National Professional Nursing Organizations

Once you become a nurse, you can join a professional nursing organization that aligns with the type of nurse you are. These professional organizations provide resources like education, professional development, ethical guidelines, advocacy, and networking opportunities. Explore these national nursing organizations.

Organization	Acronym	Website	Description
AFT Nurses and Health Professionals	AFT NHP	AFT NHP Website	A labor union representing nurses and healthcare professionals, advocating for safe staffing, quality patient care, and workers’ rights.
American Assembly for Men in Nursing	AAMN	AAMN Website	Advocates for men in the nursing profession.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing	AACN	AACN Website	Represents nursing schools and academic programs, advancing nursing education, research, and faculty development.
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses	AACN	AACN Website	Supports nurses caring for critically ill patients through education, certification, and evidence-based practice.
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology	AANA	AANA Website	Represents certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
American Association of Nurse Practitioners	AANP	AANP Website	Represents nurse practitioners of all specialties, focusing on practice, education, and advocacy.
American College of Nurse-Midwives	ACNM	ACNM Website	Supports nurse-midwives and midwifery practice, education, and women’s health.
American Nephrology Nurses Association	ANNA	ANNA Website	Represents nurses specializing in kidney and dialysis care.
American Nurses Association	ANA	ANA Website	The leading professional organization for registered nurses, setting standards of practice and advocating for the nursing profession and patient safety
American Organization for Nursing Leadership	AONL	AONL Website	Represents nurse executives and leaders in healthcare systems.
American Psychiatric Nurses Association	APNA	APNA Website	Focuses on mental health and psychiatric nursing practice.
American Public Health Association	APHA-PHN	APHA-PHN Website	Public Health Nursing Section (APHA–PHN) – Represents public health nurses at the national level.
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses	ASPAN	ASPAN Website	Focuses on nurses who care for patients before and after anesthesia, promoting safe and effective peri-anesthesia care.
American Society of Registered Nurses	ASRN	ASRN Website	Provides professional development, advocacy, and continuing education opportunities for registered nurses across specialties.
Asian American / Pacific Islander Nurses Association	AAPINA	AAPINA Website	Promotes the health of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Association of perioperative Registered Nurses	AORN	AORN Website	Dedicated to improving safety and outcomes for surgical patients by supporting perioperative nurses through education and standards.
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses	ARN	ARN Website	Advances the practice of rehabilitation nursing, supporting nurses who help patients regain function and independence.
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses	AWHONN	AWHONN Website	Advances the practice of rehabilitation nursing, supporting nurses who help patients regain function and independence.
Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science	CANS	CANS Website	Promotes nursing research (affiliated with ANA).
Emergency Nurses Association	ENA	ENA Website	Represents emergency nurses and focuses on improving emergency care through education, research, and policy advocacy.
Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association	HPNA	HPNA Website	Focuses specifically on nursing roles in hospice and palliative care.
Infusion Nurses Society	INS	INS Website	Develops standards and education for infusion therapy.
National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association	NANAINA	NANAINA Website	Supports Indigenous nurses and health equity.
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists	NACNS	NACNS Website	Supports clinical nurse specialists by promoting advanced practice, leadership, and evidence-based care.
National Association of Hispanic Nurses	NAHN	NAHN Website	Supports Hispanic/Latinx nurses and culturally competent care.
National Association of Neonatal Nurses	NANN	NANN Website	Advocates for neonatal nurses and the care of newborns, especially those requiring intensive or specialized care.
National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses	NAON	NAON Website	Provides education and resources for nurses caring for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
National Black Nurses Association	NBNA	NBNA Website	Advocates for Black nurses and improved healthcare outcomes in underserved communities.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing	NCSBN	NCSBN Website	Oversees nursing licensure and regulation in the U.S., including development of the NCLEX exam.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization	NHPCO	NHPCO Website	Supports hospice and palliative care providers, focusing on compassionate end-of-life care.
National League for Nursing	NLN	NLN Website	Advances excellence in nursing education to prepare a skilled and diverse nursing workforce.
National Nurses United	NNU	NNU Website	The largest nurses’ union in the U.S., advocating for patient safety, workplace protections, and healthcare reform.
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties	NONPF	NONPF Website	Focuses on NP education standards and faculty development.
National Student Nurses' Association	NSNA	NSNA Website	Supports nursing students through education, leadership development, and professional socialization.
Oncology Nursing Society	ONS	ONS Website	Dedicated to excellence in oncology nursing by providing education, research, and clinical resources.
Philippine Nurses Association of America	PNAA	PNAA Website	Represents Filipino-American nurses.
Sigma Theta Tau International	Sigma	Sigma Website	An international honor society that recognizes nursing excellence and promotes leadership, scholarship, and research.
Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates	SGNA	SGNA Website	Supports nurses specializing in gastrointestinal and endoscopy care through education and standards.
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society	WOCN	WOCN Website	Supports nurses specializing in wound and ostomy care.