Adopted by nurses and healthcare organizations worldwide, these expert developed and reviewed benchmarks are the standards for nursing care for women, newborns, and people across the lifespan. The AWHONN Standards summarize the specialty’s core principles of nursing practice. AWHONN’s Standards, ninth edition, emphasizes the importance of the art and science of nursing through demonstration of respectful and equitable health care in conjunction with evidence-based nursing practice. These standards delineate the role, responsibilities, and competencies of the registered nurse, including those with an advanced degree and the advanced practice registered nurse. These 18 Standards incorporate core elements of care for nurses caring for women and people across the lifespan, as well as those in reproductive, obstetric, and neonatal to optimize clinical practice and performance to improve patient outcomes.