AORN

09/26/2025

✨ Excellence in perioperative nursing shines at every stage of a career:
• The Rising Star who shows extraordinary promise in their first years.
• The Mentor who invests in others and builds future leaders.
• The Innovator who advances safety with new ideas and bold solutions.
• The Leader who strengthens teams and inspires the profession.
These colleagues move perioperative nursing forward, and now is the time to celebrate them.
Nominations are open through Sept. 30 for AORN’s Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing and more than 10 Individual Achievement Awards honoring leadership, mentorship, DEI, innovation, research, and clinical practice.
Last chance to recognize the colleagues who make a difference.
👉 Nominate by Sept. 30: https://www.aorn.org/get-involved/periop-community/award-programs

09/25/2025

What’s next in total joint reconstruction?

Join leading orthopedic surgeons at the Southeast Reconstruction Summit (SRS) on November 22 for a one-day, surgeon-led program featuring:

• Live surgical demonstrations (Primary TKA & Anterior THA)
• Smart implants and emerging technologies
• Efficiency strategies for ASCs
• Reimbursement insights for remote monitoring & care management

Earn CME (plus AAPA, CBRN, NCCT credits), connect with peers, and gain actionable insights to stay ahead in hip and knee arthroplasty.

Nurses, allied health professionals, residents, and fellows receive discounted or complimentary registration.

Early-bird rates available through September 30, 2025. Register Today> https://bit.ly/3I6FJrT

09/24/2025

🔍 Instrument Inspection on the Sterile Field: Why Vigilance Matters

As part of the instrument inspection process, scrubbed team members play a critical role in patient safety. Instruments with lumens must be visually inspected for debris, bioburden, or water—any of which can compromise sterilization and pose serious risks to patients.

A recent quality improvement initiative revealed that 100% of 40 inspected instruments (including metal suction tips and drill attachments) had visible defects or debris after initial cleaning. Even with additional rounds of cleaning, discoloration and contamination persisted.

Contamination can appear as:
• Brown, yellow, orange, or white chunks
• Fibrous debris
• Black discoloration

Errors in sterilization—like condensation, compromised packaging, or incorrect load configuration—can also lead to contamination. AORN recommends allowing sterilized items to cool undisturbed to prevent wet spots and bacterial wicking.

Read about how the perioperative team members can stay vigilant and anticipate both expected and unexpected contamination risks: https://aornjournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aorn.14404

09/23/2025

Application closes September 30!

Are you an RNFA committed to enhancing your skills and delivering exceptional patient care? AORN Foundation is offering CRNFA certification grants—supported by the National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC) to help you add to your expertise and your credentials.

📝 Apply now! https://bit.ly/45OkyUp

Invest in yourself. Advance your career. Elevate patient care.



https://bit.ly/45OkyUp

09/22/2025

Surgical smoke presents a serious occupational hazard for perioperative teams, yet the path to implementing a comprehensive smoke management program is rarely straightforward.

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring leaders from nursing, surgery, and supply chain who will share their firsthand experiences creating smoke-free surgical environments. From overcoming operational barriers to navigating varying state legislation, this session will offer practical, actionable insights for healthcare professionals at any stage of the journey.

Save your seat now: https://bit.ly/41C1Lcu

Sponsored by CONMED

09/19/2025

Ready to lead with greater confidence?

Register now for AORN Leadership Essentials: Finance & Operations 2025 — a 4-part virtual series, led by expert Pamela Hunt, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.

What to Expect:
✔️ 4 dynamic, 2-hour live sessions
✔️NEW – 4, Q & A sessions with our expert
✔️ Actionable insights on creating a successful management plan
✔️ Interactive discussions with peers
✔️ Flexible virtual format tailored for busy professionals

Register now: https://bit.ly/47ERoIA

Sponsored by Intuitive, Stryker & LeanTaaS

09/17/2025

Burnout isn’t just about workload, it’s about how prepared you feel when the pressure is on.

In a new Forbes article, AORN CEO David Wyatt shares how confidence defines the operating room, and how shared standards like the AORN Guidelines help make that possible.

“Confidence can be a powerful buffer against burnout. In the OR, that confidence comes from clarity, knowing your role, trusting your team, and having access to the right tools,” he said.

