The History of AORN
A Tradition of Excellence
The first groups of organized OR nurses were concerned with many of the same issues AORN and the profession of OR nursing faces 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 country, leading to the formal recognition of AORN as a national association.
Major milestones in the association's history include:
- The first national conference, now called Congress, in 1954
- The establishment of a constitution, bylaws and national officers, AORN Board of Directors
- The debut of the AORN Journal in 1963
- Standards for Administrative and Clinical Practice in the Operating Room, now called Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, booklet published in 1965
Throughout the years, AORN's has focused on positive patient outcomes. Today, the rallying cry is "patient safety first" and the significant role perioperative nurses play in creating a culture of patient safety that leads to a quality, caring perioperative experience for surgical patients.
As champions for patient safety, AORN is involved in efforts that advance perioperative professionals and their profession.
These activities include:
- Offering quality educational opportunities that specifically address the perioperative setting
- Setting standards for quality 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
Join AORN in its continuing mission to enhance perioperative nursing proficiency and create a culture of patient safety throughout the perioperative experience.