Partnership with Penn Nursing expands AACN’s research on nurse work environments
National survey to assess the state of nurses’ work environments continues the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ 20-plus years of Healthy Work Environment research and initiatives
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – Sept. 17, 2025 – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) will partner with Penn Nursing and its Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) to conduct its latest research on the state of nurses’ work environments. The 2025 National Nurse Work Environments Survey will launch Oct. 13, with study results expected to be published in spring of 2026.
Penn Nursing’s Amanda Bettencourt, PhD, APRN, CCRN, ACCNS-P, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Health and CHOPR senior fellow; and Matthew McHugh, PhD, JD, MPH, RN, FAAN, Professor of Nursing and CHOPR Director, will serve as researchers for the survey. Bettencourt is familiar with AACN’s research and advocacy through her service on their national board of directors, including as the organization’s 2023-24 president.
“AACN has long been dedicated to helping frontline nurses work in the safest and healthiest environments possible. Our recurring nurse work environment survey has become one of the most important tools we have to evaluate the health of the current nurse work landscape and pinpoint areas for improvement,” said Vicki Good, DNP, RN, CENP, CPPS, FAAN, chief clinical officer for AACN. “Our series of surveys provides invaluable documentation of the state of nurses’ work environments and a foundation for evidence-based improvements in the healthcare workplace.”
The initial AACN nurse work environment study in 2006 followed publication of the “AACN Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments: A Journey to Excellence” (HWE Standards). The research provided actionable insights into how the HWE Standards were being implemented, and the results have contributed to development of evidence-based programs to improve nurses’ work environments.
Follow-up surveys were conducted in 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2021. The 2021 survey was conducted two years earlier than regularly scheduled in an effort to assess the pandemic’s impact on nurses and their work environments.
In addition to serving as a snapshot of the current state of the work environment for nurses, the findings have consistently demonstrated the benefits of creating and sustaining HWEs to support nurse staffing, retention and optimal patient care.
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About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and nearly 200 chapters in the United States.
About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing: The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) is one of the world’s leading nursing schools. It has been ranked the #1 nursing school in the U.S. by QS University for a decade. Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is among the top-ranked programs in the nation, according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. Penn Nursing also consistently earns high rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of best graduate schools and is a top recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for nursing research. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, & Instagram.
About the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research: The Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is dedicated to building the actionable evidence base needed to advance effective policy, practice, and health system reforms that improve health outcomes, cultivate clinician well-being, and promote health equity across communities.
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