Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)

We are a 501©3 nonprofit membership organization founded in 1969. We represent over 22,000 nurses and health care professionals across the U.S. We focus on delivering health care to women and newborns in hospitals, home health, and ambulatory care settings.

We provide education and resources, including the Obstetric Patient Safety (OPS): OB Emergencies Workshop, Rhythm & Readings: Monthly Tracing Review, and Critical Care Obstetrics Education (CCOE). We also develop Staffing Standards and Position Statements, offer Vaccination Resources, and educate nurses on POST-BIRTH Warning Signs. We host webinars and an annual convention.

We advocate for women’s and newborn health at state and territorial levels through grassroots outreach and legislative initiatives. We are accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Our mission is to empower and support nurses caring for women, newborns, and their families through research, education, and advocacy. Our vision is “Making a difference in the lives of women and newborns.”

Our strategic goals include promoting diversity and inclusion, advocating for critical issues, maximizing the member experience, advancing as a leader in research, education, and evidence-based practice, and investing in our infrastructure. Our culture statement emphasizes dedication to nurses who provide cultural humility and gender-inclusive care for all women, transgender people, non-binary people, birthing people, and newborns, regardless of background or status. This commitment is guided by principles of Accountability, Belonging, and Culture.

Our core values, expressed by the acronym CARING, are:

• Commitment to professional and social responsibility
• Accountability for personal and professional contributions
• Respect for diversity of and among colleagues and and clients
• Integrity in exemplifying the highest standards in personal and professional behavior
• Nursing Excellence for quality outcomes in practice, education, research, advocacy, and management
• Generation of Knowledge to enhance the science and practice of nursing to improve the health of women and newborns

We have 51-200 employees. We are committed to promoting diversity by recruiting, retaining, and mentoring a diverse workforce. We integrate cultural competence and diversity into our work and the communities we serve.

Our guiding principles include shaping a diverse work environment that promotes personal and professional growth, incorporating evidence-based practice in educational materials for diverse populations, and encouraging a diverse workforce. We provide equal employment opportunities, prohibiting discrimination based on various characteristics.

We aim to foster a collective shift in nursing culture to address healthcare challenges by committing to professional growth and advancement. Some roles have a telecommuter-friendly policy, and job interviews are conducted virtually.