AAPACN in the News
May 18, 2026 – Skilled Nursing News: CMS Plan to Expand Nursing Home Quality Reporting to All Payers Far Underestimates $88M Annual Cost Projection
May 13, 2026 – McKnights: Moving from Competent LTC Leader to Care Champion: AAPACN Launches Administrator Certification
May 13, 2026 – Skilled Nursing News: Majestic Care Sees Nursing Home Recruitment, Quality Gains Through Certification Push
April 29, 2026 – McKnights: Workplace Culture, Strong Leadership Crucial to Long-Term Care Staff Retention, Survey Finds
April 28, 2026 – Skilled Nursing News: ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’: Nationwide Survey of Nursing Home Staff Shows Easy Fixes for Retention Amid Managed Care, PDPM Burdens
April 28, 2026 – Becker’s Hospital Review: What’s Retaining Nurses in Long-Term Care
April 21, 2026 – Provider: 9 Smart Cost-Control Strategies to Balance Quality and Margin
March 18, 2026 – Yahoo! Finance: AAPACN 2026 Conference Brings National Nursing Leaders Together
March 11, 2026 – McKnights: Ask the Nursing Expert About … Handling Difficult Surveyors
Press Releases and Advocacy Updates
AAPACN Applauds the Appointment of Dr. Danielle Pierotti to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC)
May 22, 2026 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) proudly announces that Board member Danielle Pierotti, PhD, RN, has been appointed to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) for a three-year term.
AAPACN Launches First-of-Its-Kind Certification for Nursing Home Administrators
May 14, 2026 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) today announced the launch of its Nursing Home Administrator Certification (NHA-CT), a first-of-its-kind program designed specifically to support nursing home administrators in navigating the growing complexity of long-term care leadership and operations.
New Research Finds AAPACN-Certified Nursing Facilities Outperform Peers on Quality, Workforce Stability and Business Performance
May 12, 2026 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) today released new research conducted by Dobson DaVanzo & Associates showing that skilled nursing facilities employing AAPACN-certified nurses deliver stronger clinical outcomes, higher CMS Star Ratings, and improved operational performance, reinforcing certification as a key driver of success in post-acute care.
AAPACN and LTC 100 Release New Survey Findings on Nurse Retention and Turnover in Long-Term Care
April 27, 2026 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®), in collaboration with Long Term Care 100 (LTC 100), today released new survey findings showing that decisions to stay in or leave long-term care are closely tied to workplace culture and relationships with frontline leadership.
AAPACN Unveils New Strategic Vision to Elevate Post-Acute Care at 2026 Conference
March 31, 2026 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) convened hundreds of post-acute care nursing leaders, administrators, and clinical professionals from across the country for its 2026 Annual Conference in March, highlighting industry excellence, federal regulatory insights, and a new strategic vision designed to elevate care quality and redefine the future of post-acute care.
AAPACN Education Foundation Invests in Nursing Workforce with 2026 Scholarships
March 19, 2026 – Today, the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) Education Foundation announced the recipients of its 2026 scholarships, honoring four post-acute care nursing professionals who are advancing their education to strengthen clinical leadership and quality of care in their facilities.
AAPACN Announces Winners of 2026 Awards Recognizing Excellence in Post-Acute Care
March 18, 2026 – Today, the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) announced the recipients of its 2026 Awards for Post-Acute Care Professionals, honoring the individuals and organizations that are driving excellence in long-term and post-acute care and improving outcomes for residents and families across the country.
Record Number of PAC Professionals Convene on AAPACN 2026 Conference to Identify Solutions for Industry’s Challenges
March 18, 2026 – Hundreds of post-acute care nurses and leaders came together this week in Orlando for the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) 2026 Conference as nursing homes and post-acute care providers navigate federal regulations and growing demand for complex patient care.
2025 AAPACN Study Highlights Opportunities to Support NACs
Aug. 7, 2025 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) announces the release of its 2025 Nurse Assessment Coordinator (NAC) Work Study and Salary Report, offering fresh insights into the evolving landscape of post-acute care. This year’s findings highlight both a shift in the workforce and opportunities to strengthen support for NACs in their vital roles.
Janine Finck-Boyle Joins AAPACN Executive Team
June 24, 2025 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN®) announced yesterday the addition of Janine Finck-Boyle as the Senior Vice President, Engagement, to the organization’s executive leadership team. In this expanded role, Finck-Boyle will lead efforts to support AAPACN members and stakeholders through highlighting the value of education and certification in driving quality improvement and resident outcomes.
