National Task Force Releases New Criteria for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education

The new criteria provide national standards for the development and assessment of Nurse Practitioner graduate programs. These criteria will inform the reviews of program accreditors for schools of nursing. 

A task force convened by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) updated the criteria through a rigorous review process, which resulted in consensus around the recommendations. The task force drew on feedback from stakeholder organizations, listening sessions, survey data, current program practices, health care professions' requirements, complexity of patient treatment needs, and existing regulations. One of the most significant and controversial changes includes the requirement for 750 clinical hours of direct patient care not inclusive of simulation. aPMHNP will be submitting its comments and seeks your opinions and thoughts.