Perioperative Nurses Week November 8-14, 2026

Perioperative Nurses Week is an annual observance held each November to recognize the essential role perioperative nurses play in patient safety before, during, and after surgery. Established in 1979 by AORN as OR Nurse Day, the recognition was created to highlight the clinical expertise, critical thinking, and advocacy required in the operating room and across the surgical continuum of care.

Originally developed to educate the public about the role of the perioperative nurse, the observance later expanded into OR Nurse Week and became Perioperative Nurses Week in 2000. Today, it continues to elevate awareness of perioperative nursing through celebrations, educational outreach, advocacy efforts, and opportunities for teams and communities to recognize the impact perioperative nurses have on safe surgical care every day.

Please check back during the summer for more updates.