AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CRITICAL CARE NURSES

The organization uses evidence-based learning, regularly updated professional standards, and clinical resources to ensure nurses deliver optimal, science-driven patient care. This includes webinars, Practice Alerts, and scope/standards updates that reflect advances in clinical practice.

The organization advances patient health and safety, and supports professional growth, by credentialing acute and critical care nurses, updating professional standards based on scientific advancements, and aligning certifications with national standards. This ensures high-quality, evidence-based nursing practice.

The organization promotes healthy work environments through evidence-based standards, appropriate staffing, mutual respect, and psychological safety, believing these conditions enable nurses to deliver high-quality care and speak up when concerns arise.

Builds clinical leadership capacity among staff nurses through hospital-based models that enable them to drive improvements in patient care and organizational efficiency.

Advances patient safety and professional growth by certifying nurses in alignment with national standards, including the APRN Consensus Model, to ensure accountability, quality, and consistency in acute and critical care practice.

Involves nurses directly in organizational and professional leadership through volunteer roles on advisory teams, review panels, and planning committees, ensuring member-driven development of nursing practice and policy.

Uses current science, evidence-based standards, and clinical resources—including Practice Alerts and updated professional scopes—to guide nursing practice, education, and patient care improvements.

Advocates for systemic improvements in nurse well-being and patient care by promoting six evidence-based standards for healthy work environments, encouraging mutual respect and psychological safety, and integrating these principles into practice and policy.

The organization develops clinical leaders within hospitals to drive improvements in patient care and organizational efficiency. It also disseminates successful nurse-led change initiatives to support and encourage innovation in nursing practice.

The organization supports continuous learning and professional development for nurses at all career stages through various educational modalities, including evidence-based webinars, blended learning, web-based resources, and an annual national conference. This approach aims to maintain clinical excellence and address identified knowledge gaps.

Supports nurses across their careers through a blended learning model—including webinars, online platforms, and national conferences—designed to address identified knowledge gaps and standardize orientation while enabling anytime, anywhere access.

The organization engages its members in volunteer roles on advisory teams, review panels, and planning committees to ensure that nursing practice is shaped by the collective expertise and perspectives of its members.

Empowers nurses to lead change by involving members in governance through volunteer roles and disseminating outcomes from nurse-led initiatives that improve practice and patient care.

Supports nurses throughout their careers with accessible, blended, and standardized educational offerings—including web-based learning, orientation programs, and an annual national conference—to ensure continuous skill development and knowledge advancement.

The organization advocates for and fosters healthy work environments by promoting mutual respect, trust, appropriate staffing, and supporting nurses to speak up, which is believed to improve patient care, nurse well-being, and safety. This is achieved through advocacy, evidence-based standards, and providing resources.

Advances patient outcomes and professional growth by promoting board certification, aligning with national APRN standards, and supporting clinical leadership development and nurse-led innovation to drive practice improvement and organizational efficiency.

Designs professional development initiatives around specific knowledge and skill gaps, requiring scholarship applicants to create learning plans that directly link identified deficiencies to targeted educational activities.