ANA and AORN agree to individual affiliate partnership.

SILVER SPRING, MD AND DENVER, CO--The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) are pleased to announce a new agreement that will provide all AORN members with individual affiliate, non-voting status membership to ANA, effective July 1, 2008.

"As individual affiliate members of ANA, our members will have the chance to unite with registered nurses across specialties and advocate for common nursing issues that impact legislation at the local, state and national level. By coming together we have greater influence on the issues that matter most to the nursing community," said AORN President Mary Jo Steiert, RN, BSN, CNOR.

"It's essential that ANA continue its long tradition of representing the interests of all nurses, including perioperative nurses," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, RN, MSN, CNOR. "America's 2.9 million registered nurses make up the largest group of health care professionals, and this new partnership ensures that ANA will have a stronger voice on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures as we advocate for much needed reform in nursing and in health care." Patton announced the ANA affiliate membership agreement at AORN's recent 55th annual Congress conference.

"This is a critical time for the nursing community, and we recognize the need to foster close ties with our ANA partners. AORN is committed to strengthening the nursing community, but to make an impact we need to work together across specialties. An affiliation with ANA will not only benefit the perioperative community, but all nursing specialties as a whole," said AORN Executive Director Linda Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, FAAN.

AORN will continue to pursue direct positions on its legislative priorities," continued Groah. "However, we also feel it is important to support the efforts of ANA initiatives, including safe staffing and workplace safety, because these are important issues that impact all nurses, including perioperative nurses."

"We're nurses first. Standing together as nurses, with a united presence, we are committed to improving patient safety in all settings. We believe this is the right time for what we know will be a powerful collaboration. ANA looks forward to working with AORN's dedicated perioperative nurses to advance nursing's agenda and to gain the momentum of the greater good on behalf of our profession and the public we serve," remarked ANA CEO Linda J. Stierle, MSN, RN, CNAA,BC.

AORN, Inc., the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, represents approximately 40,000 Registered Nurses in the U.S. and abroad who facilitate the management, teaching and practice of perioperative nursing, or who are enrolled in nursing education or engaged in perioperative research. Its members also include perioperative nurses who work in related business and industry sectors. AORN's mission is to support RNs in achieving optimal outcomes for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. AORN promotes quality patient care by providing its members with education, standards, services and representation. For more information, visit www.aorn.org.

The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses through its 54 constituent member nurses associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.