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Acute, progressive and critical care nurses must take an active part in shaping policies and regulations that enhance their practice and enable them to contribute fully. To influence these decisions, it is essential for nurses to be present and involved in the forums where patient care and professional standards are being discussed and determined.
Driving Excellence Through Belonging
AACN prioritizes the creation of healthy, people-centered environments and communities that foster belonging because these environments enable everyone to make their optimal contribution.
AACN Colleges Nomination Consortium
The Ad Hoc Nomination Consortium, a group of 22 national nursing organizations, nominates qualified nursing professionals to federal councils, taskforces, and committees. The Consortium has nominated over 100 candidates and has successfully placed nurses on a wide variety of councils and committees.
2025
2025 Nurses Day of Action
AACN took action for nurses' well-being by supporting ANA's Nurses Day of Action, which built momentum and support for two vital bills to help prevent workplace violence and expand mental health resources for nurses. These bills are the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (S.1232; H.R.2531) and the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (S.266; H.R. 929).
Nov. 2025
Nurse Staffing Identified as New Joint Commission National Performance Goal
AACN and ANA collaborated to lead the National Nurse Staffing Think Tank and Task Force, which involved key stakeholders, including frontline nurses, physicians, patient advocates, The Joint Commission (TJC) and The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In part as a result of this collaboration, TJC adopted recommended language around appropriate staffing in the new National Performance Goal (NPG) 12. The addition of NPG 12 is an achievement for nursing and patient safety.
Nov. 2025
NCC Sends Letter Welcoming NINR Interim Director
AACN signed onto a letter from NCC welcoming the Interim Director of the NINR, Dr. Courtney Aklin. The NCC has a long tradition of working with NINR by supporting the work of nurse scientists, advocating for investments in research and future researchers, and sharing the Institute’s foundational work to improve healthcare delivery across the care continuum.
June 2025
National Nursing Organizations Express Concern Over Dismissal of ACIP Representatives
AACN, along with AANP, ANA, and other national nursing organizations, issued a statement on the dismissal of all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP makes recommendations on US immunization schedules for adults and children that guide decisions about vaccination and payer reimbursement.
June 2025
NCC Thanks Congress for Introducing a Resolution Honoring and Recognizing National Nurses Week 2025
AACN and all members of NCC signed onto a letter thanking the leadership of the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses, along with 16 bipartisan members in the Senate, for introducing S.Res.206 and H.Res.389 - a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week.
May 2025
NCC Sends Letter to Congress Outlining Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week
All sixty-four members of NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research. This letter comes as we celebrate National Nurses Week 2025.
May 2025
American Telemedicine Association (ATA)
A liaison represented AACN at ATA's 2025 Annual Conference.
May 2025
Oncology Nursing Society (ONS)
An AACN Strategic Advocacy team member presented on the creation of healthy work environments.
Apr. 2025
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
AACN's Chief Clinical Officer attended AONL's 2025 Conference.
Mar. 2025
Conway/Bedford Falls Foundation
An AACN liaison attended this invitational meeting of deans from 30 nursing schools.
Mar. 2025
Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of AACN (SePA) Trends 2025 Conference
A member of AACN's Strategic Advocacy Team presented our advocacy work at this chapter conference
Mar. 2025
National Academy of Medicine (NAM) 2nd Annual Health Workforce Well-Being Day
Two AACN liaisons attended this action collaborative meeting focused on health workforce well-being.
Mar. 2025
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act
Signed on to a letter to Congressional Leadership urging them to swiftly consider and pass the bipartisan Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 929/S.266).
Mar. 2025
2025 Nursing Innovations Fund
AARP continues its collaboration with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses to support initiatives to strengthen the nursing workforce with grants from the 2025 Nursing Innovations Fund.
Feb. 2025
Signed on to a letter nominating Susan Kendig to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC)
MACPAC serves as an independent source of information on Medicaid and CHIP, publishing issue briefs and data reports throughout the year to support policy analysis and program accountability.
Jan. 2025
2024
Signed on to a letter nominating Dr. Lachel Story to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice
The Advisory Council advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary and Congress on policy matters arising in the administration of Title VIII including the range of issues relating to the nurse workforce, nursing education and nursing practice improvement.
Dec. 2024
End-of-Year Legislative Priorities
AACN, along with 62 other members of the NCC, signed onto a letter urging Congress to cosponsor and pass shared legislative priorities impacting nursing education, workforce, and research before the end of the 118th Congress.
Nov. 2024
Supporting the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act
AACN, along with 62 other members of the NCC, signed onto a letter urging the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees to consider and advance H.R.3428/S.1633, the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2023 in any legislative package honoring our nation’s veterans this year.
