The Norwegian Association of Nurse Anesthetists

 

Regulations

Revised at General Assembly 2004

 

§ 1 Name

 

Anestesisykepleiernes Landsgruppe av Norsk Sykepleierforbund. Abbreviation ALNSF.

International name: The Norwegian Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Abbreviation NANA

Member of the Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NNO).

 

 

§ 2 Purpose and function

Promote development

1.a. Maintain and develop a high professional and ethical standard of anesthesia nursing in accordance with the ICN’s Code of ethics and ethical guidelines governing the professional conduct of nurses.

b. Contribute to and promote routines that are in accordance with current laws, regulations and knowledge

 

Monitor anesthesia nursing’s role in society

2.a. Ensure the development of anesthesia nursing in parallel with changes in society and public needs.

b. Promote awareness of nurse anesthetists’ qualifications and expertise in the general public, other professional organisations and the authorities.

 

Maintain standards of training and expertise

3.a. Work towards a uniform, continuous and officially approved specialist training in anesthesia nursing.

b. Ensure that the specialisation programme in anesthesia nursing keeps abreast of professional developments and public requirements.

c. Work to ensure the availability of relevant post-qualification courses.

 

Publicize NANA’s points of view

4.a. Ensure that the authorities, employers and other appropriate parties are aware of NANA’s views on health-care policies.

b. Cooperate with relevant bodies to ensure that NANA is used in an advisory capacity in matters which affect nurse anesthetists’ area of expertise.

 

Cooperate with other bodies

5.a. Ensure that nurse anesthetists’ pay and working conditions are taken into consideration by means of cooperation and negotiation with relevant organisations, groups and authorities.

b. Act as a link between the leaders of the NNO and the association’s (NANA) members.

c. Take an active part in the formation of NNO policies by ensuring representation on national and local levels.

 

 

 

§ 3 Membership and voting rights

A  Members. Members of the NNO can become members of the association (NANA) if:

They completed the training in anesthesia nursing before the end of 1978, or have completed the specialisation programme in anesthesia nursing and have a total of 2 years’ practical experience as a nurse anesthetist including their training, or have a foreign qualification that has been recognised by NANA.

B. Extraordinary members.

Nurses who are currently following the specialisation programme in anesthesia nursing and nurse anesthetists who are unable to provide evidence of  2 years’ practical experience as a nurse anesthetist including their training, can become extraordinary members.

Nurse anesthetists who are undergoing specialisation/post-qualification training can apply for extraordinary membership.

This arrangement also applies to nurse anesthetists who are retired or receiving disablement benefit.

C. Honorary members.

The association’s board can nominate persons who particularly deserve the honour as honorary members.

D. Right to vote.

Ordinary members who have paid their membership to NANA have the right to vote. Extraordinary members have the right to speak and raise issues, but do not have voting rights and are not eligible for office.

 

 

§ 4 Organisational structure

The association (NANA) can be organised with or without local professional groups. In areas where there is no local professional group, individual members belong directly to the national association.

 

Local professional groups

Local professional groups are formed within the NNO’s regional departments. NANA’s board approves the forming of local professional groups. A local professional group has its own committee which is elected by and from the group’s members at the annual general meeting. The local committee is the group’s executive body and must answer for the group’s activities to both the local group’s annual general meeting and the national association’s board. Information regarding board membership is sent annually to the local groups’ committees by the end of February. Local professional groups must have regulations that are in accordance with those of the national association. The regulations are approved by the board of the national association. The chairperson of the local professional group is automatically a member of the local professional forum for nurses.

The chairpersons of the local professional groups are expected to act in an advisory capacity to the board of NANA during the general assembly on important issues of principle and issues which have significant economic consequences.

 

 

§5 Board of the National Association

1. A. Board of the National Association.

The Board is the National Association’s chief executive body. The board answers to the general assembly.

 

1. The board has the following tasks:

a.   to lead the association’s work and manage its funds.

1. to raise issues of importance for anesthesia nursing and the association’s members.
2. to deal with issues raised by individual members, local professional groups and the NNO’s executive bodies
3. to prepare items for discussion at the general assembly
4. to nominate ad hoc committees to carry out special tasks
5. to act as a link between the association’s members, local professional groups and the NNO’s executive bodies

 

1. Elections and composition of the board

The board consists of a chairperson, 5 board members and 1 deputy. In addition, the leader of the education committee has a permanent place on the board. The members of the board are elected at the general assembly from the national associations’ members, for a period of two years. Board members can be re-elected.

The chairperson, board members and the deputy board member are elected separately, by means of a secret ballot. The board constitutes itself. The chairperson must receive a minimum of 50% of the votes in order to be elected. If this majority is not achieved, a runoff is carried out between the two candidates with most votes. A simple majority determines the outcome of the runoff. If both candidates receive the same number of votes, the runoff is repeated. Blank votes are not counted. If for any reason the chairperson becomes unable to perform his/her duties, the deputy chairperson takes over until the next election.

