Candidate for Board of Directors (Four to be Elected)

Read Candidate Q&A

Sonja W. Furr, BSN, RN, CNOR, is a Clinical Supervisor over Education/Orientation at Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina. She earned a diploma in nursing from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Charlotte, North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Chamberlain University College of Nursing, St Louis, Missouri.

Furr has been a perioperative nurse for 28 years and a member of AORN for 19 years. She is a member of

• the North Carolina Dogwood Chapter (2015-present)
• the North Carolina Council of Operating Room Nurses (NCCORN; 2015-present)
• the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly (2015-present)
• the Leadership Specialty Assembly (2015-present)

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

Furr has received

• a Nursing Star Award (2020)

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

• an ambassador for the AORN Foundation (2022-present)
• chair of the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly (2022-present)
• president of the North Carolina Dogwood Chapter (2018-2019, 2023-present)
• a member of the NCCORN Board of Directors (2015-present)

She has been

• a member of the AORN Foundation Silent Auction Committee (2016-2021)
• chair of the AORN Foundation Silent Auction Committee (2019-2022)
• a member of the Clinical Nurse Practice Council (2019-2021)
• president-elect of the North Carolina Dogwood Chapter (2017-2018, 2020-2023)
• communications chair of the Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly (2019-2022)
• chair of NCCORN (2017-2018, 2023-2024)

In other leadership roles, Furr is

• a facilitator for the Education/Orientation Unit-Based Council, Atrium Health Pineville (2024-present)
• a member of the Atrium Health Pineville Education Council (2016-present)
• a facilitator for the Greater Charlotte Region Professional Development Committee’s Competency Development Committee (2022-present)

She has been

• chair of the Carolinas Medical Center Operating Room Preceptor Committee (2015-2016)
• co-chair of the Atrium Health Pineville Education Council (2017-2018)

In her community, Furr is

• a member of the Nurses Honor Guard (2023-present)
• facilitates an Adopt-a-Grandparent gift campaign for community (2018-present)

She has been

• a co-facilitator for the GriefShare Support Group, Carolina Presbyterian Church (2016-2020)
• an assistant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructor for Carolinas Presbyterian School (2016-2018)
• an assistant at the nursery host desk, Carolina Presbyterian Church (2018-2022)

Election Statement

I am honored to be on the AORN ballot as a candidate for the Board of Directors. Members of the AORN Board of Directors have a tremendous responsibility to the members of AORN with ensuring continued growth, financial responsibility, and meeting the educational needs of each member.

As a nurse leader, my passion is to empower our members and support their voice in the Boardroom. Albert Einstein said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them.” As a member of the Board of Directors we envision and guide the direction of the Association. Leaders must pivot quickly to address changing and unexpected times. I will be your Board member that will change and encourage growth that strengthens and builds resiliency within our organization. Today’s perioperative nurse continues to face the daily challenges of being short-staffed, dependence on travelers, retention of existing staff, constantly orienting new staff, yet we continue to persevere providing safe care to our patients. I will make prudent collaborative decisions based on input from members, committees and task forces. I am not afraid to go where we have never been to meet the needs of our members.

I will develop and execute creative solutions during these constantly changing times. My promise to you is that I will face whatever the future brings with energy and enthusiasm.

I humbly ask for your vote as it will be an honor to serve you on the AORN Board of Directors.