Perioperative Nurse Week

Perioperative Nurse Week is an annual week-long observance held during a week in November to recognize nurses who care for patients before, during, and after surgery. Its focus reflects the broad meaning of *perioperative nursing*: these professionals are involved not only in the operating room, but also in preparation, safety checks, patient advocacy, recovery, education, and coordination with the wider surgical team.

The observance developed alongside the professional organization and growing specialization of perioperative nursing. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), founded in the mid-20th century, helped establish common standards, education, and professional identity for nurses working in surgical settings. As perioperative care became more complex, recognition efforts increasingly emphasized that these nurses contribute to every stage of a patient’s surgical experience rather than simply assisting during an operation.

Over time, Perioperative Nurse Week evolved into a broader professional and public-awareness occasion. Hospitals and surgical centers commonly mark the week through educational activities, staff acknowledgments, displays, recognition ceremonies, and messages highlighting infection prevention, sterile practice, teamwork, technological expertise, and patient advocacy. These activities also draw attention to the demanding preparation and careful communication required to make surgery as safe as possible.

Culturally, the week helps make a highly specialized area of nursing more visible. Patients may encounter perioperative nurses only briefly, yet these professionals often provide reassurance during an anxious transition and safeguard the patient’s interests when the patient cannot speak for themselves. By honoring their clinical judgment, technical knowledge, and compassion, Perioperative Nurse Week recognizes the essential human and professional role nurses play throughout surgical care.