Kay Ball is a Professor of Nursing at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, where she teaches Bachelors, Masters, and doctoral students.  She also is a perioperative nurse educator and consultant working with perioperative nurses, professional organizations, healthcare facilities, industry, and legislative groups.    Kay has served as the Laser Program Director for Mount Carmel Health and Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.  Kay also has had many years of experience in managing an operating room suite and a PACU unit.

Kay received an A.D.N. (1974)  from Columbus Technical Institute in Columbus, OH (received 1998 Alumnae of the Year Award), a B.S.N. (1983) from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio (received 1997 Distinguished Alumnae Award), and an M.S.A. (1987) (focusing on healthcare administration) from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI.  She received a PhD in Health Related Services from Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, in 2009.  Kay has maintained certification in the operating room (CNOR) since 1981 and also is certified as a Medical Laser Safety Officer (CMLSO).  In 1997, Kay was honored to be inducted as a Fellow in the prestigious American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).  Kay is the recipient of the 2003 AORN Award for Excellence (the highest honor to be given by AORN) and the 2010 AORN Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Research, and the 2003 Ohio Nurses Association’s Excellence in Political Action Award.  Kay is also the recipient of the 2004 ANA Barbara Thoman Curtis Award which is the highest political excellence award to be given by the American Nurses Association and the 2016 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year (Education).

Kay served as the 1992-93 President of the national Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the President of the AORN Foundation (2000-2001).  Kay is also a member of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (Board of Directors 1993-96, recipient of the 1998 ASLMS Award for Nursing Excellence, and the 2010 ASMLS Outstanding Abstract Award), Ohio Nurses Association (member of the Health Policy Council and Political Contributing Entity), MidOhio District Nurses Association (Legislative Cmte Chair), Sigma Theta Tau, and the American Society of Peri Anesthesia Nurses.  Kay served as the 1993 and 1994 Vice-Chair of the ANA Nursing Organization Liaison Forum that represents over 75 specialty nursing organizations.  During this time, Kay worked for a 3-month assignment at the White House during the tumultuous healthcare reform activities.  She was elected to Chair the new Ohio Nursing Summit (1995-97) which is a state-level NOLF.  In 2007, Kay was appointed to represent ANA on the National Quality Forum - Surgery and Anesthesia Technical Advisory Panel of the National Voluntary Consensus Standards for Hospital Care.

Kay has authored the books, Lasers:  The Perioperative Challenge, 1st and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th  editions (after the 1st edition, Kay planned and assisted with the first laser surgery on a dolphin at Sea World).   The 4th edition is published by LIA and will be available in summer 2017.  Kay also wrote Endoscopic Surgery which is part of Mosby’s Perioperative Nursing Series.  She also has written the chapter on lasers and other surgical cutting and coagulation tools in Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery, 9th, 10th, and 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th  and 15th editions, and has authored many other chapters in professional texts.  Kay served as the Editor-in-Chief of Today’s Surgical Nurse (1994-9) and has authored many articles and editorials on health care related topics for many organizational and professional journals.  Kay lectures on laser, surgical, healthcare, and nursing issues throughout the United States, and has lectured internationally in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Germany, France, England, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Japan.  She has lectured on a variety of topics for the USA military nurses and physicians on four different occasions in Germany.

 

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