American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and American Association of Colleges of Nursing Collaborate to Establish Scholarships for Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2025 – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN Critical Care) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN Colleges) are partnering to provide scholarships to nursing students interested in practicing in critical care settings. Administered by the Foundation for Academic Nursing, each AACN²: Pathway to Critical Care Nursing Scholarship provides $2,500 in support to eligible students enrolled in entry-level baccalaureate programs who are committed to providing expert care to patients at their most vulnerable.

“Working with our academic nursing colleagues on this initiative offers much-needed support for students aspiring to become critical care nurses,” said AACN Critical Care Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Vicki Good. “Prelicensure scholarships, new-to-practice programs and healthy work environments are essential to stabilize and strengthen the nursing workforce.”

Health workforce analysts continue to project a significant gap between the total number of nurses and the total demand for nurses through 2037. Addressing this shortfall requires collaborative solutions and strategic engagement from leaders in academia and clinical practice.

“Alleviating the nursing shortage hinges on accommodating all qualified applicants in our nation’s schools of nursing and addressing limitations to full enrollment,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AACN Colleges. “We applaud our colleagues at AACN Critical Care for supporting these scholarships, which will open new doors to nursing students beginning their careers and help reduce financial barriers to pursuing a nursing education.”

The most common pathway toward a career as a registered nurse (RN) in the U.S. is by enrolling in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, which is offered at 869 colleges and universities. Data from AACN Colleges’ 2024 survey show that enrollment in BSN programs increased by 4.9% or 12,434 students last year. This finding marks the second year of enrollment increases in these programs, following a small dip in 2022. Total enrollment in entry-level BSN programs is currently 267,889 students.

AACN Critical Care will fund up to 16 prelicensure scholarships ($2,500 each) this year through its partnership with AACN Colleges. The funds come from AACN’s endowment established in 2001 to support scholarships for nursing education and professional development.

The application for the AACN²: Pathway to Critical Care Nursing Scholarship is open now through September 1, 2025. Scholarship recipients will be announced in November. For more information about this new program, including eligibility requirements, click here.

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About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN Critical Care) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN Critical Care is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and nearly 200 chapters in the United States.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN Colleges) is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 875 schools of nursing nationwide. The organization establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve healthcare, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research and practice.

The Foundation for Academic Nursing is the philanthropic arm of AACN Colleges that raises funds to support new innovations in nursing education and practice. The Foundation serves as a focal point for AACN Colleges’ fundraising efforts while elevating the importance of academic nursing and our member schools in the philanthropic community.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kristie Aylett
AACN Critical Care
228-229-9472
kristie.aylett@aacn.org 

Robert Rosseter
AACN Colleges
202-463-6930
rrosseter@aacnnursing.org