American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

About Us

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for academic nursing education. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice.

Values: In all of AACN's programs and services, continuous attention is directed to core principles:

• Respecting and including diversity of opinion, experience, and culture.

• Open and responsive communication

• Quality, efficiency, and accountability in the implementation and evaluation of activities

• Positioning through integrity

Membership: AACN today represents 825 member schools of nursing at public and private universities and senior colleges nationwide. These schools offer a mix of baccalaureate, graduate, and post-graduate programs. The dean or chief nurse administrator serves as the representative to AACN, though the association serves all members of the academic unit.