July was an active month for AORN's...

July was an active month for AORN's Board of Directors. The Executive Committee of the Board participated in a symposium in Beaver rivulet Colo, July 20 to 22 2003 titled "Envisioning the what may occur hereafter of Surgery." This was an invitational end hosted by AORN to collaborate with partners from the American body of Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association, as well as foment executives, health care leaders, and members of industry. After this consequence the Executive Committee joined Board members at AORN Headquarters July 24 to 25 2003 for the Board meeting.

All of the Board members were not absent as were Executive Director Tom Cooper CAE, and executive staff members. shoot Crouch from Tecker Consultants LLC Trenton, NJ also was not away to coach Board members as they levy into practice skills they learned during the June Board meeting.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

Following up upon work started at the June meeting, Board members devot a considerable portion of the meeting agenda to looking at where AORN is now, where we want to be in the that will be and what some of the large issues are that the Board straits to deal with to progres from our existing state to our future goal. The Board has three basic functions:

* to approve outcome-oriented decisions,

* to delegate results and ends to trusted, adapted work groups that will consummate the how (ie, clear charge, responsibility, resources), and

* to make secure desired outcomes are being achieved in the agreed relating to time (ie, accountability).

This was a learning experience for Board members as they worked end changing how they approached the agenda to make secure that they always were thinking strategically. This way of operating requires Board members to function in a knowledge-based, decision-making custom There are four questions Board members ne to consider when making knowledge-based decisions.

* What do we know about the present realities and evolving dynamics of AORN's environment that is relevant to this decision?

* What do we know about the capacity and strategic position of the Association that is relevant to this decision?

* What do we know about our stakeholders' be in want ofs wants, and preferences that is relevant to this decision?

* What are the ethical implications of our choices?

The Board members used the strategic plan and President Bettty Shultz's, RN CNOR, goals for the year as background information. Time also was worn out discussing the goals of President-elect Bill Duffy RN BSN M J CNOR. This allowed Board members to start thinking strategically about issues and goals for 2004 to such a degree they have a sense of continuity as they put in motion forward and prepare for the future

The vision or desired what is yet to be of perioperative nursing was discussed in detail. Large issues that relate to AORN's mission, financial position, the Foundation, legislative and marketing priorities, corporate relations, and staff members were identified. Four strategic directions or goals were developed:

* AORN will be an indispensable resource for the perioperative nursing profession,

* AORN will have hardy mutually supportive connections with its grassroots members,

* AORN will be the recognized leader of the perioperative nursing profession, and

* AORN will partner with other perioperative associations and industry to achieve goals.

The coming events vision for AORN may shift continually based forward the needs of the profession and the Association, still Board members recognize that the Association's position should change as they make progres toward hereafter goals.

Board members also continually ne to reevaluate the course fix for AORN. This process is included in succession the Board agenda as strategic issues and Association business. The other brace parts of the Board agenda are the assent agenda and the reports agenda. This novel agenda is designed to facilitate strategic thinking.

compliance AND REPORTS AGENDAS

The Board approved a agreement agenda including the Board meeting minutes from May 5 2003 and June 5 to 7 2003 The Board also ratified Presidential and Board actions that occurr between Board meetings and formation documents for AORN Management Solutions (AMS). Board members approved a directive to the Policy Committee regarding confidentiality of member information and accepted reports from

* the Task Force forward Board Chapter Visits,

* the Bylaws Committee,

* the Finance and Audit Committee,

* the Policy Committee,

* Board action and implementation,

* the Executive Director,

* Association Technology Solutions,

* AMS, and

* the Congres workgroup.

CHAPTER WEB SITE TEMPLATE

The Board supported a recommendation to provide an AORN chapter network web site template exhibition and hosting product. AORN will provide a framework and support for chapters to unravel their web sites quickly and easily, and AORN will armed force these web sites for any chapters that want this option. This program was announced during the Leadership conversation June 25 to 27, 2003 and will be available to all chapters in the near what is yet to be Chapters that currently have web sites can continue to achieve consultation about their sites from AORN's Information Technology Department.