AACN
and NACNS Join Forces to Create a New
Data Source for Clinical Nurse Specialist Education Programs
WASHINGTON,
DC, June 12, 2003 - The American Association of Colleges
of Nursing (AACN) and the National Association of Clinical
Nurse Specialists (NACNS) are pleased to announce a collaborative
agreement to jointly collect data on clinical nurse specialist
(CNS) education programs. This consolidation of efforts
between the two organizations is aimed at creating the nation's
most complete and accurate database on CNS education programs,
including data related to student demographics and enrollment
patterns.
"AACN
welcomes the chance to work with our colleagues at the NACNS
to create a single data source on CNS education," explained
AACN President Kathleen Ann Long, PhD, APRN, FAAN. "This
new collaboration will provide the data needed to shape
education policy and health workforce planning related to
the growing demand for clinical nurse specialists."
This
joint data collection effort will begin in fall 2003 as
a featured part of AACN's annual survey of enrollments and
graduations in baccalaureate and graduate education programs
in nursing. A committee of AACN and NACNS representatives
will consult annually to develop a strategic plan to determine
the types of data central to CNS workforce and educational
issues. Following the fall 2003 survey, AACN and NACNS will
assess other areas for data collaboration.
"Since
clinical nurse specialists play a pivotal and expanding
role in the delivery of quality health care, it is important
that collect quality data related to education and the student
pipeline," said NACNS President Janet S. Fulton, PhD,
RN. "NACNS is pleased to join with AACN to create a
rich data source that can be used to analyze the student
population and project future CNS supply."
The American Association of Colleges
of Nursing is the national voice for university and four-year-college
education programs in nursing. Representing more than 580
member schools of nursing at public and private institutions
nationwide, AACN's educational, research, governmental advocacy,
data collection, publications, and other programs work to
establish quality standards for bachelor's- and graduate-degree
nursing education, assist deans and directors to implement
those standards, influence the nursing profession to improve
health care, and promote public support of baccalaureate
and graduate nursing education, research, and practice.
The
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS),
founded in 1995, exists to enhance and promote the unique,
high value contribution of the clinical nurse specialist
to the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups,
and communities, and to promote and advance the practice
of nursing. Members of NACNS benefit from national, regional,
and local efforts of the Association to make the contributions
of CNSs more visible. For more information on NACNS' legislative
priorities, publications, meetings, discussion forums, and
membership services, visit http://www.nacns.org.
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CONTACT: Robert Rosseter
(202) 463-6930, x231
rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu
