National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses

National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) was established and incorporated in the state of Missouri on April 14, 1980. NAON is an American non-profit volunteer-run professional association that aims to advance orthopaedic nursing. One of the main goals of the founders of NAON was to form a stronger and firmer foundation for the development of an orthopaedic nursing organization. Recovering from the unexpected dissolution of the previous organization, Orthopaedic Nurses Association (ONA), members from across the United States met on March 8, 1980 in Atlanta, GA under the leadership of Nancy Hesselbach and Barbara Fiehler. NAON was designed to promote the highest standards of nursing practice by educating its practitioners, promoting research, and encouraging effective communication between orthopaedic nurses and other groups with similar interests. NAON membership consists of more than 6,000 RNs, LPNs, LVNs, student nurses and associate members from across the country and around the world who share an interest in musculoskeletal healthcare. NAON is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Starting in 1981, NAON has organized an annual congress at different locations in the United States.

The mission of the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) is to advance the specialty of Orthopaedic Nursing through excellence in research, education and nursing practice. NAON promotes a culture of professional collaboration developed through trust, respect, integrity and passion for the specialty of Orthopaedics.

NAON believes the specialty of Orthopaedic Nursing should set forth the highest standards of nursing practice for optimum patient care. We believe in the concept of man as a total being having physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs. The orthopaedic nurse, in cooperation with the patient and other members of the health team, utilizes this concept of man to assess, plan, implement and evaluate a plan of patient care. This nursing process is essential to assure that each patient achieves the highest possible level of health. We are committed to the advancement of the profession of nursing. We believe that educational programs that foster personal and professional growth will develop competence and excellence in nursing practice for the orthopaedic nurse. We support and encourage research and advanced clinical practice as the foundation for expertise in nursing practice.

NAON partners with other key associations and organizations to bring orthopaedic nurses a wide range of educational opportunities as well as to spread the word about quality orthopaedic care from a nursing perspective. The NAON Foundation supports the goals and mission of NAON by providing grants, scholarships, and awards to nurses pursuing careers in orthopaedic nursing practice, education, administration, and research.