Program areas at American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Accreditation: the commission on collegiate Nursing education (ccne), an autonomous arm of aacn, accredits baccalaureate and graduate Nursing education programs, as well as nurse residency/fellowship programs.
Academic Nursing: this program area consists of multiple initiatives and activities related to Nursing education, including the establishment of curricular standards, quality indicators for Nursing programs, academic-practice partnerships, and interprofessional engagement.
Conferences: national conferences focus on emerging issues of interest to a variety of constituent groups within schools of Nursing.
Grants and contracts: these programs advance Nursing education, research, and practice and include projects funded by the jonas philanthropies, American nurses foundation, centers for disease control and prevention, johnson & johnson, and the national institutes of health (all of us research).
Government affairs/policy: these programs support policy development, engagement, and advocacy for Nursing education and research throughout the federal legislative and regulatory process.
Certification: the commission on nurse certification (cnc) offers certification to graduates of clinical nurse leader programs who meet the eligibility requirements established by cnc.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion: aacn offers a portfolio of programs related to creating inclusive learning environments and building leadership capacity, including a special focus on holistic admissions review.
Data/research: aacn's institutional data systems and research center (ids) provides essential data on trends impacting academic Nursing and the healthcare workforce.
Leadership programs and online learning: aacn offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs designed for all individuals along the leadership continuum, from novice faculty to seasoned administrators.
Nursingcas: this national centralized application service allows prospective students to research and apply to multiple Nursing programs using one electronic application.
Leadership networks: these special interest forums provide information, networking, and professional development for Nursing school faculty and staff.
Student initiatives: aacn provides tools, education, and resources that address the professional development needs of graduate students from member schools.
Communications: aacn serves as an authoritative source for information on baccalaureate and graduate Nursing education by generating increased visibility within and outside Nursing. Publications include the journal of professional Nursing, syllabus newsletter, and the weekly aacn news watch, among others.
Foundation: the foundation for academic Nursing is a philanthropic division of aacn which raises funds to advance academic Nursing, increase the impact of aacn's vision and mission, and support members' goals that align with aacn priorities. Initiatives include the faculty scholars grant program and several scholarship programs.