Candidate for Board of Directors (Four to be Elected)

Read Candidate Q&A

Nikki Washington, MSN, MBA-HCM, RN, CNOR, CSSM, is the Director of Surgical Services and Nursing at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Stockton, California. She earned a certificate in surgical technology and an associate degree in nursing from Houston Community College, Texas; a Bachelor of Science in nursing and a Master of Science in nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing; and a Master of Business Administration in health care management from American Intercontinental University, Chicago, Illinois. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Aspen University, Phoenix, Arizona.

Washington has been a perioperative nurse for 21 years and a member of AORN for 24 years. She is a member of

• AORN of Greater Houston (2015-present)
• AORN of Central Valley California (2024-present)
• the Texas Collaboration of Registered Nurses (2018-present)

• the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2015-present)
• the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly (2015-present)

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

Washington has received

• a Good Samaritan Bronze Award (2015)
• a Nursing Innovation Award (2015)
• a Marquis Who’s Who Honor for Dedication to Achievements in Nursing Leadership (2024)
• a St. Joseph’s Medical Center Dynamic Leader Award (2023)
• a St. Joseph’s Medical Center Hello Humankindness CARE Award (2023)

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

• treasurer of AORN of Greater Houston (2020-present)
• a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee (2024-present)
• a mentor for the AORN Member Mentor Program (2023-present)

She has been

• a member of the AORN Nominating Committee (2017-2019)
• past-president of AORN of Greater Houston (2015)

In other leadership roles, Washington is

• a member of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (2023-present)
• a member of the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL; 2024-present)
• a mentor for the ACNL (2024-present)
• a member of the American Nurses Association (2015-present)
• a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (2022-present)

In her community, Washington is a

• a volunteer for St. Mary’s Dining Room, Stockton, California (2023-present)

She has been

• a volunteer with Medical Bridges (2015-2019)
• a volunteer with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (2015)
• chair of the emergency response team for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc (2021-2022)

Election Statement

As health care continues to evolve, AORN leaders must methodically assist in catapulting our prestigious association to greater innovative heights. With traditional OR services rapidly transitioning to outpatient and procedural areas, we must strategically shift our focus beyond historical practices to include all procedural areas. AORN must lead the charge in integrating perioperative nursing principles beyond the OR, ensuring excellent wherever surgical procedures are performed. I am not just ready but eager to lead this effort.

With 30 years of experience in the perioperative setting, I have worked collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to create structured processes that effectively build a continuum of care for the perioperative patient and their family. As a previous cath lab director and current surgical services director, I have gained valuable insights, experience, and knowledge in both areas. Programmatically this has afforded me the opportunity to successfully align behavioral practices in the various procedural areas and outpatient services. This reflects my ability to bring visions to fruition while effectuating strategic planning.

I bring unique experiences that will offer new perspectives in AORN’s Boardroom, with a continued focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity encompasses various perioperative specialties. Equity involves providing practice toolkits or guidelines specific to procedural areas. Inclusion actively integrates procedural areas into AORN’s culture of perioperative nursing.

As a proven strategist, collaborator, and change agent, I will lead with intention, integrity, and authenticity. I humbly ask for your vote to serve you and our most prestigious association as a Board member.