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Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a problem-solving approach that involves the conscientious use of current best evidence to make patient-care decisions. AACN’s advocacy for EBP helps ensure that acute, progressive and critical care nurses are represented in the ongoing work of creating and disseminating guidelines and standards that apply evidence to clinical practice.
Through our liaison program, AACN upholds that all healthcare decisions must be anchored in the best scientific evidence available.
AACN Position Statement: Science Must Drive Clinical Practice and Public Health Policy
AACN calls for all healthcare decision-making to be anchored in the best scientific evidence available. This is true for healthcare professionals at a patient's bedside and for public policymakers. Even during fast-moving public health crises, decisions must be based on carefully evaluated healthcare research and the guidance of fully qualified experts.
Mar. 2025
2025
Endorsement of Consensus Recommendations for the Integration of Critical Care Pharmacists on Intensive Care Unit Teams
AACN endorsed the "Consensus recommendations for the integration of critical care pharmacists on intensive care unit teams: Endorsed by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Institute for Safe Medication Practices, and Society of Critical Care Medicine,” published in the Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Sept. 2025
NINR 40th Anniversary Scientific Symposium
AACN representatives attended the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) 40th Anniversary Scientific Symposium: Advancing Nursing Science to Improve Health for All. This milestone event underscored the significance of nursing research and its crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare.
Sept. 2025
American Heart Association
AACN's liaison to the AHA participated in the Emergency Cardiovascular Committee Spring Call.
Apr. 2025
Signed on to a letter nominating Dr. Robert Dorman to the Advisory Committee on Childhood Vaccines
The Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides vaccine guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including on the timing and dosage of childhood immunizations.
Apr. 2025
Adult Guidelines Sepsis Meeting
AACN's liaison to the sepsis guidelines group represented our organization in the discussion of the drafted statements/recommendations.
Mar. 2025
Signed on to a letter nominating Krista Jones to the Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation (ACOT)
The Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation (ACOT) provides advice and recommendations to the HHS Secretary on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) policies.
Feb. 2025
Signed on to a letter to Congressional leadership
AACN thanked congressional leadership for their ongoing efforts to advance access to health care through telehealth and to request their leadership in ensuring Americans are able to access the same telehealth that they were able to utilize in 2024.
Feb. 2025
2024
Signed on to a letter nominating Dr. Ellen Kurtzman to the Board of Scientific Counselors, National Center for Health Statistics
The Board of Scientific Counselors provides advice and makes recommendations to Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the Director, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) regarding the scientific and technical program goals and objectives, strategies, and priorities of NCHS.
Oct. 2024
Signed on to a letter to Robert M. Califf, Commision of the Food and Drug Administration
The letter to Mr. Califf expressed deep concern regarding the potential for significant supply chain disruptions resulting from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene on Baxter’s North Cove manufacturing site in North Carolina.
Oct. 2024
Signed on to a letter nominating Dr. Helen Lach to the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee
The Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee addresses challenges that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) faces related to caring for a large influx of aging veterans.
Sept. 2024
Signed on to a letter nominating Dr. Sabrina Kopf to the Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation
The Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation (ACOT) provides advice and recommendations to the HHS Secretary on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) policies.
Sept. 2024
Nursing Representation on Federal Advisory Committees
Forty-nine members of the NCC, including AACN, signed a comment letter to the Associate Commissioner for Policy/Office of Policy urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that nurses are among those represented within federal advisory committees, taskforces, and councils.
Aug. 2024
2023
Preceptor Competency Consensus Study
AACN liaisons participated in a mixed methods electronic Delphi study to clearly define preceptor competencies and validate preceptor role domains needed to guide professional development activities through the Association of Nursing Professional Development.
8/1 2023
Thanks for Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act Introduction
Fifty-one members of the NCC, including AACN, sent a letter to Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) thanking them for introducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R.3305/S.1606).
Aug. 2023
Systems Strategies to Sustain the Healthcare Workforce
An AACN liaison co-authored a consensus report with the Task Force for Mass Critical Care. The report is aimed at determining factors that impact mental health, burnout and moral distress and identifying preventative in order to enhance workforce resilience, sustainment and retention.
July 2023
American Telemedicine Association’s 2023 Annual Conference
An AACN Clinical Practice Specialist shared the “AACN Tele-critical Care Nursing Consensus Statement Supporting Acute, Progressive and Critical Care” during a panel discussion on the topic of “Reimagining the Virtual Care ICU and Acute Care Settings.” Telemedicine offers innovative solutions to staffing shortages, allows nurses to work at the top of their licenses and can improve patient safety.
Mar. 2023
Protocol to Prevent Pressure Injuries in Adults
An AACN liaison participated in the review of a Standardized Pressure Injury Prevention Protocol (SPIPP) checklist that was recently released by the National Pressure Injury Prevention Advisory Panel. The SPIPP is a useful protocol checklist for pressure injury prevention in adult critical and progressive care populations.
Feb. 2023
Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS)
An AACN liaison participated in creation of the 12th edition of the CAMTS Accreditation Standards and co-wrote the content for a Q&A video presentation. The new accreditation standards went to effect on January 1, 2023.
Feb. 2023
2022
New Accreditation Standards for CAMTS
AACN attended a board meeting with the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) to discuss the new CAMTS 12th Edition Accreditation Standards. The new standards go into effect on January 1, 2023 and require transport-specific certification for all transport nurses.
Oct. 2022
Pressure Injury Prevention
An AACN liaison attended the annual 2022 National Pressure Injury Prevention Council conference, themed “Pressure Injuries — Quality Approaches to Complex Problems.” The event included sessions aimed to provide health care providers with the tools necessary to leverage technology to improve pressure injury identification, develop and implement skin care standards and improve patient engagement.
Mar. 2022
Setting the Standard for COVID-19 Resuscitation
An AACN liaison joined the COVID-19 guidance subgroup of the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Committee. The subgroup will review evolving COVID-19 literature, then direct and set standards for resuscitation of patients in cardiac arrest.
Mar. 2022
CCSC Letter on Pulse Oximeters Inaccuracies
AACN and other members of the Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC) urged the FDA to direct developers and manufacturers of FDA-regulated pulse oximeters to test all devices for accurate and reliable readings for patients with diverse degrees of skin pigmentation. This letter addresses continuing concerns about potential inaccuracies of pulse oximetry in people with darker skin tones.
Feb. 2022
Healthcare Worker Resources for COVID-19
AACN attended the quarterly National Hospital Preparedness Partner Community meeting. The office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response website was updated to reflect COVID-19 resources for healthcare workers and countermeasures to enhance health security.
Feb. 2022
AACN Urges CDC to Prioritize Safety
AACN reached out to Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asking that CDC guidance consistently and clearly prioritize patients’ and healthcare professionals’ safety. AACN also recommended that nurses be included when guidance that affects frontline workers is developed.
Jan. 2022
American Heart Association COVID-19 Resuscitation Guidance
An AACN liaison participated in the American Heart Association’s review of the most current CDC recommendations along with resuscitation education and literature on COVID-19 and cardiac arrest. As a result of the review, no changes will be made to the “2022 Interim Guidance to Health Care Providers for Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Adults, Children, and Neonates With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.”
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Nov. 2022