The Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education has been endorsed by the American Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Board of Directors. The APRN Joint Dialogue Group Report can be found at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/APRNReport.pdf.

AACN and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) facilitated the consensus-building process used to develop this model. This landmark document defines Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) practice, describes the APRN regulatory model, identifies the titles to be used, defines specialty, describes the emergence of new roles and population foci, and presents strategies for implementation. This content is discussed in the context of the 4 APRN roles: certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse-midwife (CNM), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and certified nurse practitioner (CNP).

The culmination of a four-year effort, this model for APRN regulation is the product of collaborative work conducted by the Advanced Practice Nursing Consensus Work Group and the NCSBN APRN Committee. AACN encourages institutions with APRN programs to download and share this document with faculty and other stakeholders.

Source: AACN NEWS WATCH, August 2008.