Standards for Perioperative Nursing in Australia
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 implementing the 2026 edition of the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN) Standards.
The ACORN Standards 2026 provide comprehensive guidance for professional and clinical perioperative practice across Australia. Developed to support safe, consistent and contemporary perioperative care, the Standards are designed for use by interdisciplinary perioperative teams working across a broad range of perioperative and procedural care settings.
The ACORN Standards 2026 consist of two volumes:
- Professional Practice Standards for Perioperative Nurses (PPSPN)
- Standards for Safe and Quality Care in the Perioperative Environment (SSQCPE)
Each volume is mapped against the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, as well as relevant Australian and international standards, supporting health service organisations and perioperative professionals to meet and exceed national safety and quality expectations.
The 2026 edition is informed by the latest available evidence and developed in collaboration with perioperative subject matter experts from across Australia. A rigorous consultation and public consultation process helps ensure the Standards remain practical, contemporary, and applicable to real-world perioperative practice.
The ACORN Standards 2026 support perioperative teams and healthcare organisations in promoting patient safety, reducing clinical risk, strengthening professional practice, and driving continuous quality improvement within the perioperative environment.
How to access the ACORN Standards
The ACORN Standards can be accessed via the ACORN website or through organisational IP authentication, providing a streamlined and seamless user experience. Access is no longer provided through the Member Jungle app.
As an online resource, the ACORN Standards are designed to be searched by topic rather than read sequentially as a traditional publication. To search the Standards, select the search icon located in the upper left-hand corner of any page and enter relevant keywords (for example, ‘gloves’). Search results can also be refined by page or case sensitivity.
Users may also browse individual standards by opening the sidebar menu and selecting a standard from the alphabetical listing within each volume. However, using the search function is recommended, as the optimised search tool quickly identifies all relevant content across the Standards, helping ensure no related information is overlooked.
Please note that you need to be a financial member of your local state or territory association, a fellow or an affiliate member of ACORN to access the Standards for Individuals as a member benefit. All financial members of the Australian state and territory perioperative nursing associations are full members of ACORN.
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.
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