Sharon A. McNamara is Tapped as AORN President-elect

SAN DIEGO -- Sharon A. McNamara, RN, MS, CNOR, was tapped as president-elect of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) at its 51st annual Congress in San Diego, March 21-25, 2004.

McNamara is the director of surgical services at WakeMed in Raleigh, N.C. McNamara will serve as president-elect for one year, and then assume the presidency the following year.

McNamara has been a perioperative nurse and a member of AORN for 26 years. She has served AORN in a number of volunteer positions, including National Secretary; member of the Finance and Audit Committee; member of the Executive Committee; and Board of Directors liaison to a number of Specialty Assemblies and State Councils. She is a member of Capital AORN, a local chapter in Raleigh; she was a long-standing member of AORN of Western New York State. She is a member of the North Carolina Council of OR Nurses and was a member of the New York State Council.

McNamara earned her associate in nursing degree from Trocaire College, Buffalo, N.Y.; her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Daeman College, Buffalo, N.Y.; and her master of science in nursing degree from D'Youville College, Buffalo, N.Y.

In her election statement, McNamara notes, "Recruitment is one of nursing's long-term issues; the most critical short-term issue is retention of perioperative nurses in our worksites and in AORN. Generational, cultural, and gender diversity offer unique opportunities to grow and enrich our ranks." McNamara adds, "Partnering with other professional associations and industry is a core value that has mutual beneficial advantages. We will need to lobby aggressively for safety regulations, monies for minorities to attend nursing programs and finance nurses in achieving higher degrees to fill vacant nursing faculty positions, and adequate reimbursement."

Source: AORN