Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
A professional association representing and advancing perioperative registered nursing in the United States and internationally.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, commonly known as AORN, is a professional organization focused on perioperative nursing—the clinical, educational, managerial, research, and professional work associated with surgical and other procedural care. It represents more than 41,000 registered nurses in the United States and abroad. Its membership also encompasses people studying nursing, professionals involved in perioperative research, and perioperative nurses working in business and industry connected with surgical care. AORN developed from a succession of organized operating-room nursing groups that emerged in different parts of the United States between 1916 and 1949. These early groups addressed issues that remain central to perioperative nursing, including the standardization of operating-room techniques, the development of education programs, and the creation of professional relationships among operating-room nurses. Their development eventually led to the formal recognition of a national association. The organization’s institutional history includes a first national conference in 1954, the creation of a constitution and bylaws, and the establishment of national officers and a board of directors. AORN later launched the AORN Journal in 1963, creating a dedicated publication channel for professional knowledge and discussion. In 1965 it published Standards for Administrative and Clinical Practice in the Operating Room, a work that subsequently evolved into Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. These standards-oriented activities have been central to AORN’s role in translating professional knowledge into guidance for daily perioperative practice. AORN’s work combines education, standards development, professional community-building, advocacy, public awareness, and support for research. It offers educational opportunities tailored to the perioperative setting; promotes the implementation of evidence-informed practices; and provides a forum through which perioperative professionals can exchange experience and approaches. The association also seeks to raise awareness of the contribution and expertise of perioperative registered nurses and supports members’ participation in legislative and health-policy discussions. In addition, it works to secure resources intended to advance education and research in perioperative surgical care. One of AORN’s most visible activities is the AORN Surgical Conference & Exposition. The event combines professional education and networking with a surgical-products trade exhibition and is described as the world’s largest education and networking conference for perioperative nursing professionals and the largest surgical-products trade show in the United States. The conference tradition dates to the organization’s first national conference in 1954. AORN also established Perioperative Nurse Week as a public-awareness initiative. A 1979 resolution created OR Nurse Day, initially observed on November 14, to improve public understanding of the role of the perioperative nurse. The observance later expanded into a week and was renamed Perioperative Nurse Week in 2000 so that it would better reflect the broader terminology of the profession. It is held during the second week of November, with members, local chapters, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities using events and publicity to explain the range of perioperative nursing responsibilities. The association has also participated in international professional and humanitarian collaboration. At its 56th annual congress, AORN entered into a partnership with Mercy Ships, a nonprofit organization providing free healthcare in developing regions. The partnership was intended to support healthcare access and create opportunities for international collaboration. AORN’s overall positioning is therefore that of a specialist professional body rather than a commercial healthcare brand: it represents perioperative nurses, develops and disseminates professional guidance, supports learning and research, and advocates for the value of perioperative practice.
History
AORN traces its institutional development to the growth of organized operating-room nursing groups in the United States. Between 1916 and 1949, multiple regional groups formed to address practical and professional concerns in operating-room nursing. Their priorities included bringing greater consistency to operating-room techniques, improving educational preparation, and fostering professional relationships among nurses working in surgical settings. These organizations provided the foundation for the eventual recognition of a national association. A major organizational milestone came with AORN’s first national conference in 1954. The conference established a national forum through which perioperative nurses could meet, exchange knowledge, and develop the profession’s collective agenda. Around this period, the association also established formal governance arrangements, including a constitution, bylaws, national officers, and a board of directors. These structures gave the organization a national framework for representing perioperative nursing. AORN expanded its professional infrastructure in 1963 with the establishment of the AORN Journal. The publication provided a dedicated means of communicating professional information and supporting discussion within the field. Two years later, in 1965, the association published Standards for Administrative and Clinical Practice in the Operating Room. This publication represented an important step in codifying expectations for perioperative practice. It later developed into Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, reflecting the continuing role of standards and recommended practices in the organization’s work. Over time, AORN’s activities broadened beyond organizational representation. The association developed educational opportunities specifically for perioperative professionals and promoted the practical application of best practices in daily clinical environments. It also supported communities through which members could share experience and approaches to perioperative care. In parallel, AORN worked to increase recognition of the skills and responsibilities of perioperative registered nurses, encourage professional participation in legislative and health-policy issues, and obtain resources for education and research related to perioperative surgical care. The AORN Surgical Conference & Exposition became a major expression of these educational and networking functions. The event combines professional programming, relationship-building, and a surgical-products exhibition. According to the association’s historical description, it is the largest education and networking conference for perioperative nurse professionals worldwide and the largest surgical-products trade show in the United States. Its history reaches back to the 1954 national conference, with more than six decades of congresses reported in the association’s reference material. Public awareness became another area of activity in 1979, when AORN approved a resolution intended to educate consumers and improve public knowledge of perioperative nursing. November 14 was designated OR Nurse Day. Members, local chapters, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities used the occasion for events and publicity explaining the diverse work performed by perioperative registered nurses. The observance later expanded from a single day to a week. In 2000, it was renamed Perioperative Nurse Week, a change intended to use terminology that covered the profession more broadly. The observance takes place during the second week of November. AORN has also pursued collaboration beyond the United States. At its 56th annual congress, it entered into a partnership with Mercy Ships, a nonprofit organization known for providing free healthcare in developing regions. The partnership was framed as a way to support healthcare accessibility and create opportunities for international collaboration. This initiative illustrates the association’s interest in extending perioperative knowledge and professional relationships beyond its domestic membership base. Today, AORN functions as a professional association for perioperative registered nurses and related communities, including nursing students, researchers, and professionals in connected business and industry roles. Its principal activities remain education, standards, publications, professional community-building, public awareness, advocacy, and support for research. The available reference material does not establish a specific founding year, headquarters location, current executive roster, or corporate ownership structure.
