10 hours Ago By American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses ( AACN ) has published “ AACN Scope and Standards for Progressive Care Nursing Practice ,” marking the first time a stand-alone edition has been tailored specifically to this growing specialty. Previously included in a combined edition with critical care nursing practice, the new edition describes the specialized practice of nurses providing and/or influencing care for acutely ill patients who are moderately stable with an elevated risk of instability. These patients require a high intensity of care and vigilance.
Progressive care nurses provide direct care based on the needs of patients. These patients are in hospital units named progressive care units or in other areas such as telemetry, stepdown, intermediate, adaptable acuity, emergency departments and long-term acute care hospitals. Progressive care nurses can also provide virtual nursing support by monitoring acutely ill patients from remote locations.
“The number of patients who require highly skilled nursing care but are not quite critically ill continues to increase, and the growing patient population has contributed to progressive care maturing into a distinct practice area on the critical care continuum,” said taskforce chair Anna Alder. “As the understanding and recognition of progressive care in hospitals and other healthcare facilities has expanded, so has the need for clinical and educational resources specific to progressive care nursing.” “AACN Scope and Standards for Progressive Care Nursing Practice” provides a deeper, more focused exploration of the specialty.
With detailed examples, practical applications and role-specific insights, this resource provides essential guidance for nurses navigating the complexities of progressive care. Covering neonatal, pediatric, adult and geriatric populations, this essential resource outlines the expected level of practice and professional performance for progressive care registered nurses, detailing the competencies required to meet each standard. It also delineates the vital role of progressive care nurses in delivering patient- and family-centered care in today’s complex healthcare environments.
AACN introduced the term progressive care more than 20 years ago to describe the care of acutely ill patients who are moderately stable with a high risk of instability. In recent years, AACN published a clinical guide with progressive care nursing essentials and launched PCCN certification – AACN Certification Corporation’s fastest-growing credential. A new publication, “Standards for Appropriate Staffing in Adult Progressive Care,” will be published in the spring.
“AACN Scope and Standards for Progressive Care Nursing Practice” can be downloaded at no charge on the AACN website after signing in. A separate “AACN Scope and Standards for Critical Care Nursing Practice” will be published next year. Until then, critical care nurses and leaders should continue to use “ AACN Scope and Standards for Progressive and Critical Care Nursing Practice .
” AACN also publishes scope and standards guidelines for acute care nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses : For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.
AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and nearly 200 chapters in the United States. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 27071 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; 949-362-2000; www.aacn.
org; facebook.com/aacnface; x.com/aacnme.
