The role of nurses in the national healthcare system is continually changing, and AACN consistently advocates for nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and license. To that end, we published “AACN Scope and Standards for Adult-Gerontology and Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioners” and “AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice.”
We understand the vital role of APRNs in caring for the most fragile patient populations, and that these roles must be protected. In collaboration with AACN Certification Corporation, we advocate for implementation of the Consensus Model for APRN regulation. Following are some of the standards we’ve created and actions we’ve taken.
AACN and AACN Certification Corporation are voting members of the LACE Network to ensure that acute care APRNs voice is represented in regulatory decisions.
AACN signed on to a letter with the American Nurses Association (ANA) and 84 nursing organizations urging Congress to protect the Medicaid program as it develops and considers legislation through the budget reconciliation process. Included in the letter is an offer to help identify sustainable solutions that strengthen Medicaid to ensure that our nation’s most vulnerable patients have timely access to nurses and the high-quality health care services that nurses provide across the country.
Apr. 2025
Sixty members of NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter thanking Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), along with others, for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (S.575/H.R.1317).
Mar. 2025
AACN joined over 260 organizations in signing letters to the House Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committee members expressing support for The Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act, which would remove outdated and unnecessary federal barriers to services provided by APRNS under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, thereby increasing patient access to care.
Mar. 2025
AACN and 56 other members of the NCC signed a letter to House Leadership urging the consideration and passing of H.R. 618, the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act by using language that includes APRNs.
Sept. 2024
Aug. 2024
AACN and 60 other members of the NCC signed onto a letter thanking Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Jeff Merkley, and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (S.2418).
Oct. 2023
VA Subcommittee on Health "AACN and 46 other members of the NCC submitted a statement for the record regarding the Subcommittee’s hearing on, “VA’s Federal Supremacy Initiative: Putting Veterans First?” urging support to remove barriers to practice and allow for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists to practice to the full extent of their education and abilities within the VA.
Sept. 2023
AACN and 58 other members of the NCC signed onto a letter thanking House Nursing Congress Co-Chairs, Reps. David Joyce (R-OH-14) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), and Vice Co-Chairs, Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (H.R. 2713).
June 2023
Fifty members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter supporting the introduction of the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (S.131/H.R. 618). This bipartisan legislation would retire outdated barriers in the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) that limit the ability of NPs to provide care and treatment for injured or ill federal employees.
May 2023
Fifty-seven members of NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter thanking House Nursing Congress Co-Chairs, Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40) and David Joyce (R-OH-14) for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (H.R. 8812). The ICAN Act is a comprehensive effort that helps remove outdated barriers that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training.
Oct. 2022
AACN attended the third in a series of meetings to address the role of APRNs in the Emergency Department. Practice standards from the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP) and core competencies from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) were used to develop the 2021 Emergency Nurse Practitioner Competencies.
Feb. 2022
AACN and 50 other members of the NCC signed onto a letter to the U.S. Senate supporting consideration and passage of H.R. 6087, the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act. This bipartisan legislation would retire outdated barriers in the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) that limit the ability of NPs to provide care and treatment for injured or ill federal employees
July 2022
AACN and 48 other members of NCC signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action to make waivers permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency (PHE).
Apr. 2022