AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice are evidence-based guidelines for perioperative RNs and the entire OR team. The Guidelines help standardize perioperative practice as well as promote patient and worker safety. The Guidelines are updated throughout the year so you’ll always have access to the most updated information to promote safety and optimal outcomes for all patients. Expand your perioperative knowledge by exploring all five guideline topics.
Clinical Resources
Clinical FAQs
AORN’s Clinical FAQs are an important clinical resource for the perioperative industry. With over 200 FAQs available, they are one of the many, mem...
Position Statements
Position Statements provided by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses articulate the Association's official position or belief about cert...
AORN Standards
AORN is dedicated to enhancing the professionalism of perioperative registered nurses (RNs), promoting standards of perioperative nursing practice ...
Code of Ethics
The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements, updated in 2015, establishes the ethical standard for the profession and p...
RN First Assistant Resources
The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) is a perioperative registered nurse who functions in an expanded role or an Advanced Practice Registere...
Publications
AORN publications are specifically designed to help OR and ambulatory professionals implement AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice...
Nursing Research
AORN is dedicated to incorporating research and evidence-based practice as a foundation for perioperative nursing to provide quality patient care.
Nursing Consultation
AORN members may consult with nurse specialists from AORN's Center for Nursing Practice on clinical questions. Call (800) 755-2676 Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. MT. Please have your AORN membership number available when you call.
Nursing Infection Control Education Network
AORN has proudly partnered with the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to train U.S. nurses in infection prevention and control.
Guidelines for Perioperative Practice
Purchase the Guidelines
AORN’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice provide guidance for achieving excellence in perioperative patient care and workplace safety. This collection of 32 evidence-based guidelines is available for purchase in 6 different formats.
Guideline Implementation Topics
AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice are divided into five main topic areas: Aseptic Practice, Equipment & Product Safety, Patien...
About the Guidelines
Evidence Rating
Evidence rating is a process by which scientific evidence is used to support recommendations about clinical decisions. Evidence rating has become an e...
Evidence Tables
These evidence tables provide additional detail on the evidence supporting AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Researchers, educators, stude...
How is a Guideline Created?
Download the infographic to learn how an AORN Guideline is created.