Press Releases

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation and AACN announced that 50 schools of nursing nationwide were selected to receive funding to host White Coat/Oath Ceremonies for incoming students in the 2021-2022 academic year. Through this collaboration, the two organizations are highlighting the importance of compassionate care to nursing students early in their professional formation.

AACN applauds the House Appropriations Committee for advancing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS-ED) spending bill, which includes major new investments in nursing education and research.

Late last week, President Biden released the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Budget. This budget proposes a 16% increase to non-defense discretionary programs, including additional resources to essential programs under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Education.

To spotlight the impact nurses have on leading innovation and advancing new models of care AACN is creating new teaching tools designed to inspire the next generation of nurses to serve with courage, ingenuity, and compassion.

This year, the Gold Foundation is providing $50,000 in funding to schools of nursing to offer White Coat/Oath Ceremonies, which are designed to promote patient-centered care among students entering nursing school.

AACN is pleased to announce the adoption of a new model and framework for preparing registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse specialists. On April 6, deans from the nation’s schools of nursing affiliated with AACN approved The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, which delineates competency expectations for graduates of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. This historic and bold move will transform how nurses are educated for entry-level and advanced roles. 

According to new data released today by AACN, student enrollment in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral nursing programs increased in 2020 despite concerns that the pandemic might diminish interest in nursing careers. In programs designed to prepare new registered nurses (RNs) at the baccalaureate level, enrollment increased by 5.6% with 251,145 students now studying in these programs nationwide. AACN’s annual survey findings are based on data reported from 956 of the 1,035 nursing schools in the U.S. (92.4% response rate) with baccalaureate and/or graduate programs.

AACN is pleased to announce that CastleBranch, Inc., a leading provider of customizable screening and clinical experience solutions for health profession students, has committed $250,000 in new funding to provide scholarships to nursing students in baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs.

AACN is pleased to announce that the AfterCollege-AACN Nursing Scholarship has been renewed and will be administered by AACN’s Foundation for Academic Nursing. This annual $10,000 commitment will provide the opportunity for nursing students to complete their education and enter the nursing profession.

AACN is pleased to announce the results of its 2021 election to fill seats on the AACN Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. With votes cast by member deans from the nation’s nursing schools with baccalaureate and higher degree programs, those selected to serve as AACN’s top leaders include...