DAORN PROPOSED

BYLAWS AMENDMENTSSeptember 12, 2013

Prepared By Amanda Brown, Bylaws Chairman

Proposed Bylaws Amendments The Bylaws Committee, DAORN President and Committee

Chairmen have reviewed the DAORN Bylaws and are proposing changes to the existing Articles II, III, V, and VI.

In the following slides, the first column in the table contains the current articles of the Bylaws. The middle column contains the proposed changes to the articles of the Bylaws. The third column provides the rationale on which the proposed revisions are based.

Per our current DAORN Bylaws articles II, IV, X, & XI do not require a vote by the chapter membership when they are amended to reflect changes made at the national level. These slides that do not require a vote are highlighted with a green background. The changes are being presented to simply inform the chapter membership.

ARTICLE II: PurposesThe purposes of this association are:

A. To unite registered professional operating room nurses for the purpose of maintaining an Association dedicated to the constant endeavor of promoting the highest professional standards of perioperative nursing practice for the optimum care of the patient before during and after surgery.

The purposes of this association are:

A. To unite registered professional operating room nurses for the purpose of maintaining an Association dedicated to the constant endeavor of promoting the highest professional standards of perioperative nursing practice for the optimum care of the patient before during and after surgery. operative and other invasive procedures;

These changes were made at the national level for the following reasons:

• The license to practice in many states (including Colorado) is “Registered Nurse” not “Registered Professional Nurse,” and

• Professional is not inserted between “registered” and “nurse” in any other AORN publication.

ARTICLE II: PurposesB. To provide opportunity

for continuous learning through diversified educational activities.

C. To study, discuss, research and exchange information in the field of perioperative nursing.

B. To provide opportunity opportunities for continuous learning through professional development, to include diversified educational activities;

C. To study, discuss, research and exchange information in the field of perioperative nursing. To generate, evaluate and disseminate scientific evidence to improve professional perioperative practice;

There are additional changes to Article II that had been made in the past and were never updated in our Chapter’s Bylaws.

ARTICLE II: PurposesD. To hold meetings at

intervals for the purposes of this Association.

F. To otherwise lawfully adopt policies and conduct programs for the improvement of perioperative nursing practice provided that the policies and programs are consistent with the requirements that the Association is not organized for profit and not part of its earnings inure to individuals.

D. To hold meetings at intervals for the purposes of this Association.

D. To provide leadership in professional perioperative practice to influence health care delivery locally, nationally, and globally;

F. To otherwise lawfully adopt policies and conduct programs for the improvement of professional perioperative nursing practice provided that the policies and programs are consistent with the requirements that the Association is not organized for profit and not part of its earnings inure to individuals.

ARTICLE III: Membership and DuesSection 1: Membership in this Association is contingent on compliance with requirements as specified in these bylaws. Section 3: Categories of membership in this Association are chapter members, members at large, retired, student, and associate.

Section 1:  Membership in this the Association is contingent on compliance with requirements as specified in these bylaws. Section 3:  Categories of membership in this Association are chapter members, members at large, retired, student, and associate. voting and non-voting.

The change from “this” to “the” is a minor change to stay consistent with national Bylaws language.

ARTICLE III: Membership and DuesA. Chapter Member:

A registered professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN living in an area where a chapter exists

A. Voting: A registered nurse, or a previously registered nurse who is retired and whose license was in good standing at the time of non-renewal, who supports the mission of AORN.

B. May vote for elected officials.

C. May vote in the House of Delegates.

D. May hold elective office.

E. May serve on committees.

At the national level the categories of membership were made for the following reasons:Subsection A. Clarifies that only registered nurses and previously registered nurses who are now retired may be voting members of AORN. The previous language (which we had yet to adopt) allowed retired vocational nurses and licensed practical nurses to be voting members. Subsection A.2. Clarifies that all voting members in good standing may vote as delegates as further confirmed in Article VIII. (This subsection is important to keep since many of our members will serve as delegates.)

ARTICLE III: Membership and DuesB. Member at large: A

registered professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN and does not have access to a chapter.

C. Retired: A retired registered professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN.

1. Qualifies to be a member at large.

2. If a chapter member is selected, applicable chapter dues may be assessed.

B. Non-voting: An individual who is not defined as a voting member, who provides or provided direct or indirect perioperative services, and who supports the mission of AORN.

