Table 2.
Organizations involved with academic or legislated programs to assure quality of nursing practice.
| Organization | Function | Consisting of representatives from |
|---|---|---|
| National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) | Approve nursing programs of study | Independent body derived from the National League of Nursing |
| Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) | Approve baccalaureate and graduate nursing curriculum, faculty, administration, and programs | Independent body derived from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing |
| National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) | Administration of National Council Licensure Examination–RN | State boards of nursing |
| State boards of nursing | Provide licensure for registered nurses and certification for nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and other graduate specialties that must be legally certified to practice in the state | |
| Specialty boards | ||
| Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) | Professional certification of pediatric nurse practitioners and nurse specialists | American Academy of Pediatrics; Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; Society of Pediatric Nurses |
| American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) | Professional certification of pediatrics, adult, family, and geriatrics nurse practitioners | |
| American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) | Professional certification of adult and family nurse practitioners | |
| National Certification Corporation for Obstetrical, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nurses (NCC) | Professional certification of women’s health care nurse practitioners | |
| American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) | Professional certification of certified nurse midwives | |
| Nurse practitioner faculty organizations | ||
| National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) | Influence on curricula and standards for education/competencies for nurse practitioner programs and their graduates | Faculty from all nurse practitioner specialties |
| Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP) | Influence on curricula and standards for education/ competencies for pediatric nurse practitioner programs and their graduates | Faculty from pediatric nurse practitioner programs |