The NNO must always be kept informed of changes in the board.

 

The education committee is one of NANA’s permanent committees, see § 6.

The leader of the education committee is elected by the general assembly from the national associations’ members for a period of two years. The leader of the committee can be re-elected. The leader of the education committee becomes a member of the board with the same rights and duties as the other board members. One of the other members of the education committee is appointed deputy leader and attends board meetings if the leader is unable to.

 

The post-qualification training committee is a permanent committee appointed by NANA’s board to oversee the programme for post-qualification training agreed by the general assembly. The leader of this committee attends board meetings and has the right to speak and raise issues, but has no voting rights.

 

1. Meetings
2. The association’s board meetings are led by the chairperson. This responsibility can be delegated to others. Board meetings are to be held at least 4 times a year, and otherwise as often as the chairperson or a minimum of 3 other board members deem necessary. Board members are normally notified of meetings 2 weeks in advance. Minutes must be taken at board meetings, and a copy sent to board members and their deputies, the budgetary control committee and the local professional groups.
3. Notification of a meeting is generally sent to board members and their deputies a minimum of 2 weeks in advance together with an agenda and any necessary enclosures. Board members have a duty to attend meetings. The chairperson/secretary must be warned of any inability to attend, in order that deputies can be asked to attend the meeting.
4. The board has a quorum if a minimum of 5 members or their deputies are present. All decisions are carried by a majority vote. Should equal numbers of votes be cast, the chairperson has the deciding vote. Deputies are asked to attend meetings whenever board members are unable to attend.

 

B.    Working committee

A working committee can be selected by and from members of the board. The chairperson must always be included. The working committee’s mandate must be approved by the association’s board.

 

Central professional forum

The chairperson of the association’s board is automatically a member of the central professional forum for nurses.

 

C.   Provisional board

If an extraordinary general assembly results in the dissolution of the association’s board, a provisional board is elected for the remaining period until the next election. Provisional board members and their deputies are elected in the normal way if so many of the board members/deputies have withdrawn from office as to make the board incapable of functioning. This board has the same rights and duties as the normal board. It has the power to temporarily appoint members and deputies as members of permanent professional committees, if they are not fully manned, until the next election.

 

§ 6 Councils and committees

 

A.    Permanent committees

Permanent committees can be set up to take care of specific tasks within the association. These act in an advisory capacity to the association’s board.

 

1. Education committee

The education committee is elected by the general assembly from among NANA’s members for a period of 2 years. Committee members can be re-elected. The education committee consists of a leader, see § 5 A 2, 2 members and 1 deputy.

 

1. Budgetary control committee

The budgetary control committee is elected by the general assembly from NANA’s members and has 3 members. Board members cannot be members of the budgetary control committee. If a member of the committee stands for election to the board, he/she must retire from the committee.

 

1. Composition.

Committee members are elected by the general assembly for a period of 2 years. Committee members can be re-elected. The committees constitute themselves. The association’s board must be notified of the constitution within 2 months of the election.

 

 

1. Mandate

The committees’ mandates are set by the association’s general assembly. It is the individual committee’s responsibility to request reconsideration and, if necessary, revision of its mandate.

 

1. Ad hoc committees

Ad hoc committees can be appointed by the board for special tasks. These committees act in an advisory capacity to the association’s board.

 

 

§ 7 Election

 

Electoral committee

 

1. Mandate

The general assembly approves the electoral committee’s guidelines. The electoral committee keeps a record of its work which is presented to the association’s board.

1. Composition

The electoral committee is elected by the general assembly and consists of 3 members and 1 deputy member. Board members cannot be elected to the electoral committee. If a member of the electoral committee stands for election to the board, he/she must retire from the committee and be replaced by a deputy. The electoral committee constitutes itself. The association’s board must be notified of the constitution.

1. Term of office

The electoral committee starts work immediately after the general assembly and continues its work until the end of the next general assembly.

 

D Electoral duties

The electoral committee is responsible for the execution of elections.

1. The electoral committee must provide information about forthcoming elections at least 6 months before they take place. The committee must provide information about which elections are to take place at the general assembly. This information must be provided in writing to the association’s board and the local professional groups.
2. Candidates are nominated by local professional groups and individual members at least 3 months in advance of the general assembly. Nominations are sent to the electoral committee. Nominated candidates must have agreed to stand for office. Nominated candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

 

 

§ 8 The National Association’s meetings

 

A.    General assembly

The general assembly is the association’s highest authority.

 

1.  Access:

The association’s members can gain access by showing a valid NANA membership card.

