Aorn Guidelines For Perioperative Practice May 2026

Compare your unit’s current policies against the AORN Guidelines. Common gaps include:

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, AORN is focusing on three frontiers: aorn guidelines for perioperative practice

The 2024-2025 updates hint at future guidelines regarding Artificial Intelligence in the OR. Compare your unit’s current policies against the AORN

The distinction between Class I (Clean), Class II (Clean-Contaminated), Class III (Contaminated), and Class IV (Dirty/Infected) wounds is often wrongly assigned. The 2025 guidelines provide a decision-tree algorithm to reduce variance. A critical note: If a surgeon violates the gastrointestinal tract without significant spillage, the wound is Class II, not Class III. Misclassification leads to incorrect antibiotic prophylaxis and skewed SSI data. The 2024-2025 updates hint at future guidelines regarding

The AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice (often simply called "The AORN Guidelines" or "the White Papers") is a collection of 30+ evidence-based documents that guide the full spectrum of perioperative care—from the moment a patient decides to have surgery through the recovery period and discharge.

Unlike a traditional textbook that presents static information, the AORN Guidelines are living documents. They are updated annually based on the latest systematic reviews of peer-reviewed research, expert consensus, and regulatory changes. The 2024 and 2025 editions have continued to evolve, addressing emerging pathogens, technological advances in robotic surgery, and updated sterility assurance practices.