- 2000
Awareness observance renamed
[1]OR Nurse Week was renamed Perioperative Nurse Week, broadening the terminology used for the annual professional and public-education observance.
- 1979
OR Nurse Day introduced
[1]AORN approved a public-awareness initiative that designated November 14 as OR Nurse Day to explain the role and value of perioperative nurses.
- 1965
Operating-room standards published
[1]AORN published Standards for Administrative and Clinical Practice in the Operating Room, later known as Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices.
- 1963
AORN Journal established
[1]The association established the AORN Journal as a publication serving communication and professional knowledge-sharing in perioperative nursing.
- 1954
First national conference
[1]AORN held its first national conference, beginning the congress and conference tradition that became a central part of the association’s professional-education and networking work.
Products and positioning
A specialist professional association serving perioperative nurses through education, standards, publications, networking, advocacy, public awareness, and support for research.
Professional publication · 1963
AORN Journal
Established in 1963, the AORN Journal is a professional publication associated with the organization’s mission of sharing knowledge and supporting discussion in perioperative nursing. It forms part of AORN’s publishing and professional-education infrastructure.
Clinical and administrative standards · 1965
Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices
This standards resource evolved from AORN’s 1965 publication Standards for Administrative and Clinical Practice in the Operating Room. It provides a structured body of professional guidance intended to support perioperative care and the implementation of recommended practices in daily work environments.
Conference and trade exposition · 1954
AORN Surgical Conference & Exposition
AORN’s principal conference and exposition combines education, networking, and a surgical-products exhibition. The event is described as the largest education and networking conference for perioperative nurse professionals in the world and the largest surgical-products trade show in the United States.
Public-awareness campaign · 2000
Perioperative Nurse Week
Perioperative Nurse Week is AORN’s annual awareness observance for explaining the work and contribution of perioperative registered nurses. It grew from OR Nurse Day, introduced in 1979, and is held during the second week of November.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000Perioperative Nurse Week
United States
AORN renamed OR Nurse Week as Perioperative Nurse Week to use terminology that more broadly represented the profession. The observance is held during the second week of November.
Outcome. The week continues as an annual public-education and professional-recognition observance.
- 1979OR Nurse Day
United States
AORN approved an initiative to improve consumer understanding of perioperative nursing and designated November 14 as OR Nurse Day. Members, chapters, hospitals, and healthcare facilities used public events and publicity to explain the profession.
Outcome. The observance later expanded into a week and became Perioperative Nurse Week in 2000.
Brand decisions
2000
Rename OR Nurse WeekStrategyBackground
The association determined that the existing terminology did not fully reflect the broader scope of perioperative nursing.
Action taken
AORN renamed OR Nurse Week as Perioperative Nurse Week.
Aftermath
The observance continued as an annual event held during the second week of November.
1979
Create a public-awareness observance for perioperative nursingStrategyBackground
AORN sought to improve consumer education and public knowledge about the role of perioperative nurses.
Action taken
The association approved a resolution establishing OR Nurse Day on November 14.
Aftermath
The initiative expanded into a week-long observance and was later renamed Perioperative Nurse Week.
- Partner with Mercy ShipsM&A
Background
AORN sought to support healthcare access and create international collaboration opportunities in perioperative care.
Action taken
At its 56th annual congress, AORN entered into a partnership with Mercy Ships, a nonprofit providing free healthcare in developing regions.
Aftermath
The partnership represented an international extension of AORN’s professional and humanitarian collaboration activities. The reference material does not specify the calendar year or financial terms.
Recent events
- 2000
OR Nurse Week is renamed Perioperative Nurse Week[1]
Campaign
The annual awareness observance was renamed Perioperative Nurse Week to reflect the broader terminology and scope of perioperative nursing.
- 1979
AORN creates OR Nurse Day[1]
Campaign
AORN approved a resolution supporting a public-education observance for perioperative nurses. November 14 was designated OR Nurse Day, which later developed into Perioperative Nurse Week.
- 1965
AORN publishes operating-room practice standards[1]
Product launch
AORN published Standards for Administrative and Clinical Practice in the Operating Room, a standards document that later became Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices.
- 1963
AORN launches the AORN Journal[1]
Product launch
The association established the AORN Journal as a professional publication supporting communication and knowledge-sharing in perioperative nursing.
- 1954
AORN establishes its first national conference[1]
Other
AORN held its first national conference, establishing a recurring platform for education, professional exchange, and organizational activity among perioperative nurses.
Sources2 sources
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