The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) represents more than 41,000 registered
nurses in the United States[2] and abroad who facilitate the management, teaching, and practice of
perioperative nursing, or who are enrolled in nursing education or engaged in perioperative research. Its members also include perioperative nurses who work in related business and industry sectors.[3]
History
The first groups of organized OR nurses were concerned with many of the same issues AORN and the profession of OR nursing face today, including standardizing OR techniques and education programs and promoting friendship among OR nurses. Between 1916 and 1949, several OR nursing groups formed in various parts of the United States, leading to the formal recognition of AORN as a national association. Major milestones in the association's history include:
The first national conference in 1954
The establishment of a constitution, bylaws, and national officers, the AORN Board of Directors
Standards for Administrative and Clinical Practice in the Operating Room, now called Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, a booklet first published in 1965
AORN is also involved in efforts that advance perioperative professionals and their profession. These activities include:
Offering educational opportunities that specifically address the perioperative setting
Setting standards for perioperative care and demonstrating how best practices can be implemented in the day-to-day work environment
Facilitating a community of perioperative professionals that enables sharing of best practices
Creating awareness and celebrating the value and skills of the perioperative nurse
Empowering perioperative registered nurses to engage in efforts to shape legislative and health policy issues
Securing resources to enable advancements in education and research in perioperative surgical care
AORN Surgical Conference & Exposition
The AORN Surgical Conference & Exposition is the largest education and networking conference of perioperative nurse professionals in the world, and the largest surgical products trade show in the US.[4] To date there have been a total of 62 Congresses dating back to 1954.[4]
List of past congresses
New York, Feb. 1-3, 1954
St. Louis, Jan. 24-27, 1955
Boston, Jan. 30 - Feb 1, 1956
Los Angeles, Feb. 18-21, 1957
Philadelphia, Feb. 10-13, 1958
Houston, Feb. 9-12, 1959
New York, Feb. 22-26, 1960
San Francisco, Feb. 13-17, 1961
Denver, Feb. 19-22, 1962
Washington, DC, Feb. 18-21, 1963
Dallas, March 2–5, 1964
New York, Feb. 7-11, 1965
Chicago, Feb. 20-24, 1966
San Diego, Feb. 19-23, 1967
Boston, Feb. 18-22, 1968
Cincinnati, Feb 24-27, 1969
Anaheim, Feb. 22-26, 1970
Las Vegas, Feb. 8-12, 1971
Houston, Jan. 29-Feb. 2, 1972
Chicago, March 17–23, 1973
New Orleans, Feb. 10-15, 1974
Dallas, March 23–28, 1975
Miami, March 7–12, 1976
Anaheim, March 20–25, 1977
New Orleans, March 12–17, 1978
St. Louis, March 4–9, 1979
Atlanta, March 9–14, 1980
Dallas, March 8–13, 1981
Anaheim, March 7–12, 1982
Houston, April 10–15, 1983
Atlanta, March 4–9, 1984
Dallas, Feb, 24 - March 1, 1985
Anaheim, March 9–14, 1986
Atlanta, April 5–10, 1987
Dallas, March 6–11, 1988
Anaheim, Feb. 19-24, 1989
Houston, March 18–23, 1990
Atlanta, April 7–12, 1991
Dallas, March 15–20, 1992
Anaheim, Feb 28 - March 5, 1993
New Orleans, March 13–18, 1994
Atlanta, March 5–10, 1995
Dallas, March 3–8, 1996
Anaheim, April 6–11, 1997
Orlando, March 29 - April 2, 1998
San Francisco, March 28 - April 1, 1999
New Orleans, April 2–6, 2000
Dallas, March 11–15, 2001
Anaheim, April 21–25, 2002
Chicago, March 23–27, 2003
San Diego, March 21–25, 2004
New Orleans, April 3–7, 2005
Washington, DC, March 19–23, 2006
Orlando, March 11–15, 2007
Anaheim, March 30 - April 3, 2008
Chicago, March 15–19, 2009
Denver, March 13–18, 2010
Philadelphia, March 18–24, 2011
New Orleans, March 24–29, 2012
San Diego, March 2–7, 2013
Chicago, March 29 - April 2, 2014
Denver, March 7–11, 2015
Anaheim 2016
Boston 2017
Nashville 2018
New Orleans 2019
New Orleans 2022
San Antonio 2023
Nashville 2024
Perioperative Nurse Week
In 1979, the AORN approved a resolution to promote
consumer education and enhance public knowledge of perioperative nurse.[5] November 14 was designated as OR Nurse Day, later it expanded to a week. Since 1979 individual members, AORN chapters, hospitals, and other medical facilities have organized special events and utilized other forms of publicity to help educate the public about the diverse roles performed by perioperative registered nurses.[5] In 2000, OR Nurse Week was renamed to Perioperative Nurse Week to broaden the term. It always occurs in the second week of November.
Collaboration with Mercy Ships
At the 56th annual entered into a partnership with
Mercy Ships, a leading non-profit in providing free healthcare in the third world, in an effort to boost the health care accessibility and opportunities for international collaborations.[6]