And those tools include The AORN Guidelines, the evidence-based foundation perioperative nurses rely on to act with competence and focus, even in the most complex situations.

When surgical teams are supported by up-to-date guidance, they’re empowered to do what matters most: deliver safe, effective care.

Click on link to the story on our AORN News page: https://www.aorn.org/about-aorn/aorn-newsroom

09/17/2025

🎧 Tune In - PeriopTalk
In our latest podcast episode, hear from a facility recognized for excellence in surgical smoke evacuation through the AORN’s Center of Excellence Award Programs. Learn how they’re protecting perioperative teams and patients with effective strategies and advocacy.

🏅 Is your team leading the charge in smoke safety? Apply for the COE: Smoke Evacuation & Go Clear™ Award and showcase your commitment to OR excellence. Want to get started with a smoke management program in your facility? Check out the leader exchange on oct. 22 to get tips from the experts. Details are on the AORN events page.

🔗 Listen & learn more: https://bit.ly/3VWwDAU

Join Hannah Campbell, program manager for AORN's Surgical Safety Award Programs, in this episode of Periop Talk. Hannah interviews Marci Kling, a perioperati...

09/16/2025

Call for Abstracts: AORN Perioperative Nursing Research Symposium

Have research, EBP, or QI work that can advance perioperative care? Share it!

We’re inviting nurses and perioperative professionals to submit abstracts for virtual presentations at the AORN Nursing Research Symposium, happening January 21–22, 2026. Outstanding presentations will have the opportunity to present at AORN Expo 2026!

📅 Abstracts due: September 30, 2025, 11:59 PM MT
👉 Submit here: https://bit.ly/4n7WEZT

09/14/2025

Delaware is 20th State to Go Surgical Smoke-Free

On Aug, 25, 2025, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed HB 173-1 into law, making Delaware the 20th state to enact surgical smoke evacuation legislation.

The new law goes into effect on April 1, 2026, and requires health care employers – both hospitals and freestanding surgical centers – to adopt and implement policies that require the use of a smoke evacuation system during any surgical procedure that is likely to generate surgical smoke. The Division of Health Care Quality (DHQC) is responsible for enforcement of the new law.

The Delaware Nurses Association had a surgical smoke bill introduced by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, Speaker of the House, on May 20, 2025. The bill was heard in the House Health & Human Development Committee on June 24 at which time it was substituted for the enacted bill which clarifies the DHQC’s enforcement role.

“The safety of our nurses and health care personnel is a top priority of the Delaware Nurses Association. We are thrilled that the Delaware General Assembly passed, and Governor Meyer signed into law, House Bill 173 related to evacuation of surgical smoke. This is a critical step towards safety for our operating room staff,” said Christopher Otto, MSN, RN, CCRN, Executive Director of the Delaware Nurses Association.

AORN is grateful to the Delaware Nurses Association for making surgical smoke evacuation a legislative priority this year. AORN members in the state can find resources for implementing the new law on AORN’s website.

09/13/2025

Thanks to your incredible support, the AORN Foundation has awarded 169 scholarships to the 2025–2026 class. We couldn't have done it without you — thank you for helping us invest in the future of perioperative nursing. 💙

“With this support, I feel even more empowered to pursue my long-term goal of becoming an OR nurse and eventually furthering my education as a nurse practitioner. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity, and I hope to one day pay it forward by mentoring and supporting future nursing students who, like me, are passionate about making a difference in healthcare.” - Camille Mack, 2025 scholarship recipient

Want to get more involved or need support to continue your education? Get more information now! https://bit.ly/3iwEZzh

09/12/2025

When communication in the OR breaks down, it can lead to:
❌ Delays and inefficiencies
❌ Frustration between teams
❌ Increased risk to patient safety

In this powerful panel discussion with multiple levels of leaders from Inova, they’ll dive into the intersection of perioperative care and executive leadership decision-making—sharing how strategic alignment between teams can create a strong, positive OR culture and drive better outcomes.

🗓️ October 8, 2025, 1:00 pm ET
Free Live Webinar

Improve your OR culture now: https://bit.ly/3Sx52EV

Thank you to our sponsor: