AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice are the gold standard for evidence-based recommendations in surgical care. Developed by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) , these 34 guidelines provide a structured framework for delivering safe patient care and ensuring workplace safety across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. Core Components of the Guidelines The guidelines are built on the Perioperative Patient-Focused Model , which categorizes care into four dimensions: Safety, Physiological Responses, Behavioral Responses, and Health Systems. ScienceDirect.com Perioperative Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice - AORN

The AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, including the latest 2026 updates, provide evidence-based standards for operating room safety covering areas like infection prevention and patient positioning. The full text and implementation tools are available through subscription-based eGuidelines Plus or by purchasing the official 2026 manual. For access to the full guidelines, visit AORN eGuidelines+ . Guidelines for Perioperative Practice - AORN eGuidelines+

Here is some content related to the AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) Guidelines for Perioperative Practice: Overview The AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice are a set of evidence-based guidelines that provide perioperative nurses with the latest research and best practices for providing safe and effective patient care in the perioperative setting. The guidelines are updated annually and cover a wide range of topics related to perioperative nursing practice. Purpose The purpose of the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice is to:

Provide perioperative nurses with evidence-based guidelines for providing safe and effective patient care. Promote best practices in perioperative nursing. Enhance patient outcomes and reduce the risk of complications. Support perioperative nurses in their role as patient advocates.

Guideline Topics The AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice cover a wide range of topics, including:

Preoperative Preparation : Guidelines for preoperative patient assessment, preparation, and education. Surgical Site Preparation : Guidelines for preparing the surgical site, including skin preparation and draping. Infection Prevention : Guidelines for preventing surgical site infections and other perioperative infections. Anesthesia and Sedation : Guidelines for the administration of anesthesia and sedation in the perioperative setting. Operating Room Environment : Guidelines for maintaining a safe and efficient operating room environment. Patient Positioning : Guidelines for positioning patients during surgery to prevent injury and promote comfort. Blood and Fluid Management : Guidelines for managing blood and fluids during surgery. Wound Closure : Guidelines for closing wounds, including suturing and stapling.

Key Recommendations Some key recommendations from the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice include:

Use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) for skin preparation : The guidelines recommend using CHG for skin preparation to reduce the risk of surgical site infections. Use of evidence-based guidelines for surgical site infection prevention : The guidelines recommend using evidence-based guidelines, such as the AORN guidelines, to prevent surgical site infections. Implementation of a perioperative team : The guidelines recommend implementing a perioperative team, including a surgeon, anesthesiologist, and perioperative nurses, to coordinate patient care.

Implementation and Evaluation To implement and evaluate the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, perioperative nurses should:

Review and apply the guidelines : Review the guidelines and apply them to practice. Develop policies and procedures : Develop policies and procedures to support the guidelines. Educate patients and staff : Educate patients and staff on the guidelines and their role in supporting best practices. Monitor and evaluate outcomes : Monitor and evaluate patient outcomes and perioperative nursing practice to ensure that the guidelines are being followed and that best practices are being implemented.

Resources For more information on the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, perioperative nurses can access the following resources:

AORN website : The AORN website (aorn.org) provides access to the guidelines, as well as other perioperative nursing resources. AORN Journal : The AORN Journal is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes articles on perioperative nursing practice and research. AORN conferences and education : AORN offers conferences and education on perioperative nursing practice and the guidelines.