Registration Information

Receive Your Registration Materials in the Mail
For your convenience, AORN will mail a registration packet to all registered attendees*, beginning on March 5, 2012.

*Some exceptions apply. See "Registration Categories."

Your customized registration packet will include a registration confirmation, invoice copy, attendee badge, bag pickup coupon, ribbons, and tickets to events and pre-Congress intensive workshops you have registered for. When you arrive at the conference, please present the coupon at the bag pickup counter to receive your attendee conference bag containing the conference program and other important resources. If you arrive at the conference and require a replacement badge or ticket, please visit one of the registration counters and we will be happy to assist you. For questions, please contact customer service at custsvc@aorn.org or by calling 888-266-7644, 972-349-5879 or faxing us at 972-349-7715. All registrations must be received at AORN headquarters or postmarked by the dates specified in order to receive mailings and stated fees. The early registration date is January 31, 2012. If you choose to attend the intensive workshops, you must indicate which session(s) you plan to attend at the time of your registration. Registrations for intensive workshops will not be processed if sessions are not indicated.

Onsite Registration Hours in New Orleans 

Saturday, March 24............................................7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 25..............................................6:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Monday, March 26 - Wednesday, March 28..........7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 29............................................7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

If you register online, you will receive an automatic e-mail confirmation. Please be sure to provide a valid e-mail address when you are registering for this event. You will receive an e-mail confirmation from AORN within 15 days of receipt of your registration if you call or mail in your registration form. If you do not receive a confirmation within 15 days, please call customer service at 888-266-7644, 972-349-5879 or email custsvc@aorn.org. Send faxes to 972-349-7715.

Registration Categories 

• Members: AORN standard, retired, PEP members, and associate members.
• Non-members: Anyone who is not a member of AORN.
• Group discount: See description on next page.
• Exhibits-only registration: You may register to attend the exhibit hall only. You will be able to do this online beginning September 27, 2012, or you may register at a registration counter onsite.
• Press/media: Free advance registration. Press credentials must be presented on site. Not eligible for advanced badge mailing.
• Student: Anyone who is pursuing education leading to eligibility to sit for the registered nurse licensing exam. Please bring student ID to the registration counter in New Orleans to receive your badge. Students are not eligible for advanced mailing. Contact hours are not available with this registration category.
•  Faculty: Full-time faculty personnel of schools of nursing. Part-time and adjunct faculty are not eligible for complimentary registration on Wednesdays. Faculty not eligible for advanced badge mailing.
• International attendees: Canadian attendees are eligible for advanced mailing which will begin for those attendees on February 27, 2012. Other International attendees are not eligible for advanced badge mailing. Registration packets will be available at the registration counters in New Orleans upon check-in at the conference.
• Spouse/guest information: Attendees’ spouses or guests may attend the opening session, closing session, peers lectureship, and exhibits on Tuesday and Wednesday. The fee for a spouse or guest is listed on the registration form. There is no individual pricing for any of the components listed above. The registered attendee may register a spouse/guest online, or can fill out a separate registration form for each spouse/guest. Children under 16 years of age may not attend Congress events. Contact ours are not available with this registration category. 

Pre-Congress Intensives – Special Registration Requirement 

All pre-Congress Intensives require an additional registration fee. There are no discounts available. All other Congress registration processes, rules, and restrictions apply.

Group Discount 

To take advantage of this group discount for weekly registrations only, you can register three or more attendees at the same time with one credit card online. Be sure to have individual attendee mailing and registration information ready before you begin the registration process. You may also submit three or more registration forms (at the same time) via fax or mail with one check or one credit card number.

For example, if three registrations are submitted together for the entire Congress at the Early Bird member rate, the one form of payment will be submitted for $1545 (3 x $515) plus any additional fees for other events selected. Incorrect amounts will be held until remaining remittance is received. The discount applies only to the weekly fee for Congress (no daily, pre-Congress intensives or other registration type is included). The group pricing is for members and is only available during the early registration period (received by January 31, 2012). It is not available to nonmembers or any time after January 31, 2012.

Weekly, Group, Daily (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) Registration
Registration for any of the above listed categories also includes access to the exhibit hall. Weekly and group registrations entitle the registrant to both days of the exhibits and the exhibit hall Reception. Daily registration for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday entitles registrants to attend the exhibits for the day(s) they are registered.

Cancellation Policy-Congress 2012
Congress cancellations received before December 31, 2011, will be eligible for a full refund. For all Congress cancellations received in writing after December 31, 2011 and before February 28, 2012, AORN will be happy to refund your registration fee minus a $50 administrative fee. A $20 administrative fee will be deducted from your refund for pre-Congress intensive workshop cancellations. Registration fees will not be refunded on cancellations received after February 28, 2012. Please allow two to four weeks for processing.

Military Registrants 

To enable AORN to process a registration paid for with a government-issued credit card, please call 800-200-7056 to obtain preapproval for your Congress registration fee.

AORN Publications/Marketing Materials 

By attending the 58th annual AORN Congress, all Congress registration categories/attendees and exhibiting companies/exhibitor personnel automatically provide their approval for AORN to use their likeness and/or quotes in any AORN publications, website(s), and marketing/promotional materials. For questions and additional information, please contact AORN Customer Service at custsvc@aorn.org or call 888-266-7644, 972-349-5879.  Send faxes to 972-349-7715.

Surgical Technologists Accreditation Statement 

This continuing education activity is being reviewed for approval by the Association of Surgical Technologists, Inc., for continuing education for the Certified Surgical Technologist and Certified First Assistant. This recognition does not imply that AST approves or endorses any product or products that are included in presentations.