The National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) is an American non-profit volunteer-run professional association that aims to advance orthopaedic nursing.
Formed in 1980, NAON was designed to promote the highest standards of nursing practice by educating its practitioners, promoting research, and encouraging effective communication between orthopaedic nurses and other groups with similar interests.
Starting in 1981, NAON has organized an annual congress at different locations in the United States.
One of the main goals of the founders of NAON was to form a stronger and firmer foundation for the development of an orthopaedic nursing organization.
Recovering from the unexpected dissolution of the previous organization, Orthopaedic Nurses Association (ONA), members from across the United States met on March 8, 1980, in Atlanta, Georgia, under the leadership of Nancy Hesselbach and Barbara Fiehler.