Marking the Sunset: The Impactful Legacy of the Campaign for Action and the Center to Champion Nursing in America
July 25, 2025
Kelly Kruse Nelles, MS, RN, APRN-BC WCN Interim Executive Director
After more than a decade of transformative effort, the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action and the Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA) have reached their sunset. This marks the close of an era defined by visionary partnership—between AARP, the AARP Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)—and the powerful commitment to advance health equity and strengthen nursing across the nation.
AARP Foundation, AARP and RWJF launched CCNA in 2007, and the Campaign for Action in 2010. These initiatives were guided by two landmark nursing reports: the then-named Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing : Leading Change, Advancing Health and the National Academy of Medicine’s Future of Nursing : 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. CCNA ran the Campaign for Action and countless nurses from across the country in partnership with colleagues, allies, and volunteers, forged a movement that improved the health of communities and elevated the nursing profession. Among the progress that has been made, a meaningful legacy remains. CCNA and the Campaign produced results, in collaboration with national and state champions, the Wisconsin Center for Nursing among them.
- Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia now allow nurse practitioners to provide care to the full extent of their education and training, giving 98 million people better access to care.
- Through the establishment of the Nurses on Boards Coalition in 2014, the health of communities improved throughout the nation with more than 10,000 nurses now serving on boards and influencing the health of communities.
- The Campaign helped lead progress in diversifying the nursing workforce so that it more closely reflects the communities it serves, though more progress needs to be made.
- Tremendous gains were made in advancing nursing education, tripling the number of RN-to-BSN graduates between 2009 and 2017.
- Strides in the work to support nurses in the workforce, including creating and scaling pathways to nursing and allied health careers, and addressing barriers to faculty and student retention, graduation, and nurse licensure passage rates, particularly for communities underrepresented in nursing continue.
Read the Full List of Accomplishments on the Campaign’s Timeline: https://campaignforaction.org/
These achievements would not have been possible without state-based Action Coalitions, nearly 2,000 organizations, and the leadership of visionary individuals who guided the strategy, direction, and collaboration at every level. The Wisconsin Center for Nursing joins in celebrating the work and achievements led by the Campaign and CCNA.
While these initiatives conclude, the pursuit of health equity through nursing continues. The momentum forged will carry forward in new and powerful ways, inspiring ongoing action to create a healthier nation. This will require nursing workforce initiatives that support innovation and leadership. The Wisconsin Center for Nursing remains committed to this continued work.
Read the Press Release: AARP RWJF Conclude Major Nursing Collaborative | Campaign for Action
About the Wisconsin Center for Nursing
The Wisconsin Center for Nursing is committed to strengthening Wisconsin’s nursing workforce through research, collaboration, and advocacy. Learn more at www.wicenterfornursing.org.