EORNA was founded in 1980 by a group of innovative European perioperative nurses and formally launched in Copenhagen Denmark in 1992. There are currently 24 member associations.
The EORNA board is comprised of at most two representatives from the official associations in each member country. Board meetings are held bi-annually, in different member countries. The official language of EORNA is English.

EORNA exists to enhance and develop perioperative patient care across Europe.
It does this by:

• Promoting and maintaining a high standard of perioperative patient care

• Being the influential voice of perioperative nurses in Europe

• Linking and collaborating with relevant European and international organizations