American Association of Colleges of Nursing

12/22/2025

AACN and The Arnold P. Gold Foundation are pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the AACN-Gold Interprofessional Humanism in Healthcare Award: Stephen H. Berns, MD, and Kacey Boyle, MSPC, RN, CHPN. Together, they created TalkVermont, an initiative designed to support meaningful, honest conversations with patients and families about goals of care.

This annual award honors outstanding collaboration between nurses and physicians that strengthens humanistic care in healthcare settings. Dr. Berns and Ms. Boyle launched TalkVermont in 2018 to help close a critical “conversation gap," one in which more than 95% of clinicians say goals-of-care discussions matter, yet fewer than 20% regularly have them. Through TalkVermont, they are helping normalize these conversations and ensure care is aligned with what matters most to patients and their loved ones. Learn more: https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/all-news/article/talkvermont-leaders-win-2025-aacn-gold-interprofessional-humanism-in-healthcare-award

12/16/2025

Today is the early registration deadline for the 2026 Doctoral Education Conference! This year’s conference will bring together faculty and leaders to explore research, scholarship, leadership, and the future of doctoral nursing education.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join us in January. Register now: https://www.aacnnursing.org/doctoral-conference/registration

12/13/2025

National coverage from the Associated Press highlights growing bipartisan concern over proposed federal student loan limits that could restrict access to graduate nursing education if nursing is not recognized as a professional degree. As this rulemaking process continues, AACN remains committed to advocating for policies that support nurses, nurse educators, and the future of the nursing workforce.

A bipartisan group in Congress is urging the Education Department to add nursing to a list of college programs that are considered “professional.”

12/12/2025

A bipartisan, bicameral group of more than 140 Members of Congress is urging the U.S. Department of Education to recognize post-baccalaureate nursing degrees as professional degrees, an important step for protecting access to graduate nursing education and strengthening the nursing workforce.

AACN is proud to stand with national nursing organizations in support of this effort, which underscores the critical role nurses and nurse faculty play in delivering care and advancing health across the country.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, along with U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), led over 140 bipartisan lawmakers to sound the alarm over a proposed framework by the U.S. Department ...

12/02/2025

AACN and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership are thrilled to announce the release of the AACN/AONL Academic-Practice Partnership Playbook: From Shared Vision to Action. This new guide provides academic and practice nursing leaders with expert insights, financial models, case models, and templates for developing successful, sustainable partnerships.

The Playbook is now offered as a free resource through AACN’s updated academic-practice partnership hub. Learn more: https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/all-news/article/aacn-and-aonl-publish-a-new-guide-to-building-effective-academic-practice-partnerships

11/25/2025

National Academy of Medicine releases statement: “Nurses Are Skilled Professionals Essential to the Function of the U.S. Health Care System and Deserving of Professional Degree Recognition.”

Nurses are skilled professionals whose pursuit of education and training, including higher degrees, should be supported.

11/25/2025

These snapshots from last year’s Transform conference say it all: the shared purpose, the connection, the inspiration. There’s nothing like the energy of Transform! The enlightening conversations, the breakthroughs in sessions, and the feeling of being surrounded by fellow nursing faculty who understand the work you carry every day. With just ten days away, now is the moment to secure your spot if you haven't already. This year’s plenaries dive into resilience and risk-taking, healing incivility through connection, navigating AI-driven change through academic-practice partnerships, and understanding the needs of multigenerational learners. As our profession navigates ongoing shifts affecting us all, there’s never been a more important moment for the academic nursing community to stand together, learn together, and lead forward together. Reserve your seat while there’s still time: https://www.aacnnursing.org/transform

11/22/2025

11/21/2025

AACN and national nursing organizations are leading the effort to ensure nursing is recognized as a professional degree as the Department of Education advances new proposed definitions that will determine federal loan limits. To protect post- baccalaureate nursing students’ access to essential federal loans, we’re urging the Department to recognize nursing as a professional degree. It's imperative to act now. Add your name to the petition: https://ana.quorum.us/campaign/professionaldegreepetition/

11/07/2025

AACN is deeply concerned by the Department of Education’s decision to move forward with a proposed definition of professional degree programs that excludes nursing and significantly limits student loan access. Should this proposal be finalized, the impact on our already-challenged nursing workforce would be devastating.

AACN will continue to lead this effort and engage membership and stakeholders to ensure post-baccalaureate nursing programs are included in the definition of professional degree programs.

Learn more: https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/all-news/aacn-alarmed-over-department-of-educations-proposed-limitation-of-student-loan-access-for-nursing

06/17/2025

New data from AACN show a notable increase in enrollment across most nursing programs including BSN, master's, and DNP, signaling renewed interest in nursing careers and continued demand for advanced education. However, enrollment in PhD nursing programs declined for the 11th year in a row, intensifying concerns about the future pipeline of nurse scientists, educators, and academic leaders. Read the press release to learn more: https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/all-news/article/schools-of-nursing-see-enrollment-increases-across-most-program-levels-signaling-strong-interest-in-nursing-careers

06/11/2025

AACN is thrilled to reunite this inspiring cohort of deans for the second in-person session of our Advancing Academic Leadership for Deans (AALD) program. Designed for those new to the dean role or navigating a leadership transition, this 13-month experience blends in-depth assessment, practical leadership training, and a supportive peer network that lasts well beyond the program. Learn more about the AALD program and additional opportunities in the AACN LEADS leadership development portfolio at aacnnursing.org/leads.