ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - Aug. 19, 2025 – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), a leading advocate for nursing excellence and patient-centered care, has joined the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) as its newest member organization. This collaboration further amplifies the shared mission to support and place more nurses in leadership and governance roles, driving better health outcomes and elevating the nursing profession’s strategic influence.
With about 130,000 members, AACN is the largest specialty nursing association in the world, bringing acute care, progressive care and critical care nurses together to advance excellence in patient care. By joining NOBC, AACN seeks to strengthen coalition resources, networking opportunities, and leadership development programs to support its members in securing seats on nonprofit and corporate boards. This strategic alignment underscores the power of nursing expertise in boardrooms to inform policy, safeguard patient safety, improve business outcomes and foster innovation in healthcare delivery.
“Critical care nurses bring a unique perspective — one grounded in patient advocacy, safety and interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Vicki Good, DNP, RN, CENP, CPPS, FAAN, chief clinical officer for AACN. “By partnering with the Nurses on Boards Coalition, we empower our members to extend that perspective into governance roles where their insights can shape organizational strategies and ensure decisions always reflect the needs of patients and frontline teams.”
NOBC was founded as a result of the initial report on the future of nursing issued in 2010 by the Institute of Medicine (now called the National Academy of Medicine). NOBC’s mission is to improve the health of communities by increasing the number of nurses on boards across the country, recognizing that diverse healthcare expertise strengthens decision-making at the highest levels. As AACN joins the coalition, NOBC’s network grows to include an even broader range of nursing specialties and practice settings.
“We are thrilled to welcome AACN to the NOBC family,” said NOBC CEO Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN, FAAN. “Their commitment to acute and critical care excellence and patient-centered innovation not only enriches but empowers our collective efforts. Together, we will accelerate progress toward boards that benefit from nursing’s clinical insights, ethical leadership, experience and dedication to creating better health for all.”
Edmonson added, “As a former critical care nurse, I know first-hand the impact of the organization and its members.”
About Nurses on Boards Coalition: The Nurses on Boards Coalition is a nonprofit coalition of nursing organizations committed to equipping and supporting nurses for board service including placement assistance and research on the impact of nurses on boards. By uniting associations, business, healthcare employers, industry partners, and educational institutions, NOBC works to ensure that every nurse has the opportunity, education, and connections necessary to serve on corporate and nonprofit boards. Connect with NOBC at nobc@nursesonboardscoalition.org or www.nursesonboardscoalition.org
About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) 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 is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and nearly 200 chapters in the United States.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27071 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; x.com/aacnme