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ASPAN COMMITTEES and
STRATEGIC WORK TEAMS

Please note: E-mail is required to participate on all Committees and SWTs.

Committees:

CLINICAL INQUIRY COMMITTEE
The Clinical Inquiry Committee exists to increase the involvement of perianesthesia nurses in evidence-based practice and clinical research through mentoring and education. The committee facilitates the systematic investigation of perianesthesia nursing questions through a research grants program. The committee actively promotes the use of research findings in nursing practice through evidence based practice initiatives, and the dissemination of EBP, QI, and original scientific studies via poster and oral presentations. Members participate on teams to review and rank the available evidence in support of the update and revision of ASPAN Standards and Guidelines. The Clinical Inquiry committee collaborates with ASPAN’s Education Provider and Clinical Practice Committees. While working to promote ASPAN research priorities, the Clinical Inquiry Committee can network with other nursing organizations to identify current nursing research issues. All perianesthesia nurses can participate in the committee; involvement in research initiatives may depend on educational preparation in research.

CLINICAL PRACTICE COMMITTEE
On a daily basis, perianesthesia nurses from across the world contact ASPAN for help with clinical practice dilemmas. Nearly half of these inquiries relate directly to ASPAN’s Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. Members of the Clinical Practice Committee are assigned questions and are expected to respond in a timely manner using the ASPAN standards and other evidence based resources to support their responses to professional perianesthesia colleagues. The CPC is also responsible for reviewing abstracts for the Celebrate Successful Perianesthesia Practices poster and/or oral presentations at National Conference. Serving on the Clinical Practice Committee is a prerequisite to serving on the Standards Committee.

EDUCATION APPROVER COMMITTEE
The Education Approver Committee reviews continuing education applications received from ASPAN components and other outside organizations which are submitted for approval before presenting an educational seminar, conference, or education at a component meeting. The Education Approver teams utilize the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC-COA) operational requirements to review and approve each application to enable the applicant to provide educational program contact hours. BSN required.

EDUCATION PROVIDER COMMITTEE
The Education Provider Committee works to advance the unique specialty of perianesthesia nursing by assessing the educational needs of members, analyzing areas for strategic growth, planning programs to meet the needs of practitioners in the specialty, implementing seminars throughout the country, and evaluating the quality of our education programs through participant feedback. BSN required.

FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee’s function is to assist ASPAN’s Board of Directors, committees, SWTs, etc., with the planning and budgeting needs of ASPAN projects, programs, registration fees and new or revised ASPAN publications. Finance members will be assigned as liaisons to specific components to support and share best financial practices with components under the leadership of the ASPAN Treasurer.

STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Members of the Standards Committee serve as clinical practice surveyors, monitoring current trends in the healthcare environment and their potential impact on perianesthesia nursing practice. Committee members review, revise, update and amend ASPAN’s Perianesthesia Nursing Standards, Practice Recommendations and Interpretive Statements. Applicants must have previously served on the Clinical Practice Committee.


Strategic Work Teams:

ADVANCING/EMERGING LEADERS SWT
The ASPAN Advancing/Emerging Leaders SWT seeks to expand the skills and abilities of individuals interested in professional growth and development that may lead to various leadership opportunities within ASPAN, their components, or personal leadership endeavors. Emerging Leaders creates relationships between current and previous ASPAN leaders and nurses interested in taking a next step in their own leadership potential. Through goal setting and friendly guidance, mentees have the support to attempt actions to expand their own leadership capabilities. This SWT supports personal growth within the context of the organization’s mission, vision, and philosophy with the goal of developing future ASPAN leaders utilizing a structured mentorship program.  

BYLAWS/POLICY & PROCEDURES SWT
The primary goals of the group are to ensure that each ASPAN policy, charter and job description is consistent with the organization’s core ideology, bylaws, goals and current practice; is clearly and accurately written; and has been reviewed within the last two years. The group collaborates with the ASPAN Secretary to perform a systematic review of existing policies and procedures and may serve as a resource during the development of a new or revised policy, charter, component by-laws or job description.

