When AORN changed the name of its annual conference from Congress to Expo, it retained the name Congress for the business of the association, consistent with the references to Congress in the bylaws.
Expo attendees of AORN Congress in New Orleans will have the opportunity to participate in two member forums and a first and second House of Delegates. Reports to the membership will also be in the conference app under the Congress tab.
Prior to Congress, members can hear the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion report and a report from the Ethics Task Force during the March 18, 2026, Town Hall and Special Business Meeting. Register in advance.
Position Statements
In addition to the customary business and annual reports to the association membership, members will be asked this year to review, discuss and approve five position statements. Discussion will be held in the Second Forum, with voting on the following position statements scheduled for the First House of Delegates.
Upcoming Position Statements:
- RN First Assistants
- Value of Clinical Learning Activities in the Perioperative Setting in Undergraduate Nursing Curricula
- Preventing Wrong-Person, Wrong-Site, Wrong-Procedure Events
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Perioperative Nursing
- Role, Value and Scope of the Perioperative Nurse Educator
Schedule and Agendas
AORN Forums are designed for open discussion of items of emerging and important interest to the membership, and of those items that may be brought to the House of Delegates for membership consideration.
Roll call will again take place during the First Forum. During the roll call, all states report on the total number of delegates from their state attending the Forums and HOD that year (including states which do not have an active chapter). This number is not limited to only “chapter-designated delegates” and should include all members from a state attending the business sessions.
All members, whether a chapter delegate or delegate, may vote in the House of Delegates. Virtual participation will not be available in 2026. View the Agenda.
- First Forum
Saturday, April 11: 3:15 – 4:15pm - Second Forum
Sunday, April 12: 8:00 – 9:00am - First House of Delegates
Monday, April 13: 3:15 – 4:15pm - Second House of Delegates
Tuesday, April 14: 12:45 – 2:00 pm
How to Participate
Delegate Seating and Voting
AORN Forums and the House of Delegates are open seating. To facilitate the roll call, AORN provides seating areas for states, e-Chapter, and international chapters.
Members are encouraged to sit where they prefer to be identified and counted for the roll call.
All RNs who are AORN members are voting members. For more information on AORN delegates and chapters, please see here.
Roll Call Information
Like in 2025, roll call will be taken at the First Forum only. To accomplish the roll call efficiently and leave plenty of time for member-led discussion, each State Reporter will be limited to 25 words to announce the number of delegates and a brief statement about their State. A silent roll call will be taken by the Secretary before the House of Delegates to confirm the quorum.
Parliamentarian Hours
The AORN parliamentarian will be available onsite at the convention center as follows. Members may also email the parliamentarian in advance of Expo and onsite to discuss governance issues and potential motions.
- Saturday, April 11: 4:30 – 5:00 pm
- Sunday, April 12: 11:00 – 11:30 am
- Monday, April 13: 12:00 – 12:30 pm
- Tuesday, April 14: 9:00 – 9:30 am
