Poster Guidelines

Please read the information on this page to help you with the process of submitting an abstract and to get important information you will need if your poster is accepted for display. 

Policies

Any and all expenses associated with the poster display (including conference registration and travel) are the responsibility of the poster author(s). AORN does not reimburse any expenses or financially support poster authors. For information about grants to Congress, go to the AORN Foundation website.

• Congress posters must be displayed by 12 noon on the Saturday prior to Congress.
• Poster authors are solely responsible for displaying the poster. If you are unable to arrive in time to display your poster, other arrangements may be made at the author's sole expense. Contact the program coordinator for assistance.
• Poster authors attending only the Monday Q&A period (11:30am to 1pm) must request a guest pass in advance of the conference (by January 31) or they will be required to purchase a day-pass on site.
• Absolutely no commercial support may be shown on the poster. Product photos may be used only if the manufacturer name cannot be seen in the photo or if the product is the only one on the market. Using company names or specific products in the poster text is also prohibited. Non-compliance with this rule will result in the poster being removed from display without warning.
• All content must accurately reflect the latest AORN standards and recommended practices.

Submissions

Submit an abstract (description) of the information on the proposed poster. (If you already have a complete poster that you have displayed elsewhere, you must still submit an abstract of the information to have it reviewed for acceptance.)

The following information is required in each submission:

• Contact person: One contact person is designated for each submission, is the only link between AORN and all authors, and is responsible for sharing all information with everyone involved on the poster. The program coordinator will correspond with that contact person only.
• Authors: All authors must be noted during the online submission process and must submit all required documentation. Additional authors may not be added after the abstract is submitted. Only authors designated during the abstract submission process may have their names included on the poster.
• Poster title: Keep the poster title simple yet informative. Please do not exceed 60 characters including spaces and punctuation. Use “title case” for your title submission (ex: "Submitting a Poster for AORN Congress"). Do not use all uppercase, all lowercase, or “sentence case.”
• Abstract: The abstract (description of poster) should be succinct and less than 250 words. It should include information related to clinical improvement/innovation, research, or evidence-based practice, depending on poster type. All posters should tell a complete story. 
• Release of contact information: One person will be required to provide a statement during the submission process as to whether AORN may or may not publish and/or release your name and email address.
• Conflict-of-interest form: Every author is required to provide a conflict-of-interest disclosure as part of the submission process.
• Narrative biography: Every author is required to complete a short narrative biography that shows their expertise in the abstract subject matter.

Poster guidelines by type

Please address the following in your poster abstract based on poster type.

Clinical poster

• Clinical issue
• Description of team
• Preparation and planning
• Assessment
• Implementation
• Outcome
• Implications for perioperative nursing

Research poster

• Purpose of project: Include research aim and question/hypothesis
• Methodology: Include conceptual model, research design, and a sample
• Results: Include results and limitations
• Perioperative nursing implications: Include how this study affects perioperative nursing.

Evidence-based practice poster

• Purpose of project: Identify the submission as "evidence-based" and include the clinical question 
• Methodology: Include the method you used to answer the clinical question 
• Results: Include synthesis of the findings, decision about practice, implementation, and evaluation
• Perioperative nursing implications: Include how this project affects perioperative nursing.

Evaluation process

Research/evidence-based practice: The AORN Nursing Research Committee reviews the submissions and identifies posters to be accepted in the Research and Evidence-Base Research categories. Research/evidence-based practice posters will be judged by members of the AORN Nursing Research Committee on Sunday morning. Awards are hung by Monday morning. Members of the research committee will coordinate photographs of the winners.

Clinical improvement/innovation: All clinical improvement/innovation poster abstract submissions are reviewed by the Congress Education Planning Committee.The program coordinator will send a letter response via e-mail to the contact person of each Congress submission by year-end. All required documentation as outlined in the invitation letter must be returned to the program coordinator by the indicated deadline for the poster to be displayed at Congress. Late submissions may not be included in the display. All clinical posters will be recognized with a Certificate of Participation that includes the poster title and name of the facility.

Authors at Congress poster displays

All Congress poster authors are asked to be at their posters on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to respond to any questions from participants. Photographs may be scheduled during or immediately after this period.

Poster removal

• Congress posters must remain on display until noon on Thursday. Do not remove your poster prior to noon on Thursday as attendees will still be viewing them for contact hours.
• AORN assumes no responsibility for posters remaining in the display area following the conclusion of all official AORN activities on Thursday. Any items remaining will be discarded unless prior arrangements have been made with the program coordinator.

Virtual posters

In addition to the physical poster display at Congress, AORN contracts with EventScribeTM to create an ePoster Gallery of Congress posters. The contact person will be invited by EventScribe/Cadmium to include their poster for online display. We encourage you to participate in our newest technological endeavor!

GUIDELINES

Creating a poster display 

• The Congress display boards provided are cloth-covered in a landscape orientation. (↔).
• Maximum poster dimensions are: 6½ feet (6.5') long [1.98 meters] by 3½ feet (3.5') tall [1.07 meters].
• Lettering, charts, graphs, drawings, or photographs must be quality form.
• Poster text should be readable from a four- to six-foot distance (72 point font suggested for headers/titles).
• The name(s), credential(s), and facility/facilities of all authors listed in the abstract must be included on the poster. 
• Laminated and vinyl posters work best because they are lightweight and will roll to fit in a tube. Paper and cardstock posters tear easily. Posters made from foam core are harder to transport and difficult to hang on the board.
• Author(s) may bring business cards or other handout materials. All items must be attached to the board.
• AORN will not print or copy materials for you onsite.
• Author(s) must have written permission to use copyright materials, including pictures, drawings, etc., as outlined in the invitation.

Displaying your poster at Congress

AORN provides: 

New poster number: A new poster number will be assigned to each poster by the program coordinator. Posters are displayed in numerical order. You will be notified of the new poster number prior to Congress and must use that new poster number to locate your assigned poster board display area.

Display board: One cloth-covered, landscape-oriented tack board for each poster. The poster display board is 7.5 feet long by 4 feet wide.

Title sign: A 4-inch by 22-inch (4" X 22") sign with the new poster number and poster title must remain at the top of the board and may not be moved.

International submissions: Posters submitted from outside of the U.S. will be denoted with an "International" sign.

Congress handouts: Each poster session will have its group of abstracts uploaded online as a handout for attendees.

Author(s) responsibility: 

• Expenses: Any and all expenses associated with the poster display (including registration and travel) are the responsibility of the poster author(s).
• Hanging posters: Poster authors are solely responsible for displaying their poster at Congress. Use the new poster number provided to locate your assigned poster board display area.
• Display deadline: The poster must be on display by 12 noon on the Saturday prior to Congress. Do not leave tubes or other supplies on the floor of the display area.
• Attaching the poster: The best way to display your poster is to use T-pins, which are available at most office and drafting supply outlets. Regular length push pins and thumbtacks do not work well. Velcro does not stick to the cloth on the board. T-pins will be available at the Congress information booth.
• Congress authors at posters: All authors are asked to be at their posters on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to respond to any questions from participants. (Photographs of the clinical winners will be scheduled during or immediately after this time period.)