Who We Are
The Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE) provides a meeting ground for those committed to excellence in community and public health nursing education, research, and practice. ACHNE was established in 1978 and is run by elected volunteer leaders who guide the organization in providing networking through the quarterly newsletter and membership directory and providing educational opportunities through publications and the Annual Institute.
A Message from ACHNE about Racial Equity
The Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE) is committed to excellence in community and public health nursing education, research, and practice-advancing the health of populations. We understand that structural racism is rooted in long-standing discriminatory policies and must be examined and dismantled as an upstream structural determinant of health. We are committed to challenging nurse educators to develop the competencies essential for facilitating safe, respectful, and uncomfortable dialogue. We are responsible for championing awareness requisite for effective system-level transformation. As ambassadors in our communities, ultimately, our students will advance nursing practice in actionable change and collective impact for racial equity and justice.
What Our Members are Doing
Are you an ACHNE Member doing great things? Let us know at info@ACHNE.org and you could be featured on our home page!
10/08/2026
CPHNO Webinar - The Work Holds: Public Health Nursing Leadership from the Inside Out
Free Webinar and 1 contact hour, hosted by CPHNO. The ground beneath public health nursing has shifted. Federal withdrawal, structural instability, and workforce strain are testing both systems and the professionals who sustain them. This session offers public health nursing leaders an honest examination of what this moment requires—and what it makes possible. Drawing on two decades of federal public health service and systems-level leadership, including her role as the 12th Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service, Dr. Aisha K. Brooks places the public health nurse at the center of the rebuild.
10/08/2026
Advanced Public Health Nursing Learning Collaborative CCNE Statement
As the national voice for community and public health nursing education, ACHNE is committed to safeguarding the integrity, clarity and future of advanced public health nursing (APHN) preparation. We endorse the APHN Learning Collaborative statement because it affirms a principle essential to our discipline: that indirect care specialties, including Advanced Public Health Nursing, require educational structures and competencies distinct from direct care APRN practice. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education’s (CCNE) clear articulation of these differences protects the unique contributions of population-focused nursing, ensures programs are evaluated fairly and accurately, and reinforces the vital role of indirect care experts in improving health systems, advancing equity and strengthening community well-being. By supporting this guidance, ACHNE underscores its longstanding commitment to high-quality education, appropriate accreditation standards and the advancement of a workforce prepared to meet the complex public health challenges of today and tomorrow.
10/08/2026
Member Spotlight: Dr. Pat Schoon on Integrating AI Literacy and Ethics in Prelicensure Nursing Education
Long-time ACHNE member Dr. Pat Schoon shares her experiences introducing prelicensure nursing students to artificial intelligence. This spotlight highlights how integrating core concepts of AI—including ethics, benefits, and practical pitfalls—prepares undergraduate students for an evolving healthcare landscape through key professional and scholarly resources.
04/27/2026
Member Perk: Exclusive Burnout Support from Our Keynote Speaker
Burnout continues to impact healthcare workers across the country, and finding support that actually helps matters now more than ever. As we look forward to the ACHNE Annual Institute, we are thrilled to share that our keynote speaker, Patrick Riecke, is partnering with us to offer an exclusive resource for our members and colleagues. Through a unique national initiative, ACHNE members can now access on-demand, practical burnout education at a special rate through The Burnout Hub. This special arrangement allows us to provide these high-value tools to our community as we prepare for Patrick’s keynote address.
01/27/2026
In Memory of Alex Pretti: A Statement and Call to Action
The Association for Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE) stands in solidarity with the nursing community as we mourn the tragic loss of Alex Pretti, a dedicated ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. As public health educators and practitioners, we unequivocally denounce the violence surrounding his death. This tragedy serves as a solemn reminder of our professional obligation to advocate for human dignity, social justice, and the safety of all individuals, regardless of their background or status.
12/10/2025
Policy Watch: AACN Urges Action to Support Nursing as a Professional Degree
ACHNE is sharing an urgent alert from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) regarding the Department of Education’s Proposed Rule. AACN is strongly advocating for the inclusion of post-baccalaureate nursing programs in the definition of a "professional degree," warning that the current omission could negatively affect student loan caps and eligibility for advanced practice nurses. AACN has created a new resource page and is urging all nurse educators to act immediately by contacting their Representatives and Senators to sign onto a crucial congressional letter before the December 11, 2025 deadline. Read on for details regarding the required action and related policy updates on Capitol Hill.
12/10/2025
Congratulations to Our Newest AAN Fellows!
ACHNE is thrilled to share the exciting news that several of our esteemed members and past members have been inducted into the prestigious 2025 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN)! This highly respected recognition celebrates their exceptional leadership and significant, sustained impact on nursing education, research, and public health. Please join us in congratulating these dedicated leaders on achieving one of the highest honors in the profession!
12/10/2025
ACHNE Member Spotlight: Modupe Akintomide (Adewuyi) PhD, MSN/MPH, PHNA-BC, CHES
The Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE) is delighted to introduce you to Dr. Modupe Akintomide (Adewuyi), PhD, MSN/MPH, PHNA-BC, CHES, a tenured Associate Professor at Kennesaw State University and a dynamic new leader within our organization. Dr. Akintomide's research is deeply focused on individuals with limited resources, specifically addressing the crucial social, ecological, physical, and psychological aspects of well-being. This commitment to fairness and inclusiveness quickly drew her into ACHNE, leading her to co-chair our newest initiative: the CREIDE (Culture, Race, Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Enhancing Belonging) committee. Beyond her scholarly work on integrating the AACN Essentials into nursing curricula, Dr. Akintomide is an acclaimed innovator, having developed two remarkable prototypes: AI-DECAVA, a voice-assisted application for instant, data-driven support for dementia caregivers, and an extended virtual reality application designed to educate healthcare providers on holistic dementia care. Read more to learn about Dr. Akintomide's inspiring career, her passion for equitable outcomes, and her call for ACHNE members to leverage their skills to educate the next generation of nurses and positively impact all populations.
09/17/2025
ACHNE's Policy Committee Tackles Nursing's Role in Health Policy
In a significant step forward for public health nursing, ACHNE's Policy Committee is tackling the crucial issue of preparing future nurses to engage in health policy.
04/30/2025
Education Committee Update: Community Assessment Webinar Recording & Slides
The ACHNE Education Committee hosted a webinar on April 23rd about community assessment projects for nursing students, led by Dr. Patricia Schoon. A recording and slides will be sent to registrants, and those who missed it can still register to receive these materials.
09/12/2024
ACHNE Releases New Position Paper on Faculty Qualifications for Community/Public Health Nursing
The Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE) has released a new Position Paper, Faculty Qualifications for Community/Public Health Nursing. This comprehensive document provides essential guidelines for colleges and universities to consider when hiring or assigning faculty to teach undergraduate and graduate community/public health nursing (C/PHN) courses.
