Press Releases

AACN is pleased to announce that 50 schools of nursing from 28 states have been selected to participate in a national initiative designed to foster inclusive learning environments and build a more diverse nursing workforce. 

In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, AACN is deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have on the public’s health, health equity, and safe nursing practice.

AACN is pleased to announce the release of a new study summary titled The State of Doctor of Nursing Practice Education in 2022. This report provides the latest national data on trends in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs; insights from employers, graduates, and program administrators on the value and impact of DNP education; and recommendations for ongoing engagement with practice partners and certification organizations to support the DNP for entry into advanced practice nursing.

Dr. Cynthia McCurren, Chair of the AACN Board of Directors, appeared before the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to discuss the importance of elevated funding for ...

AACN was awarded $1.5 million in funding through the American Nurses Foundation’s Reimagining Nursing Initiative to launch a three-year project titled Competency-Based Education for Practice-Ready Nurse Graduates. This project is designed to accelerate transformation in nursing education by supporting innovative approaches to competency development and skills assessment for new nurses. 

AACN is launching a new initiative to assist nursing schools in creating inclusive learning environments where all students feel a strong sense of belonging and purpose. With funding provided by Johnson & Johnson, this new 18-month initiative entails scaling up the use of AACN’s Leading Across Multidimensional Perspectives (LAMP^©) Culture and Climate Survey to better assess the experiences of racially diverse nursing students and identify practices that facilitate student success. 

AACN and its more than 850 member schools of nursing have endorsed a new position statement, titled The Research-Focused Doctoral Program in Nursing: Pathways to Excellence, which promotes quality and innovation in nursing PhD programs (and similar programs focused on nursing science). With online ballots cast March 28-April 11, 2022, deans of the nation’s nursing schools affiliated with AACN voted to endorse this new statement developed to champion excellence in nursing education, stimulate strong interest among students in the PhD, and elevate nursing research.

The National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (NTF), a coalition of 19 national nursing organizations, has developed a new set of standards designed to ensure quality in graduate programs that prepare nurse practitioners (NPs). The new criteria, titled 2022 Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (6th edition), will be used by nursing colleges and universities nationwide to update curriculum and clinical experiences to better prepare graduates for contemporary NP practice. 

According to new data released today by AACN, student enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 3.3% in 2021, despite concerns that the pandemic might discourage career seekers from entering the profession. Though this is welcome news, nursing schools did see enrollment declines in baccalaureate degree-completion programs and some graduate programs (master’s and PhD). 

President Biden has released the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget, which outlines additional investments in nursing and other key programs under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Education, as well as a commitment to addressing many pressing issues facing the nation.