Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) is a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing nursing care and establishing best practices within the field of perioperative nursing, which encompasses care before, during, and after surgical procedures. Founded in 1954 and based in Denver, Colorado, AORN has around 41,000 registered nurse members, with governance provided by an elected board and a House of Delegates. While primarily focused on the United States, AORN's standards and practices are influential internationally.
AORN provides various membership options, including local chapters and interest groups tailored to specific surgical areas. The organization actively engages in lobbying efforts to advocate for perioperative care at both national and state levels. It also supports the profession through the AORN Foundation, which funds scholarships and research initiatives. AORN publishes the peer-reviewed AORN Journal and the annually updated Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, and it hosts a large Surgical Conference and Expo every year. Additionally, AORN offers resources for career development and training, including an online career center and leadership programs, strengthening its commitment to the advancement of perioperative nursing.
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Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
Perioperative care is care before, during, and after a surgical operation. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), a professional organization, works to improve nursing care and maintain high standards and promote best practices for perioperative nurses. The group’s acronym originally stood for Association of Operating Room Nurses; the current name was adopted in 1999, with the provision that the acronym remains unchanged, which explains the capitalization of the O in "periOperative."
Overview
AORN is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. It was founded in 1954 and currently claims a membership of around 41,000 registered nurses. (Although there are various types of memberships for people who are not registered nurses, only registered nurses have full privileges.) Its governance structure includes an elected board of directors and a House of Delegates. In addition to the national organization, it also has hundreds of local chapters. Membership generally includes membership in a local chapter and the national organization. Membership and local chapters are largely limited to the United States, although AORN standards are influential in other countries as well. In addition to the local chapters, there is also a virtual "e-chapter," as well as interest groups devoted to particular surgeries or areas of specialization. AORN engages in lobbying activities at both the national and state levels for perioperative care and the profession of perioperative nursing through a National Legislative Committee and state legislative coordinators. The AORN Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, advances perioperative care through funding scholarships, grants, and research materials.
AORN publishes a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, AORN Journal,and an annually updated Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. AORN sponsors numerous events, including an annual Surgical Conference and Expo, which is the largest trade show of surgical products in the United States. The first such conference took place in New York City in 1954. Its Center for Nursing Leadership offers training for nurses moving into administrative positions. AORN maintains an online career center for surgical registered nurses. In 2015, AORN acquired Pfiedler Enterprises, an organization offering online training courses for nurses and physicians. AORN has a close relationship with the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI). AORN products support CCI’s credentialing programs for certified perioperative nurse, certified surgical services manager, certified RN first assistant, and certified perioperative clinical nurse specialist.
AORN has an awards program. The Committed to Operating Room Excellence or CORE Award is given to individual units that have demonstrated improvement across every aspect of perioperative care. The Go Clear Award is given for providing a smoke-free environment in areas where surgical smoke is generated. It is sponsored by Medtronic, a medical device company based in Ireland, through the AORN Foundation.
Bibliography
"About AORN." AORN. AORN, n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2016.
"AORN Guidance Statement: Creating a Patient Safety Culture." AORN Journal 83.4 (2006): 936–39. Print.
Glass, Laurie K., and Ellen Murphy. AORN: Emergence and Growth. Denver: AORN, 2002. Print.
Sipes, Carolyn, et al. "Collaboration with AORN to Develop the Technology in the OR (TOR) Tool: How Does Technology Affect the Nature of Surgeries for Perioperative Nurses—A Research Study." New Contributions in Information Systems and Technologies. Ed. Alvaro Rocha et al. Cham: Springer, 2015. 203–7. Print.
Steelman, Victoria M., et al. "Selection of a Method to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence for AORN Recommendations." AORN Journal 93.4 (2011): 433–44. Print.