Historical Timeline

1971

One of the first family NP programs, PRIMEX, opens its doors at the University of Washington

1973

More than 65 NP programs exist in the U.S

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) is established

1974

The American Nurses Association (ANA) develops the Council of Primary Care Nurse Practitioners, helping legitimize the role

The Burlington Randomized Trial Study finds that NPs make appropriate referrals when medical intervention is necessary

1975 

The University of Colorado offers its first continuing education symposium for NPs 

1978 

The Association of Faculties and Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP) is established and begins developing PNP curriculum 

1980 

More than 200 NP programs or tracks are available to students and 15,000-20,000 NPs are practicing

Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education (NPACE) is established

Guidelines for Family Nurse Practitioner Curricular Planning is published after five years of development at the University of New Mexico

1984 

A steering committee forms to study the need for an organization representing an estimated 24,000 NPs nationwide 

1985 

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is established

AANP initiates development of national NP database

AANP has 100 members at end of first year

1986 

AANP begins a concerted effort to affect pertinent national legislation 

1987 

$100 million has been spent by the federal government on NP education

AANP conducts member survey regarding NP professional malpractice liability insurance coverage, assisting NPs in reestablishing affordable malpractice insurance

1989 

Ninety percent of NP programs are either master's degree granting programs or post-master's degree programs

Publication of the Journal of the AANP begins

The first official AANP National Conference is held in Philadelphia with 158 attendees

AANP moves headquarters from Massachusetts to Texas and hires first part-time paid staff position

AANP releases results of first AANP National NP Sample Survey, collecting data on a range of NP preparation and practice characteristics

1991 

The AANP State Awards for NP Excellence is established 

1992 

AANP actively works with nursing associations such as the Royal College of Nursing UK to develop role of NPs internationally

Barbara J. Safriet writes in the Yale Journal on Regulation supporting the NP role

1993 

AANP forms Certification Program as separately incorporated entity 

1994 

Mundinger publishes "Advanced Practice Nursing – Good Medicine for Physicians" in The New England Journal of Medicine, further supporting facts that NPs are cost-effective and quality primary health care providers 

1995 

AANP initiates the Corporate Advisory Council (ACAC) to enhance communications and interaction with industry leaders 

1998 

The AANP Foundation is established as a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) organization and is the first foundation operating to benefit NPs in all specialties

The AANP Foundation Scholarship and Grant program is initiated and makes first awards to AANP members

1999

AANP conducts National NP Sample Survey comparing results reported in 1989 survey

Estimated 60,000 NPs in the U.S.

2000 

AANP initiates the Fellows program, hosts first international NP conference in U.S. and creates the Political Action Committee (PAC) 

2001 

September 11 – AANP enlists support of hundreds of NPs to offer aid in NYC and D.C.

Estimated 87,000 NPs in the U.S.

2002 

In lieu of forming own organization, acute care NPs join AANP

The AANP Network for Research (AANPNR) is created, the first national practice-based research network exclusively for NPs

AANP conducts Practice Site Survey

AANP has 13,500 individual members and 70 group members

2003 

AANP SmartBrief, a daily electronic newsletter with cutting-edge health care related news culled from the top 300 electronic news sources, is implemented

AANP Membership Survey is conducted

AANP has 14,500 individual members and 74 group members

Estimated 97,000 NPs in the U.S.

2004 

National Nurse Practitioner Week, held annually in November, is recognized in a proclamation by U.S. Congress

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) publishes position paper on Doctorate of Nursing Practice

AANP conducts National NP Sample Survey

2005 

AANP celebrates 20 years as the oldest and largest national organization for NPs of all specialties

NPs celebrate 40 years of practice

AANP conducts Practice Site Survey

AANP has 20,000 individual members and 115 group members

Estimated 106,000 NPs in the U.S.

2006 

Receive three highest awards for PR excellence from the Texas Public Relations Association for the 2005 Celebrate 20/40 campaign, booklet and documentary

Increase participants in the AANP CE Provider Program to 16 approved providers

Conduct AANP Membership Survey

Conduct AANP Educational Needs Assessment Survey

AANP Fellows (FAANP) launches the Mentorship Program

2007 

Conduct 2007 AANP National NP Income Survey

Launch NP Finder.com – an online Web-based site for NPs to register their practices where new patients are being accepted so that consumers can locate an NP in their community

AANP conducts NP Compensation Survey

Develop and distribute paper on AANP Standards for NP Practice in Retail-based Clinics

Launch AANP CE Center for online access to continuing education activities and credits

2008 

Join with AANP Foundation for restructuring of our Corporate Partner Council (NPCPC) housed under the AANP Foundation

Initiate development of online CE tracking

AANP conducts Practice Site Survey, Compensation Survey and Educational Needs Assessment Survey

Enhance and increase presence of AANP as a major advocate and leader for all NPs through lobbying and direct communication with policy makers

Create petition urging pharmaceutical companies and other suppliers of health care products to use provider-neutral language in consumer print and broadcast advertisements

2009 

Distribute "Did you Know?" AANP video showcasing the role of the NP. Video is distributed to public television stations in all 50 states, airs 400 times in many of the top 200 markets on networks such as CNN, Fox News, Discovery, MSNBC, and is distributed internationally to Voice of America with a daily viewing audience of 96 million people airing in 200 cities and 127 countries.

Conduct AANP Membership Survey, National NP Sample Survey and Educational Needs Assessment Survey

Launch E-Bulletin, a weekly communication e-mail to all members

Launch Webnp.org, a social networking site for AANP members

Produce advertorial/open letter to President Obama and Members of Congress highlighting NPs as primary care providers. The letter runs in Roll Call publication that is distributed to elected officials in D.C.

Estimated 125,000 NPs in the U.S.

2010 

AANP health policy activities center predominantly on Health Care Reform, CMS regulations, Medicare payment, Appropriations, Medical Home and state and local issues of importance to NPs and their patients

AANP participates at a meeting with White House Office of Health Reform to review the primary care perspective on preventive care, access, coordinated primary care, quality of care, payment and the need to recognize all primary care providers as solutions to the health care crisis

AANP attends President Obama's White House briefing on Health Care Reform legislation

AANP celebrates 25th anniversary

AANP Fellows (FAANP) celebrates 10th anniversary

AANP has 28,000 individual members and 151 groups (as of May 2010)

Estimated 135,000 NPs in the U.S.

 2013

On January 1, 2013, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (founded in 1985) and the American College of Nurse Practitioners (founded in 1995) came together to form the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the largest, full-service national professional membership organization for NPs of all specialties.