Carole G. Mayes, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, CNOR
Manager for Nursing Excellence and coordinator for the Institutional Review Board
Board of Directors (Three to be Elected)
Carole G. Mayes, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, CNOR, is the manager for Nursing Excellence and coordinator for the Institutional Review Board at Rutland Regional Medical Center, Vermont. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio; a Master of Science in nursing with an emphasis on education from Idaho State University, Pocatello; and a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
Mayes has been a perioperative nurse for 33 years and a member of AORN for 29 years. She is a member of
- eChapter (2014-present),
- the Nurse Scientist Specialty Assembly (2022-present),
- the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly (2014-present),
- the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2014-present), and
- the Sterile Processing/Supply Chain Management Specialty Assembly (2014-present).
She has been a member of
- the Southern Vermont Chapter of AORN (2014-2015).
Mayes has attended Congress nine times in the past 10 years, each time as a delegate.
Highlights of Mayes’s service to AORN include that she is
- chair of the eChapter Education Committee (2022-present),
- founding Board member for the Nurse Scientist Specialty Assembly (2022-present),
- chair of the eChapter Research & Evidence-Based Practice Support Committee (2020-present),
- founder of the eChapter Research & Evidence-Based Practice Support Committee (2020-present), and
- an AORN member mentor (2021-present).
She has been
- communication co-chair for the Nurse Scientist Specialty Assembly (2022-2023),
- a mentor for first-time attendees at AORN Expo (2023),
- a session moderator at AORN Expo (2015, 2017),
- president of the Southern Vermont Chapter of AORN (2014-2015), and
- co-developer of the AORN Guiding Principles for the Surgical Services Director Role (2022-2023).
In other leadership roles, Mayes is
- a member of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society (2017-present);
- primary developer and instructor for the Enhanced Operating Room Clinical Outplacement Program, Vermont Technical College (2021-present); and
- primary developer and instructor for the Operating Room Training Program and simulation lab, Rutland Regional Medical Center (2019-present).
She has been
- the primary research investigator on intraoperative team members’ decision making related to surgical attire guideline adherence (2019-2020) and
- the A3 process improvement lead for reduction of total knee arthroplasty surgical site infections (2021-2022).
In her community, Mayes is
- volunteer and recruiter for the Rutland Free Clinic (2023-present),
- volunteer and recruiter for the Vermont Medical Reserve Corp (2021-present), and
- coordinator for the Rutland Regional Medical Center Halloween Parade float (2017-2019, 2023-present)
She has been
- volunteer and recruiter for the Rutland Pride Festival (2023) and
- volunteer and recruiter for the annual Sigma Theta Tau Omega Mu Chapter-at-Large Walk to End Alzheimer’s (2022-2023).
Election Statement
In 1994, I found my home with AORN and later became a lifetime member knowing my perioperative nursing passion and dedication to AORN would never wane. Like you, I remain committed to perioperative nursing care excellence and even began pursuing research opportunities to enhance our science.
I want to represent you, your passion, and your dedication to excellence as a Board of Directors member. My advocacy for you was demonstrated at the 2022 House of Delegates. After you expressed your concerns based on the perioperative nurse turnover research results, I took these to AORN and collaboratively crafted a guidance statement on perioperative leader qualifications.
I will work with you to support AORN’s mission, vision, and values. Having found my voice advocating for perioperative nursing equity and patient safety, I will work with you to address these issues and others like global financial constraints, workplace incivility, and increasing student exposure to perioperative nursing. I will communicate your concerns, share your ideas, and connect with stakeholders who can facilitate innovative improvement strategies crucial to our organization’s future growth.
My service as a leader, educator, and mentor can be seen through my local, regional, and international chapter involvement and through international presentations where I shared our perioperative goals and concerns. With these demonstrated skills, I will help you and AORN propel our profession forward.
In closing, I am honored to be on the ballot and humbly ask to serve you, AORN, and our patients as a Board of Directors member.