The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is joining hospitals and healthcare organisations in honouring certified nurses for their professionalism, leadership, and dedication to excellence in patient and family care on Wednesday, 19 March, as part of Certified Nurses Day.
As the healthcare landscape becomes increasingly complex and demanding, nursing certification has emerged as a crucial indicator of excellence. Specialty certification reinforces nurses’ commitment to employing the best available evidence in the care of patients and their families. Achieving certification signifies to patients, families, employers, and the wider healthcare team that a nurse’s expertise aligns with national standards and reflects a profound dedication to patient safety.
AACN recently published an article titled “Nursing Certification: Just Go For It!” featuring Brianna Valentine, RN, CCRN, who attained certification in 2024 during AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition.
“I wanted my colleagues to recognise that I am an experienced nurse whose judgement they can trust. I wanted to fully comprehend the evidence underpinning our practices and possess the clinical knowledge to justify my approach to patient care – and certification seemed the most effective way to achieve this,” she stated.
Valentine’s story is among a collection of Nurse Stories and articles available on the AACN website that highlight the personal pride and commitment to professionalism and high-quality care demonstrated by certified nurses:
- “I’m Certified: The Path to Nursing Excellence” presents a Q&A session with Collyn West, MSN, RN, CNL, PCCN, a director of nursing in acute care, discussing her journey towards certification.
- “Inspiring Nurses to Achieve Certification” features multiple nurses sharing their motivations for obtaining certification.
- “Why Would I Need More Than One Nursing Certification?” explores the experiences of three nurses who hold multiple certifications, including a specialty certification as a nursing professional development practitioner.
According to the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), over a million nurses and advanced practice nurses across the United States and Canada possess one or more specialty nursing credentials. These credentials are awarded by 56 U.S.-based credentialing organisations, representing 148 distinct certifications.
At present, more than 131,000 critical care, progressive care, and advanced practice nurses hold AACN Certification Corporation credentials, including CCRN, PCCN, ACNPC, ACNPC-AG, CCNS, ACCNS-AG, ACCNS-P, ACCNS-N, CMC, and CSC.
Certified Nurses Day, an annual global event, is dedicated to celebrating certification as a means of promoting high standards of patient care and professional excellence in nursing. Initially proposed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the day commemorates the birth of the late Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles, an international trailblazer in nursing certification and a longstanding advocate of AACN and AACN Certification Corporation. Styles was instrumental in developing the first comprehensive study of nurse credentialing.
Supplementary Information:
Certification plays a pivotal role in career progression within nursing, as it not only enhances professional credibility but also improves patient outcomes. Numerous studies indicate that certified nurses contribute to lower mortality rates, reduced medical errors, and higher patient satisfaction. Moreover, many healthcare institutions offer financial incentives, career advancement opportunities, and continuing education support to encourage nurses to pursue certification.
As the demand for highly skilled nursing professionals continues to rise, obtaining certification remains an essential step for those seeking to elevate their expertise and make a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare.