AORN Launches New Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Award

Denver, Colorado (Oct. 4, 2025) – The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) announces the launch of the AORN Center of Excellence (COE) in Surgical Safety: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) award program. This free recognition program gives hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers a clear pathway to strengthen evidence-based practices, improve patient recovery, enhance team collaboration, and achieve national recognition for excellence in surgical safety.

The program is built on the AORN Guideline for Implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, part of the organization’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice.   

“The research is clear: ERAS improves outcomes, yet it remains underutilized. Our members and event attendees have consistently expressed a desire to learn more about Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and how to implement ERAS interventions in every phase of care,” said Hannah Campbell, BA, MS, CSM, Program Manager at AORN.

“AORN recognized a growing demand for guidelines around Enhanced Recovery After Surgery. Our Center of Excellence for ERAS aligns perfectly with this need as an evidence-based, patient-centered approach that enhances recovery, reduces complications, and shortens hospital stays.”

AORN CEO David Wyatt said the association’s value of interdisciplinary collaboration is clearly exemplified in the ERAS approach.

“Among perioperative practice priorities, few illustrate more effectively than ERAS the impact of coordinated interventions and the combined efforts of diverse team members on achieving targeted patient outcomes,” he said. “We are committed to supporting organizations in their initiatives to enhance patient recovery following surgery through this ERAS Center of Excellence.”

Why ERAS Matters

ERAS is a patient-centered, evidence-based approach designed to improve surgical outcomes by minimizing the physiological and psychological stress of surgery. Originally developed for colorectal procedures, ERAS protocols have expanded across surgical specialties and can be applied to most perioperative patients.

“Perioperative nurses are at the center of successful implementation of ERAS protocols,” said Lisa Spruce, DNP, RN, CNS-CP, CNOR, ACNS, ACNP, FAAN, Director of Evidence-Based Perioperative Practice at AORN. “From preparing patients before surgery to maintaining normothermia and fluid balance intraoperatively, and encouraging early mobilization and multimodal pain management afterward, nurses play a vital role in every step of the ERAS journey.”

A Structured Path to Success

The AORN COE in ERAS offers facilities a clear framework supported by role-specific education, practical toolkits, benchmarking resources, and guidance from AORN experts. “What sets AORN’s ERAS program apart is its alignment with AORN’s trusted standards for surgical safety,” Campbell said. “While many ERAS resources are physician-led, our program emphasizes the critical role of nurses and the entire perioperative team.”

A Path to Measurable Impact for Patients

Achieving the COE in ERAS designation reflects meaningful, measurable improvements across the board. For patients, this means faster recovery times, fewer complications, lower readmission rates, and a more personalized, supportive care journey. For surgical teams and facilities, it translates to reduced costs, national recognition as leaders in surgical safety, stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, and greater consistency and communication in care delivery.

This evidence-based program is made possible by our sponsors, CONMED, Pacira, and Solventum through the AORN Foundation.

About AORN

Founded in 1949, AORN is the leading professional organization for perioperative nurses, supporting the practice of more than 200,000 perioperative nurses by providing evidence-based research, nursing education, standards, and practice resources to enable optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. AORN unites and empowers perioperative nurses, healthcare organizations, and industry partners to support safe surgery for every patient, every time.

For more information about AORN and its initiatives, visit www.aorn.org.

Media Contact

Christian Czerwinski
Content and Communications Manager
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)
2170 S. Parker Road, Ste. 400
Denver, CO 80231
[email protected]
www.aorn.org