General information
Australian patients deserve safe, high-quality, evidence-informed care throughout every stage of their perioperative journey. This is achieved through the expertise, dedication and collaboration of Australian perioperative nurses and interdisciplinary team members who implement the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN) Standards to support consistent best practice, patient safety, and optimal clinical outcomes.
The ACORN Standards consist of:
- Standards for Safe and Quality Care in the Perioperative Environment (SSQCPE)
- Professional Practice Standards for Perioperative Nurses (PPSPN)
The Standards for safe and quality care in the perioperative environment (SSQCPE) provide evidence-informed guidance on the clinical processes, systems and practices required to support safe, consistent and high-quality perioperative care. The Standards outline the responsibilities of perioperative personnel and health service organisations across all phases of the perioperative journey, supporting risk reduction, patient safety, infection prevention, effective communication, clinical governance and quality improvement.
The Standards are designed to support health service organisations and perioperative teams in delivering best practice care, meeting regulatory and accreditation requirements, and promoting continuous improvement within the perioperative environment.
There are 16 Standards for safe and quality care in the perioperative environment (SSQCPE):
- Asepsis
- Cleaning and maintaining the perioperative environment
- Electrosurgical safety
- Laser safety
- Latex and chlorhexidine sensitivity
- Management of accountable items
- Patient positioning and manual handling
- Patient skin antisepsis
- Perioperative attire
- Perioperative team communication
- Preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia
- Sharps and preventing sharps-related injury
- Specimen identification, collection and handling
- Surgical hand antisepsis, gowning and gloving
- Surgical plume
- Visitors to the perioperative environment
The Professional practice standards for perioperative nurses (PPSPN) outline the professional expectations of enrolled nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners working within the perioperative environment. The standards support nurses in demonstrating alignment with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) standards through clearly defined behavioural descriptors linked to the NMBA criteria.
The PPSPNs also describe the various nursing roles within the perioperative setting and provide guidance on the key responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and educational requirements associated with each role.
There are eleven Professional practice standards for perioperative nurses (PPSPN):
- Enrolled nurse (EN)
- Registered nurse (RN)
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
- Anaesthesia nurse
- Circulating nurse
- Day procedure service nurse
- Instrument nurse
- Nurse educator
- Perioperative manager
- Perioperative nurse surgical assistant (PNSA)
- Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit nurse
How to reference ACORN Standards 2026
Recommended citation for ‘Standards for safe and quality care in the perioperative environment’ volume:
Australian College of Perioperative Nurses Ltd (ACORN). The ACORN Standards: Standards for safe and quality care in the perioperative environment (SSQCPE) – 2026. Adelaide: ACORN; 2026.
Recommended citation for ‘Professional practice standards for perioperative nurses’ volume:
Australian College of Perioperative Nurses Ltd (ACORN). The ACORN Standards: Professional practice standards for perioperative nurses (PPSPN) – 2026. Adelaide: ACORN; 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Please visit our FAQ page for responses to frequently asked questions related to the ACORN Standards, specific standards within the volumes, or practice audit tools.