 

2.  Notification:

The general assembly is convened every second year on or before November 15th. Members must be notified 5 months before the general assembly is convened.

 

1. Proposal of agenda items

Individual members and local professional groups can propose items for inclusion in the general assembly’s agenda. These items must be sent to the board at least 4 months before the general assembly is convened. All items received by this deadline must be included in the agenda. The agenda and any documents relating to individual items must be sent to the local professional groups and general assembly participants 1 month before it is convened.

 

1. Agenda

The agenda is proposed by the association’s board and is approved by the general assembly. The agenda must include:

- registration of the number of members qualified to vote

- approval of the agenda

- the appointment of the assembly’s chairperson (s)

- the appointment of 2 minute-takers

- the appointment of 2 members to sign the minutes

- the appointment of a committee to carry out tasks during the general assembly

- a programme of action

- the annual report and accounts for each of the two preceding years

- a proposed budget for each of the two following years

- any other business

- elections

Items proposed under “any other business” require a 4/5 majority from the general assembly to be included in the agenda.

 

1. Election/voting

Election is by secret ballot. For all elections other than election of the chairperson, a simple majority determines the outcome. Should equal numbers of votes be cast in an election, a runoff is carried out, see § 5A 2. Other votes are carried out by a show of hands, as long as no member with voting rights demands a secret ballot. Every member with voting rights has one vote. Should equal numbers of votes be cast, the chairperson has the deciding vote.

 

 

B.    Extraordinary general assembly

An extraordinary general assembly can be convened by the board or at the request of a minimum of 25% of the local professional groups. Notice of the assembly must be given at least 1 month in advance. Documents relating to the issue(s) for which the assembly is convened, must be sent to the local professional groups as soon as the decision to convene the assembly is taken.

 

 

 

§ 9 Lines of communication and cooperation

Enquiries from local professional groups to the Norwegian Nurses Organisation’s (NNO) central office should be directed to NANA’s board with a copy to the relevant NNO regional office.  Enquiries from the Norwegian Nurses Organisation’s central office to local professional groups in NANA are passed on by NANA’s board. Enquiries from local professional groups to one of NNO’s regional offices are sent with a copy to NANA’s board

 

 

§ 10 Annual report, accounts and budget

 

A.    Annual report

The national association must send an annual report of its activities to the NNO by March 1st. The local professional groups and permanent committees must send an annual report to the association’s board by January 31st. The national association’s annual report must include:

1. The number of members on 31.12

2. The composition of the association’s board and committees

3. An overview of the association’s activities:

a. events

b. summaries of the local professional groups’ and permanent committees’ reports

 

B.    Accounts

Local professional groups and committees must send their audited accounts to the association’s board by January 1st. The association’s board must present the audited accounts for the two preceding years to the general assembly for approval. The board appoints a registered auditor.

The accounts must include:

1. Capital account on 31.12

2. Operational accounts for the period 1.1 – 31.12. with comments

3. The budgetary control committee’s report must accompany the accounts.

 

C.   Budget

The association’s board draws up a budget proposal with comments. The budget proposal and the comments are presented to the general assembly for approval.

§ 11 Subscription fees

The association’s subscription fees are fixed by the general assembly. Students undergoing the specialist training pay a fixed lower subscription fee. Nurses working abroad pay half the subscription fee. Membership subscriptions must be paid by the end of May. Honorary members do not pay any subscription fee and receive the association’s journal “Inspira”.

 

§ 12 Resignation

Resignation from the association must be presented in writing to the association’s board. The subscription fee for the current year must be paid. Membership automatically ceases if the subscription fee is not paid by the end of the year. Any unpaid subscription fees must be paid before membership can be renewed. Obligations regarding unpaid subscriptions expire after three years.

 

§ 13 Regulation amendments

Amendments to the association’s regulations with the exception of §14, must be passed by the general assembly with a 2/3 majority. Proposed amendments to regulations must be sent to the board at least 4 months prior to the general assembly.

 

§ 14 Dissolution

A decision to dissolve the association must be taken by means of a referendum. NANA’s members have one month in which to send a postal vote. For the association to be dissolved, at least 2/3 of the members must have voted, and at least 5/6 of them must have voted in favour of dissolution. If these prerequisites for dissolution are fulfilled, the board is assigned the task of deciding how the organisation’s funds should be managed.

 

 

§ 15 Membership of other organisations

NANA is a member of the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA) and the Commission of European Nurse Anesthetists (CENA) and also belongs to the Nordic Association of Nurse Anesthetists and Intensive Care Nurses (NOSAM).

Membership in other organisations must be approved by the general assembly. The relevant organisation must be politically neutral. Its form and function must be in accordance with NANA’s function, or else it must be involved in issues which NANA wishes to support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NANA’s regulations, revised at GA 2004