New edition of AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice now available

A new edition of "AACN Scope and Standards for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Practice" is now available from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) in downloadable PDF, mobile-friendly and print versions.

First issued in 2006, the Scope and Standards describe and measure the expected level of practice and professional performance for acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs). A work group of experts in the field collaborated to update the content to reflect the specialty's evolving role and an ever-changing critical care landscape.

The 2012 edition of Scope and Standards incorporates advances in scientific knowledge, clinical practice, technology and other changes in the dynamic healthcare environment.

The new edition also aligns with the "Consensus Model for APRN Regulation" — also called the LACE Model — developed to create national congruence for licensure, accreditation, certification and education of advanced practice nurses.

"The role of acute care nurse practitioners continues to expand as more hospitals and healthcare organizations discover the value of having ACNPs on staff," said Linda Bell, AACN clinical practice specialist. "Their work environment often extends beyond traditional acute and critical care settings. The new edition addresses the full scope of ACNP practice, including those whose education and training prepare them to care for children with acute and critical illnesses."

The standards are a valuable resource for acute care pediatric nurse practitioners (CPNP®-AC), adult acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPC or ACNP-BC) and those developing educational programs for advanced nursing practice, job descriptions and credentialing, among other uses.