American Nurses Association Celebrates Inclusion of Nurse Staffing in Joint Commission’s National Performance Goals
Nurse staffing recognized as a core element of patient safety through elevation to National Performance Goals
SILVER SPRING, MD – October 13, 2025 – The American Nurses Association (ANA) proudly celebrates a historic victory for nurses and patients alike: for the first time ever, nurse staffing has been elevated within The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals, now renamed the National Performance Goals.
This milestone marks the culmination of years of tireless advocacy, collaboration, and leadership by ANA and its partners, who worked to elevate safe staffing as a core component of patient safety and care quality. The new National Performance Goal 12 requires health care organizations to demonstrate compliance with policies and procedures related to nurse staffing and numeration, including the requirement that a nurse is on duty whenever Critical Access Hospitals have one or more inpatients. The standard will take effect January 1, 2026, carrying significant implications for accreditation and reimbursement.
"Today’s achievement is a defining moment for the nursing profession and for patient care across the nation," said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association. "For decades, nurses have sounded the alarm that safe staffing saves lives. The inclusion of nurse staffing as a national performance goal validates what nurses have always known, that adequate staffing is essential to prevent patient harm, improve patient outcomes, and create a safer environment. While this marks a tremendous step forward, we will continue to advocate for all accrediting bodies to adopt similar standards so that every hospital upholds safe staffing as a top priority."
Through convening the National Nurse Staffing Task Force, ANA played a key role in advancing this change, alongside its partners at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and others.
Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAONL, Senior Vice President of Equity & Engagement for American Nurses Enterprise, served as ANA’s facilitator on the task force.
"This outcome demonstrates the power of persistence and the influence of the nursing voice in shaping national policy," said Boston-Leary. "It shows what’s possible when we lead with evidence, unity, and an unwavering focus on patient safety."
For more information on the new National Performance Goals, visit: https://digitalassets.jointcommission.org/api/public/content/9ca80055182b4274842a5780a94f2c82?v=149a13a9
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About the American Nurses Association
As the oldest organization representing more than 5 million registered nurses, the American Nurses Association stands at the forefront of advancing nursing excellence. The association harnesses The Power of Nurses™ to champion the profession and drive transformation in healthcare. Through legislative and political advocacy, comprehensive educational services, and the profession’s leading Code of Ethics and Scope and Standards, the association empowers nurses across every specialty and practice setting. The association is committed to ensuring healthy work environments, shaping pioneering policies, and cultivating partnerships that enhance both the nursing profession and the broader healthcare experience.
MEDIA CONTACT: newsroom@ana.org