Dicarlo V

American Assisted Living Nurses Association

American Assisted Living Nurses Association (AALNA), a professional nursing association representing assisted living registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses. Our goal is to promote safe, effective, and dignified nursing practice in assisted living. The AALNA was formed in June 2001 by a group of assisted living nurses and is still operated only by nurses currently practicing in the field. We have developed two distinct Scope and Standards of Practice statements for assisted living nurses (one for RNs; one for LPN/LVNs) that draw on principles of gerontological nursing, as well as a certification exam with demonstrated validity and reliability. As a founding board member of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL), the AALNA is a continuing voice for assisted living nursing. The organization served as a steering committee member and co-chair for the national Assisted Living Workgroup. There are state chapters in New Jersey, Vermont, Maryland, Arizona and New York. We expect several more chapters to become officially approved in 2009. The AALNA has an active website and provides its members with links to nursing practice, education, research, policy information and resources, associations, organizations, government sites and products. The AALNA Report is published in every edition of the peer-review journal Geriatric Nursing.