CERTIFICATION PROMOTION SWT
The Certification Promotion SWT explores strategies to promote certification, support nurses seeking certification, and move towards identifying and implementing alternative options to advance the perianesthesia nursing specialty practice. This SWT will explore ways to increase the number of nurses seeking certification, increase the success rate, and identify opportunities to maintain certification and ASPAN membership.

COMPONENT REVITALIZATION SWT
The ASPAN Component Revitalization SWT seeks to expand the skills and abilities of component leaders interested in pursuing ongoing development and strengthening of the structure and function of their component operation within the framework of the national organization. ASPAN leaders facilitate the mentorship of component leadership enhancing understanding of the organization’s mission, vision, and philosophy through strategic planning and developing component operations through mentorship.

CREDENTIALS SWT
The Credentials SWT serves each year during the ASPAN National Conference. The team functions include verifying the credentials of Representative Assembly (RA) members, distributing badges to RA members, serving as floor tellers/runners during the all-day RA session, and performing voting related assignments that same day. Attendance at the upcoming National Conference required.

DEVELOPMENT SWT
The Development SWT promotes public education and obtains funds to support ASPAN educational projects, award scholarships and evidence based research activities. The major activities of the SWT culminate at National Conference, and these include: Silent Auction; a fundraising activity held in the exhibit hall; and collecting/recognizing Hail! Honor! Salute! initiative pledges during the conference’s development event. Most SWT assignments are scheduled during or shortly before the National Conference.

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SWT
The Governmental Affairs SWT informs ASPAN leaders and members about federal healthcare related legislative activities. The Governmental Affairs SWT Coordinator emails legislative information to team members. The members then contact their respective component governmental affairs liaisons to disseminate new information and stimulate and guide grassroots member involvement. The SWT encourages ASPAN members to attend the Advocacy Day program offered annually by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). Eligible ASPAN members are encouraged to apply for an Advocacy Day program scholarship through the ASPAN Scholarship/Award Program.

MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING SWT
This SWT works closely with the National Office to develop the Member-Get-A -Member Campaign and the annual PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week (PANAW) campaign celebration. The team coordinates, reviews and presents the Recruiter of the Year Award, Gold Leaf Component of the Year Award, and ASPAN’s Award for Outstanding Achievement, while providing component support to address recruitment, retention, and membership activities information.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE SWT
​Members of the NCSWT are appointed by the Vice President/President-Elect two years in advance of the conference with oversight from the Director for Education and in collaboration with ASPAN’s National Office and ASPAN leaders. The NCSWT plans ASPAN’s annual National Conference. The goal is to provide members with educational and networking opportunities to enhance perianesthesia nursing practice and provide access to national officers.

NEXTGEN SWT
​The ASPAN NextGen Strategic Work Team is committed to advancing the next generations of our perianesthesia nurses by embracing the evolving digital landscape and promoting inclusion and diversity. Our mission is to recruit and engage both new-to-field nurses and experienced practitioners by offering innovative tools and platforms that foster growth, connectivity, and community. By exploring cutting-edge technology, AI and digital solutions, we aim to ensure that ASPAN and its members continue to thrive, empowering the future of perianesthesia nursing while staying true to ASPAN’s core purpose of advancing this unique specialty.

PUBLICATIONS SWT
The Publications SWT facilitates comprehensive reviews and revisions of existing publications and may develop new perianesthesia print material. SWT members participate as reviewers for ASPAN’s Specialty Practice Group newsletters and as judges for the annual Component Newsletter Contest. Committee members attending National Conference have an opportunity to serve as co-editors of the National Conference newsletter, National PArtiCUlArS.

STRATEGIC PLANNING SWT
The Strategic Planning SWT provides ASPAN with a well-defined, credible, and relevant strategic direction. SWT members identify a limited number of key strategic initiatives and consider professional changes, scope of practice, clinical inquiry, education, safety, environment, technology, world health, political or government issues, and financial accountability when formulating the operational plan.