1. May serve on committees.

2. May not vote for elected officials or in the House of Delegates.

3. May not hold elective office.

Subsection B. Clarifies that anyone who is not a registered nurse or retired nurse may not vote.

These changes in membership simplify the distinction between voting and non-voting members. The Chapter definition of membership needs to remain consistent with the National definition since national membership is required for local membership.

ARTICLE III: Membership and DuesD. Student: An individual pursuing

education leading to eligibility to sit for the registered nurse licensing examination. May choose local chapter affiliation.1. May not hold elective office.2. May not serve as a delegate to the

AORN House of Delegates.3. This is a nonvoting category.

E. Associate Member: An individual who is not a registered nurse, who provides or provided direct or indirect perioperative services, and who supports the mission of AORN.4. May choose a local chapter

affiliation.5. May not hold elective office.6. May not serve as a delegate to the

AORN House of Delegates.7. May not vote.

These changes in membership simplify the distinction between voting and non-voting members. The Chapter definition of membership needs to remain consistent with the National definition since national membership is required for local membership.

ARTICLE III: Membership and DuesSection 5: Dues

B. The current local dues of this Association (local) $25.00.

C. Chapter policy will list criteria for retired members.

Section 5:  Dues

B. The current local dues of this Association (local) $25.00.

C. Chapter policy will list criteria for retired members.

B.  Dues shall be paid according to established policy.

Subsection 5.B. states a specific amount that the local Association charges for dues, however there is no definition of time (annually, monthly, etc.). This information is subject to change then Bylaws language should require. The most appropriate place for this information is in the policy.

Subsection 5.C. states that the policy will dictate criteria for retired members. If this information is spelled out in the policy all information regarding criteria for dues should be listed in the policy. There should be no differentiation between membership types when locating information regarding membership dues.

ARTICLE IV: OfficersChanges made at the National level will be incorporated into the policies rather than the Bylaws to better suit or Chapter needs.

ARTICLE V: Board of DirectorsA new Section 2 will be created and the sections will be renumbered in order.

Section 2: Accountability StandardsThe Board of Directors will ensure accountability standards are submitted yearly to the Association Headquarters. The President-elect will assume responsibility for collection of documents and submission to the Association Headquarters. 

New language was added at the National level with the addition of a new article IX, most of the changes were not applicable accept for one. In the National Bylaws a change was made stating: Section 1: Autonomous Entities

A. Chapters1. Chapters are separate

legal entities composed of AORN members, and their purposes support the mission of AORN. Chapters must meet the Chapter Accountability Standards.

ARTICLE V: Board of DirectorsThe change being proposed is to include this last sentence and ensure that the Chapter meets the Accountability Standards annually. The duty of collecting documents and submitting the standards will be added to the policy for the President-elect.

ARTICLE V: Board of DirectorsSection 3: Special CommitteesSpecial Committees may be appointed by the president and cease to exist when the purpose for which it was created is completed.

Section 3: Standing Committees

Section 4: Special CommitteesSpecial Committees may be appointed established by the president Board of Directors and cease to exist when the purpose for which it was created is completed.

Section 5: Committee Report

Per the National Bylaws change to Article X:This change accurately describes the Board of Directors’ authority and responsibility for establishing AORN committees. The President and the President-elect or others may recommend committee establishment but this is approved by the Board.

ARTICLE VII:Section 1: EligibilityA. To be eligible for

elective office as an office, or the Board of Directors, or as a member of the Nominating Committee and Leadership Development Committee a nominee must currently provide or have previously provided perioperative nursing care that addresses(ed) the needs of patients preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively.

Section 1: EligibilityTo be eligible for elective office as a member of the Board of Directors or as a member of the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee, a nominee must currently provide or have previously provided perioperative nursing care. that addresses(ed) the needs of patients preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively.

The National Bylaws changes were made for this reason: This change more accurately reflects current practice. Perioperative is now an accepted and understood term that no longer requires definition within the bylaws.

Eligibility – Elections – Terms of Offices – Vacancies - Removal

ARTICLE VIII: MeetingsChanges made at the National level to this article were not applicable to our Chapter Bylaws.

THANK YOU!!!