Founded in 1973, the organization is an independent affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA).
[2] The organization publishes a bimonthly journal known as Nursing Outlook.
[3] Members of the organization are invited on the basis of leadership and accomplishments and designated as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
Nominees for Living Legend status must have held the FAAN designation for at least 15 years.
As of December 2012, the organization has named 82 nurses as Living Legends.