Nov. 2024
AACN joins ANA in advocacy to designate Nursing as STEM
Currently, nursing is not consistently designated as a STEM field, which negatively affects funding for nursing education, research and other opportunities. In a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security signed by AACN and other professional nursing organizations, ANA describes how nursing, as an evidence-based profession, aligns with definitions of STEM disciplines, and points to other agencies that recognize nursing as STEM.
Sept. 2024
Signed on to a letter nominating Dr. Majeda El-Banna to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP)
The Advisory Council advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary and Congress on policy matters arising in the administration of Title VIII including the range of issues relating to the nurse workforce, nursing education and nursing practice improvement.
Aug. 2024
AARP, AACN and RWJF Fund Health Equity, Nursing Innovation Projects
AARP continues its collaboration with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses to support initiatives to strengthen the nursing workforce with grants from the 2025 Nursing Innovations Fund.
July 2024
National Nurses Week Thank You
AACN, along with all sixty-four members of the NCC, signed a letter thanking the leadership of the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses for introducing S.Res.676 and H.Res.1208, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, observed May 6 through May 12, 2024.
June 2024
Top Legislative Priorities for National Nurses Week
To celebrate National Nurses Week 2024, AACN and all 64 members of the NCC signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research.
June 2024
Legislation on Health Care Worker Mental Health
AACN collaborated with the American College of Emergency Physicians by signing a letter to Congress in support of reauthorizing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act. Because of this act, health care workers have better access to education and training on preventing stress and burnout before they reach a point of crisis.
Feb. 2024
2023
New CNO at U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
AACN signed on to an NCC letter to RDML Jennifer Moon, welcoming her as the new Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) at the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Oct. 2023
Thanks for U.S. Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act Introduction
Sixty members of the NCC, including AACN, sent letters to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D- MA) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), along with a bipartisan group of 21 original cosponsors, thanking them for introducing the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2023 (S.1633/ H.R. 3428).
June 2023
Thanks Nursing Allies
AACN signed an NCC letter of thanks to Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), House Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs, Reps. David Joyce (R-OH-14) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chairs and two of the nurses in Congress, Reps. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), along with 40 bipartisan members in the House and Senate, for introducing S.Res.201 and H.Res.375 - a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2023.
May 2023
Outlines Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week
All sixty-three members of the NCC, which includes AACN, signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research. This letter comes as we celebrate National Nurses Week 2023.
May 2023
2022
Thanks Retiring Congress Members and Staff Who Are Strong Nursing Champions
AACN joined with 62 other members of the NCC to thank nursing champions in Congress who are retiring or leaving Capitol Hill at the end of this year, including: Reps. Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40), Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), and David McKinley (R-WV-01), as well as Debbie Jessup, a nurse and congressional staffer for Rep. Roybal- Allard.
Dec. 2022
Outlines Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week
AACN and 61 other members of NCC signed onto a letter urging Congress to pass top legislative priorities impacting our current and future nursing workforce before the end of the 117th Congress.
Sept. 2022
Supports Honors for the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps
AACN joined with 57 other NCC members on a letter urging the retention of Sec. 5103 regarding honors for the women who served as cadet nurses during World War II
Aug. 2022
Congratulates Under Secretary of Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
NCC and AACN congratulated recently confirmed Under Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Shereef Elnahal, welcoming him to his new position and pledging to work with him to improve veteran's health through nursing care.
Aug. 2022
AACN's Statement on the Sentencing of RaDonda Vaught
On May 13, 2022, former Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurse RaDonda Vaught was sentenced to three years of supervised probation after being criminally convicted for a medication error that resulted in a patient’s death. Vaught took responsibility for her part in the error and provided Vanderbilt University Medical Center with details of how it happened. Although Vaught received probation, AACN believes her criminal conviction and three-year sentence may lead clinicians to think twice about such open reporting of errors.
May 2022
AACN's Statement on the Conviction of RaDonda Vaught
On March 25, 2022, Former Vanderbilt nurse RaDonda Vaught was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and impaired adult abuse due to a 2017 medication error that resulted in a patient’s death. AACN believes a punitive approach to healthcare errors drives problems into the shadows and decreases patient safety.
Mar. 2022
Congratulates the Director of the AHRQ
NCC sent a letter welcoming Dr. Robert "Bob" Otto Valdez, who was recently named director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Mar. 2022
Urges Advancement of U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act
Fifty-six members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto letters to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees urging them to pass S.1220/H.R.2568, the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2021.
Feb. 2022
Congratulates New Administrator of the HRSA
AACN joined with other NCC members to welcome Carole Johnson as the new Administrator of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).
Jan. 2022
AACN responds to NIOSH Request for Information to Support Health Care Workers
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health requested information on evidence-based strategies to prevent work-related stress and support health worker mental health. Our letter emphasizes the urgent need to improve the health of our work environments, address nurse staffing and include nurses in decision making groups.
Jan. 2022