designation, which recognizes high RN job satisfaction, excellent nurseto-patient ratios, high quality patient care, and low job turnover. According to the article, research shows that nurses who work at magnet hospitals have higher job satisfaction levels and lower burnout rates than other nurses. They also rate the quality of care provided at their hospitals higher than nurses at other top hospitals. Another method of alleviating the nursing shortage is to increase the pool of qualified workers.
In Colorado, the University of Phoenix, Denver, and Community College of Denver are offering more educational options and making it easier for applicants to enroll in nursing programs. The University of Phoenix offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and has an option for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who want to become RNs and earn their BSN. Community College of Denver offers associate’s degrees, certification of LPNs and RNs, and a program for certified nursing assistants. The two schools will counsel students collaboratively and refer them to the appropriate program. St Mary-Convin Medical Center, Pueblo, Colo, is getting feedback from licensed nurses who no longer practice. Administrators believe this is an effective recruiting tool. They invited RNs to a dinner and asked them why they chose nursing as a career and why they no longer practice. They also asked attendees what type of support they would need if they decided to return to nursing. Attendees’ concerns included long shifts, technology changes, and medication changes. Through this effort, St Mary’s hired four full-time nurses. A F/etchec “Facing a nursing shon‘age, hospitals recruit creative/)$’Denver Business Journal (Feb I, 2002), hftp://bizjoumals.bcentral.convindustries/healh-card hospifols/20~2/02/04/denver_focus2, hfml (messed 5 Feb 2002).
848 AORN JOURNAL
Your AORN Membership Cornmiflee-where it all happens
E
ach year, AORN’s Membership Committee works hard to promote and maintain the growth and development of the membership and chapters of the Association. Though some members have worked directly with a Membership Committee volunteer on a recruitment activity, many members have little knowledge of the committee and the services it provides.
COMMITTEE RESPONSlBlLlTlES The Membership Committee acts as a resource for chapters and facilitates chapter problemsolving. Committee members provide information and guidance to members who are interested in organizing a local chapter and to members in states who are interested in forming a state council. The committee maintains MemberTalk, AORN’s e-mailbased discussion group, and the AORN Speakers Bureau. Members of the committee travel to chapters to present “Revitalizing Your Chapter,” which is designed to infuse energy and enthusiasm into chapters by promoting member motivation and strategies for involvement. The Membership Committee is an integral part of both the AORN Congress and the yearly Leadership Conference, and committee members maintain high visibility during both events. In addition, many of AORN’s leaders began as members of this committee. The 2002 slate of candidates for AORN national offices includes
five members who currently serve on the Membership Committee and two members who served on the committee last year. Advisory group. The Membership Committee comprises a fiveperson advisory group and a state coordinator in each state. For 2002-2003, the advisory group includes Barbara Jane Alcock, RN, BSN, CNOR, chair; Elizabeth Berter, RN, BSN, CNOR; Tim Clemons, RN, CNOR; Patricia Madsen, RN, BSN, CNOR and Armando Riera, RN, BSN, CNOR. Members of the advisory group assist state coordinators in performing their responsibilities and implement the yearly plan developed by the incoming AORN President. The President’s plan for 2002-2003 includes the following items. Assist in securing a state coordinator for each state. e Develop and disseminate a student nurse recruitment tool kit to attract adult students into a nursing program. Develop ideas for a new AORN campaign, including identifying a recruitment theme for attracting and retaining new members. Develop one outreach program for each of the following AORN member segments: managers, RNs, students, and associate members. Write one article describing the work of the committee to be submitted to the AORN Journal. 847 AORN JOURNAL
Evaluate and recommend to the AORN Board of Directors options on how the activities and functions of the Membership Committee could be sustained if standing committees are dissolved. State coordinators. State coordinators are the heart of the Membership Committee. Their responsibilities include communicating regularly with assigned chapters, including making telephone calls and sending e-mails to chapter presidents and making chapter visits; communicating with assigned advisory member and staff member liaisons; facilitating chapter problemsolving as requested by Headquarters or advisory members; and promoting chapter and membership strategies, including promoting the Member Ambassador Program (ie, Member-Get-A-Member) and providing items for discussion on MemberTalk. RECRUITMENT The Membership Committee plays a large role in recruitment and retention, and because it covers such a wide area, AORN is always looking for members interested in serving. For the 20022003 committee year, the Membership Committee is recruiting state coordinators in each of the following states: Alaska,
APRIL 2002, VOL 75, NO 4
I Arizona, 5
a
m I I 5 5
5
I I I
a
m
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. If you would like to be a part of this exciting committee and play a leadership role in your Association, please submit a willingness-to-serve form to AORN Headquarters.You can frnd the form online under the Member Groups tab at http://www.aorn .org. If you would like more information on the state coordinator in your state or the “Revitalizing Your Chapter” presentation, con-
tact Kendra Keene, chapter relations coordinator, at (800) 7552676 x 250 or via e-mail at [email protected]. The Membership Committee really is where it all begins. The committee looks forward to working with you in any capacity. JANE RINQLER RN, CNOR CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP COMMITEE 2001-2002
KENDRA KEENE CHAPTER RELATIONS
COORDINATOR
Colorado Hospitals Use Creative Recruiting Methods Some hospitals are using educational programs, quality designations, and customized reentry programs to recruit and retain nurses, according to a Feb 1,2002, news story from the Denver Business Journal. Some approaches will not provide immediate relief for the nursing shortage, yet others are expected to fill open positions quickly. Registered nurses make up the largest health care occupation, with more than two million positions nationwide. Nursing also is one of 10 occupations projected to have the largest number of new jobs. The University of Colorado Hospital, Denver, recently became the second hospital in the state of Colorado to receive magnet status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This honor should make recruiting and retaining nurses easier for the hospital. Less than 50 hospitals throughout the country have received the designation, which recognizes high RN job satisfaction, excellent nurseto-patient ratios, high quality patient care, and low job turnover. According to the article, research shows that nurses who work at magnet hospitals have higher job satisfaction levels and lower burnout rates than other nurses. They also rate the quality of care provided at their hospitals higher than nurses at other top hospitals. Another method of alleviating the nursing shortage is to increase the pool of qualified workers.
In Colorado, the University of Phoenix, Denver, and Community College of Denver are offering more educational options and making it easier for applicants to enroll in nursing programs. The University of Phoenix offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing and has an option for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who want to become RNs and earn their BSN. Community College of Denver offers associate’s degrees, certification of LPNs and RNs, and a program for certified nursing assistants. The two schools will counsel students collaboratively and refer them to the appropriate program. St Mary-Convin Medical Center, Pueblo, Colo, is getting feedback from licensed nurses who no longer practice. Administrators believe this is an effective recruiting tool. They invited RNs to a dinner and asked them why they chose nursing as a career and why they no longer practice. They also asked attendees what type of support they would need if they decided to return to nursing. Attendees’ concerns included long shifts, technology changes, and medication changes. Through this effort, St Mary’s hired four full-time nurses. A F/etchec “Facing a nursing shon‘age, hospitals recruit creative/)$’Denver Business Journal (Feb I, 2002), hftp://bizjoumals.bcentral.convindustries/healh-card hospifols/20~2/02/04/denver_focus2, hfml (messed 5 Feb 2002).
848 AORN JOURNAL