Joanne D. Muyco, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNOR

Candidate for Nominating Committee (Two to be Elected)

Read Candidate Q&A

Joanne D. Muyco, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Houston, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science in nursing, Master of Science in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.

Muyco has been a perioperative nurse for 12 years and a member of AORN for 12 years. She is a member of

• AORN of Greater Houston (2015-present)
• the Texas Collaboration of periOperative Registered Nurses (TCORN; 2022-present)
• the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2020-present)
• the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly (2022-present)
• the Nurse Scientist Specialty Assembly (2023-present)

Muyco has attended Congress six times in the past 10 years, three times as a delegate.

Muyco has received

• a Spirit Award from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Cizik School of Nursing (2019)
• a Good Samaritan Foundation Excellence in Nursing Bronze Award (2019, 2023)
• an Empirical Outcomes Award from Houston Methodist Hospital, Magnet Interprofessional Fair (2021)

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

• a member of the Nursing Research Committee (2024-present)
• a member of the AORN Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Membership Committee (2022-present)
• chair of the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly Education Committee (2024-present)
• the professional development coordinator for the Nurse Scientist Specialty Assembly (2023-present)
• a member of the TCORN Social Media Committee (2024-present)
• co-chair of the AORN of Greater Houston Education Committee (2021-present)

She has been

• a member of the Atmospheric Disruptors Member Task Force (2021-2022)
• a member of the AORN of Greater Houston Board of Directors (2022-2024)
• co-chair of the AORN of Greater Houston Mentorship Committee (2021-2024)

In other leadership roles, Muyco is

• chair of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society - Alpha Gamma Gamma Chapter Governance Committee (2024-present)
• a member of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (2023-present)
• vice chair of the Alliance for Visible and Invisible Disabilities Employee Resource Group, Houston Methodist Hospital (2024-present)

She has been

• chair of the Clinical Inquiry Council at Houston Methodist Hospital (2023-2024)
• chair of the Perioperative Council at Houston Methodist Hospital (2020-2021)

In her community, Muyco is

• a volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (2015-present)

She has been

• a member of the Houston Community College Surgical Technology Program Advisory Committee (2018-2021)

Election Statement

Perioperative nurses are uniquely positioned to impact health care on every level. From shifts in care delivery to advocacy in legislation, perioperative nurses play a vital role in shaping our nursing profession. I am a firm believer that perioperative nurses are the drivers of our practice—that collectively, we can rise together to address our challenges and advocate for the future of perioperative nursing. More importantly, I believe that perioperative nurses must have a seat at every table so we can inform key decisions that impact how we provide and deliver care on the frontlines.

AORN’s Nominating Committee brings together perioperative nurses who can advocate for members and make progress on issues affecting our profession. As a perioperative nurse for over 12 years, I have continued to connect and collaborate to explore how we can empower, engage, and encourage perioperative nurses to be active drivers of their practice. My experience as an OR nurse and a nurse scientist has allowed me to demonstrate the value of perioperative nurses, what we do, and how we impact our patients at every level of nursing and beyond. If given the opportunity to serve, I will continue to be a strong advocate for perioperative nursing and ensure we are always represented at the table.

I am truly honored to be a candidate for AORN’s Nominating Committee. I humbly ask for your vote to continue the relentless pursuit of perioperative nursing excellence as we move our profession forward into the future.