Darlene Murdock, MSN, BBA, RN, CNOR, CSSM

President-Elect (One to be Elected)

Read Candidate Q&A

Darlene B. Murdock, MSN, BBA, RN, CNOR, CSSM, is a clinical staff nurse IV at Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas. She earned an associate degree of technology in data processing from Jones County Junior College, Ellisville, Mississippi; a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston; and a Master of Science in nursing education from Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Murdock has been a perioperative nurse for 31 years and a member of AORN for 29 years. She is a member of

• AORN of Greater Houston (2014-present),
• the Texas Council of Operating Room Nurses (2014-present),
• the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly (2021-present),
• the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2014-present),
• the Pediatric Specialty Assembly (2014-present),
• the Retired Nurses Specialty Assembly (2018-present),
• the Sterile Processing/Supply Chain Management Specialty Assembly (2019-present),
• the Perioperative Nursing Informatics Specialty Assembly (2022-present), and
• the Nurse Scientist Specialty Assembly (2023-present).

She has been a member of

• the Trauma Specialty Assembly (2014-2015) and
• the Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Trauma Specialty Assembly (2014-2016).

Murdock has attended Congress 10 times in the past 10 years, each time as a delegate.

Murdock has received

• a Good Samaritan Foundation of Texas Excellence in Nursing Bronze Award (2021),
• a Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (TMC) Nursing Pillar Award as Innovator (2020),
• an AORN Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Clinical Nursing Practice Award (2018),
• an AORN of Greater Houston Star Award for Outstanding Contribution (2017), and
• a Federation of Houston Professional Women Woman of Excellence Award (2014).

Highlights of Murdock’s service to AORN include that she is

• Vice President of AORN (2022-present),
• a member of the Executive Board Committee (2022-present),
• chair of the Board Chapter Visit Committee (2022-present),
• a member of the Board Membership Committee (2022-present), and
• Board liaison to the Chapter Engagement Task Force (2023-present).

She has been

• Secretary of AORN (2020-2022);
• a member of the AORN Board of Directors (2018-2020);
• chair of the Credentialing Committee (2020-2022);
• President of AORN of Greater Houston (2014); and
• Board liaison to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Membership Task Force (2021-2022).

In other leadership roles, Murdock is

• a member of the Programs Committee, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (2021-present);
• a member of the Peer Review Committee, Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC (2016-present); and
• a member of the Nursing Professional Development Council, Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC (2016-present).

She has been

• chair of the Professional Nurse Advancement Program, Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC (2017-2022); and
• editor-in-chief of The Surgical Sunrise monthly newsletter for Surgical Services, Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC (2014-2021).

In her community, Murdock has been

• a food fair volunteer for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Houston, Texas (2022);
• an injury prevention champion for Live Your DREAMS Injury Prevention Program, Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC (2015-2020);
• an instructor for the Stop the Bleed Program, Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC (2018-2020);
• a presenter at Career Day, DeBakey High School for Health Professions, Houston, Texas (2021-2022); and
• a presenter at Career Day, Fort Bend School District, Texas (2014-2018).

Election Statement

I am honored to be recognized as a leader with strategic vision and the business acumen to lead our esteemed association. As President-elect, I will draw from my progressive years of consecutive Board service. As an AORN Board member, I gained firsthand knowledge of managing AORN’s business and financial affairs and used my seat at the table to represent our members, as you are the core of AORN’s existence. As your Secretary, I gained valuable knowledge and a greater appreciation for AORN’s bylaws, policies, parliamentary procedures, and history. While engaging with members during many chapter visits, I gained new insights concerning chapter leaders’ challenges. 

As your current Vice President, I have sharpened my executive presence by serving on the Executive and the Finance & Audit Committees and working closely with the President to advance our mission and vision. I presently lead initiatives to help address our chapters’ challenges and continue to help develop and promote our DEI initiatives and strategic plans. I am an established, poised AORN leader, well-prepared to lead our association in the future.

As your President-elect, I will keep my relentless commitment to our mission and vision while remaining connected and in communication with you. My vision for AORN is to sustain and enhance membership growth and our financial position by expanding AORN’s influence beyond the OR and globally. In addition, I will advocate for policies and procedures that benefit AORN members and increase membership value, and advance AORN’s policy agenda with a focus on advancing health equity.

I am an authentic AORN leader with true perioperative passion. My reputation is built on driving positive change through transformational leadership. I embody AORN values, innovation, communication, quality, DEI, and achievement. Integrity is the foundation of my character, an essential leadership trait that I exhibit in my professional and personal life. I have many strong skills that include communication, strategic thinking, and innovation. However, I will not rely solely on my leadership skills but will leverage the strengths of my fellow Board members. I will promote teamwork and collaboration and actively seek your input and feedback because I believe in the power of unity, and I believe in you. Serving and representing you is a tremendous honor and one that I consider a privilege. As your President-elect, I will lead with passion and purpose to help propel us into the future. I humbly ask for your vote and support.