title: Enabling nurses to lead change: the orientation experiences of nurses to boards.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nurses need to be full partners in shaping health care and health care policy. One way to do this is to be present and active on boards at all levels. The purpose of this study is to examine the orientation experiences of nurses to boards and their preparation to influence health care and health care policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Web-based survey about the efficacy of board orientation was sent to members of three local boards made up exclusively of nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liabilities and fiduciary duties were least likely to be addressed in board orientation for nurses. Board members requested more training in finance and a more formal/structured orientation process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardizing orientation elements for nurses serving on boards would best prepare them to serve on interprofessional hospital boards and work in the health policy arena. The orientation experience on local- and state-level nursing boards is fundamental to nurses beginning board service.
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT. Electronic address: Annmarie.walton@utah.edu.
authors.forename: AnnMarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mullinix
authors.affiliation: Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: The University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors.forename: Kathi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006075:Governing Board / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D011361:Professional Competence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Board orientation; Nurses on boards