AAPACN Begins 2025 Conference, Announces Partnership with Chamberlain University
April 23, 2025 – The AAPACN 2025 Conference has brought together more than 800 dedicated nurses and healthcare professionals from the post-acute care sector this week in Louisville, Kentucky. In her opening address, AAPACN President and CEO, Tracey Moorhead, announced a new partnership with Chamberlain University School of Nursing, reinforcing AAPACN’s commitment to expanding the post-acute care workforce. Together, AAPACN and Chamberlain University are developing a practice-ready course focused on post-acute care.
Nurse Certification Key to Strong Position in New Payment Systems
April 16, 2024 – New research and analysis conducted by health economics consultants at Dobson DaVanzo reveal the significant impact of American Association of Post -Acute Care Nursing ( AAPACN)-certified staff on skilled nursing facility performance.
Celebrating 25 Years of Impact: AAPACN Opens 2024 Conference, Honors AHCA’s Mark Parkinson with Lifetime Award
April 10, 2024 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) opened its 2024 conference today in Hollywood Beach, Florida, marking a significant milestone as it celebrates its 25th anniversary and honors the lifetime impact of Mark Parkinson to the industry.
New Report Highlights NAC Training Needs as Staffing Challenges Continue
Sept. 11, 2023 – According to data in the 2023 AAPACN Nurse Assessment Coordinator Work Study and Salary Report, released today by the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN), 26% of nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) have two or fewer years of experience in their role, a sharp increase over previous years’ data.
AAPACN Names Stewart Chief Nursing Officer
Aug. 1, 2023 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN), the largest professional association for nurses working in long-term and post-acute care, announces the promotion of Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, RAC-MT, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MTA, to Chief Nursing Officer. In her new role, Stewart will be responsible for advancing the profession of skilled nursing and expanding AAPACN’s expertise across post-acute care.
AAPACN 2023 Conference Begins Today
April 19, 2023 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) 2023 Conference begins today at the Tropicana in Las Vegas, bringing together approximately 950 long-term and post-acute care nurses and professionals.
Facilities with AAPACN-Certified Staff See Higher Five-Star Ratings
Dec. 15, 2021 – Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) employing at least one staff member with an AAPACN certification see higher five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) than those without certification. The findings, released today in a new report by ABILITY Network, an Inovalon company, reveal a 16% higher overall rating and a 19% higher staffing.
Staff Shortages May Prompt 40% of NACs to Seek New Position According to AAPACN Study
Oct. 7, 2021 – The 2021 AAPACN Nurse Assessment Coordinator Work Time Study and Salary Report, released today by the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN), reveals that staff shortages have led to sharp increases in nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) time on the floor and coverage of additional job functions, resulting in stress, burnout, and turnover. According to the report, 40% of NAC respondents indicated that they plan on changing jobs in the next 12 months.
AAPACN Advances PAC Nursing for Future Success
Jan. 26, 2021 – The American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) announced today plans to merge the memberships, resources, and educational programs of its affiliated associations, the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination (AANAC) and the American Association of Directors of Nursing Services (AADNS), into AAPACN this May.
AAPACN Applauds New HHS Crisis Standards of Care Framework for PALTC Facilities
Sept. 28, 2020 – AAPACN joins HHS and other industry stakeholders in announcing today’s release of “COVID-19: Considerations, Strategies, and Resources for Crisis Standards of Care in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities (PALTC).”
AAPACN Launches Therapy Certificate, Aims to Boost IDT Collaboration
July 31, 2020 – AAPACN releases its first certificate program under the AAPACN brand today. Collaboration in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Certificate of Skills in Medicare, MDS, and PDPM for Therapy Professionals is a comprehensive online certificate program developed for the entire SNF therapy team.
AAPACN Joins Other Healthcare Associations Urging Congress to Support the “SAFE TO WORK Act”
July 30, 2020 – AAPACN, along with dozens of healthcare organizations, urge Congress to support the timely, targeted, and temporary liability relief provisions contained in S. 4317, the “SAFE TO WORK Act.” This legislation is critically needed and should be enacted as soon as possible. To that end, we strongly urge you to support the inclusion of these provisions in a Phase IV COVID-19 relief package.
AAPACN Responds to CMS Reopen Guidance, Stresses Urgent Need for More Support
May 20, 2020 – In response to the release of guidelines for the reopening of nursing homes across the country, the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) urges the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), together with state and local governments, to provide clear guidance, additional clarification, and all necessary resources to support skilled nursing homes and to protect the health and safety of staff and residents.
AAPACN Unveils New Initiative and Resources to Promote the LTPAC Nurse Profession
Feb. 18, 2020 – AAPACN launches a new initiative today to increase awareness of the long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) nursing profession among nursing students and other young men and women entering the workforce.