American Association of Critical-Care Nurses

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is a professional organization that was founded in 1969 by a group of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, including Margaret L. McClure, who were dedicated to improving the care of critically ill patients at institutions such as Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles. The organization has grown to become one of the largest specialty nursing organizations in the world, with over 130,000 members, including nurses from Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and University of Pennsylvania Health System. The AACN is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, and its members work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, intensive care units, and pediatric intensive care units at institutions like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children's Hospital.

● History

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses was founded in 1969 by a group of ICU nurses who were concerned about the lack of standards and guidelines for critical care nursing, as highlighted by Florence Nightingale and Virginia Henderson. The organization's early leaders, including Margaret L. McClure and Sylvia L. Davis, worked to establish the AACN as a professional organization that would promote excellence in critical care nursing, as recognized by American Nurses Association and American Hospital Association. The AACN has a long history of collaboration with other professional organizations, including the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American College of Critical Care Medicine, as well as academic institutions like University of California, San Francisco and Duke University. The organization has also been influenced by the work of notable nurses, such as Dorothea Orem and Hildegard Peplau, who have made significant contributions to the field of nursing at institutions like New York University and University of Illinois at Chicago.

● Organization

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a nonprofit organization that is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from institutions like Harvard University and University of Michigan. The organization has a number of committees and task forces that work on issues related to critical care nursing, including the AACN Certification Corporation and the AACN Foundation, which have partnerships with organizations like Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The AACN also has a number of chapters and affiliate organizations, including the Pediatric Critical Care Nursing Chapter and the Neonatal Critical Care Nursing Chapter, which are affiliated with institutions like University of California, Los Angeles and University of Washington. The organization's members include nurses from a variety of settings, including hospitals, intensive care units, and pediatric intensive care units at institutions like Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Seattle Children's Hospital.

● Certification

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers a number of certification programs for critical care nurses, including the CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) and CCRN-P (Pediatric Critical Care Registered Nurse) certifications, which are recognized by organizations like American Board of Nursing Specialties and National League for Nursing. The organization's certification programs are designed to recognize the expertise and knowledge of critical care nurses, as well as to promote excellence in critical care nursing, as emphasized by Institute of Medicine and National Institute of Nursing Research. The AACN's certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and are recognized by institutions like University of Pennsylvania and University of California, Berkeley.

● Advocacy

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a strong advocate for critical care nurses and patients, as recognized by organizations like American Medical Association and American Heart Association. The organization works to promote excellence in critical care nursing through a variety of initiatives, including the AACN Healthy Work Environment Initiative and the AACN Nurse Leadership Initiative, which have partnerships with institutions like University of California, San Diego and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The AACN also works to influence healthcare policy and legislation, including the Affordable Care Act and the Nurse Reinvestment Act, which have been supported by organizations like AARP and American Nurses Association. The organization's advocacy efforts are guided by its mission to promote the art and science of critical care nursing, as emphasized by National Academy of Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

● Publications

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses publishes a number of journals and other resources for critical care nurses, including the American Journal of Critical Care and Critical Care Nurse, which are indexed in databases like PubMed and CINAHL. The organization's publications are designed to provide critical care nurses with the latest information and research on critical care nursing, as well as to promote excellence in critical care nursing, as recognized by Sigma Theta Tau International and American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The AACN's publications are available to members and non-members, and are widely read by nurses from institutions like University of California, Los Angeles and University of Washington.

● Membership

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has over 130,000 members, including nurses from a variety of settings, including hospitals, intensive care units, and pediatric intensive care units at institutions like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children's Hospital. The organization's members include nurses from all 50 states, as well as from a number of other countries, including Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom, who are affiliated with institutions like University of Toronto and University of Sydney. The AACN offers a number of benefits to its members, including access to its publications, certification programs, and continuing education opportunities, as well as discounts on products and services from companies like Wolters Kluwer and Elsevier, which are partners with institutions like University of California, San Francisco and Duke University. The organization's members are also eligible to participate in its advocacy efforts and to serve on its committees and task forces, which have partnerships with organizations like American Red Cross and March of Dimes.

Category:Medical and health organizations