AACN Scope and Standards for Progressive Care Nursing Practice

“AACN Scope and Standards for Progressive Care Nursing Practice” describes the practice of nurses providing and/or influencing care for acutely ill patients who are moderately stable with an elevated risk of instability. These patients are within the age parameters for which these nurses were educated - neonatal, pediatric, adult and geriatric.

The scope and standards outline the expected level of practice and professional performance for progressive care registered nurses, and the competencies detail how they meet each standard. The scope and standards delineate the contributions of progressive care nurses to a patient- and family-centered healthcare system.

A resource for all progressive care nurses, the evidence-based, up-to-date scope and standards also offer a practical tool for students, faculty, nurses in practice, members of the interprofessional team and other nursing colleagues to understand the scope and value of progressive care nursing practice.