AORN Greater Houston
Chapter 4407





































November, 2009 Legislative Column
Joanne D. Oliver, RN, BSN, CNOR

The following are the 2009-2010 AORN Legislative priorities:
The Association for PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), through a robust grassroots
network, promotes and responds to legislative issues that affect the practice of perioperative
nursing and safety in the surgical environment. AORN grassroots members work collaboratively
with health care colleagues, partners,
and decision-makers to advance patient safety in all operative settings.
RN as Circulator: AORN maintains that every surgical patient deserves a perioperative
registered nurse for the duration of any operative or other invasive procedure and actively
promotes laws and regulations to ensure the supervisory presence of the professional RN in the
perioperative setting both at the state and federal levels.
Preserving and Protecting the Perioperative Registered Nurse’s Scope of Practice: AORN will
preserve and protect the Perioperative Nurses’ Scope of Practice including the role of the
Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) by working with the appropriate regulatory and
legislative bodies for language regarding education, certification, regulation, supervision,
delegated nursing functions, roles, responsibilities, and duties. AORN will monitor, evaluate, and
respond to any proposed legislative initiatives by allied health care professionals that may affect
the perioperative nursing scope of practice and profession.

Supporting Workplace Safety and Patient Safety Initiatives: AORN will protect the health and
safety of nurses in the perioperative setting by supporting legislative and regulatory initiatives
that create and maintain a safe perioperative work environment that promotes safe patient care.
AORN encourages legislative and regulatory efforts to establish an accountable, trusting patient
safety culture that reflects individual and collective values, beliefs, behaviors, and skills in the
operating room.



Health Care Reform: AORN will actively participate in the national discussion on health care
change to promote the role of the perioperative registered nurses in achieving optimal patient
safety.  AORN will collaborate with other organizations to advance positive health care changes
but will not endorse specific candidates.
More detailed information regarding all of these issues can be found under http://www.AORN.
org/PublicPolicy .  A list of existing laws by State, regarding RN Circulator legislation for hospitals
and ASC’s is posted there.  There are also many examples of letters that have been sent on
most subjects.
Healthcare legislation continues to be one of the central topics of conversation on the legislative
agenda.  Grassroots works amazingly well.  It is imperative that you contact your individual
legislators expressing your desires and concerns.   If you don’t know who your legislators are
you can also go to the AORN public policy site to access this information.  Also stay involved by
joining grassroots@aorn.org.  Do remember that each of you are members of ANA and should
also stay updated on the information that they provide.  Things are moving very fast so STAY
INFORMED!!
LISTEN, LEARN, SHARE, & BE INVOLVED!!  IT IS YOUR HEALTH & YOUR RESPONSIBILITY





PLEASE REMEMBER TO GO TO WWW.AORN.ORG/PUBLICPOLICY/GRASSROOTS  
AND REGISTER FOR GRASSROOTS INFORMATION.
Updated October 26, 2009
Please click here for information regarding our Texas
Council of Operating Room Nurses
TCORN
Sign up for grassroots through aorn.org