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Two National Nurse Practitioner Organizations Announce Plans to Consolidate

Posted over 11 years ago by Jan Taylor

For more information go to the AANP website

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and American College of Nurse Practitioners take first step toward aligning under one organization

AUSTIN, TX (July 3, 2012) -- The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), two of the nation's most prominent professional membership associations for nurse practitioners, today announced that their respective Boards of Directors have passed resolutions allowing the organizations to potentially consolidate. The plan under consideration would allow AANP and ACNP to operate as a single organization.

According to the AANP and ACNP, the consolidation has the potential to significantly enhance the breadth and depth of work they conduct on behalf of the nation's 155,000 nurse practitioners (or NPs), who play a vital role in today's health care system. NPs are highly educated health care providers who evaluate patients, make diagnoses, order and interpret diagnostic tests and manage acute and chronic health conditions.

The proposed consolidation of AANP and ACNP would better position the newly formed member organization to:

  • Capitalize on growth in the demand for NPs as primary, specialty and acute care providers
  • Shape and direct NP policy and legislative priorities
  • Achieve the goals and objectives of NPs
  • Provide resources for grant writing, education and research
  • Increase public awareness about issues faced by NPs
  • Secure international growth opportunities

The consolidated organization will be the largest professional membership organization for NPs of all specialties, enhancing and increasing operational efficiencies.

"AANP is excited at the prospect of combining forces with ACNP. Aligning our organizations gives us the ability to speak and advocate for nurse practitioners with one collective voice," said Angela Golden, DNP, FNP-C,
FAANP, president of AANP.  "There has never been a better time for the consolidation of our organizations.
Health care is at the center of the national agenda and NPs are a vital part of the solution to the health care crisis facing our country today."

"When all our due diligence has been completed, our combined strengths will result in an organization that is stronger and better able to empower the nurse practitioners who are so important in today's health care environment," said Jill Olmstead, MSN, NP-C, president of ACNP.  "We want to move forward with our message and mission for our colleagues and patients so we may continue providing accessible, high quality healthcare.
ACNP believes that by combining with AANP, the NP profession will be able to participate in the political arena with greater strength and visibility."

NPs are prepared at the graduate level, with master's degrees or doctorates, which enables them to provide many of the health care services typically associated with physicians. In addition to being expert clinicians, NPs also focus on health promotion and disease prevention, together with health education and counseling to guide patients in making smarter health and lifestyle choices.   NPs are increasingly serving as primary care providers for individuals and families.


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