Certified Nurses Day spotlights specialty expertise

Editor's Note

Didn’t make plans for Certified Nurses Day today? No worries—the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACCN) has some simple ideas to celebrate the specialists in your organization (and we have an idea of our own).

Created in 2008 by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Certified Nurses Day falls every year on March 19. This annual worldwide day of recognition is dedicated to the public acknowledgement of specialty nurses with credentials to prove their knowledge and expertise. It might be too late to organize a team event or virtual gathering, but AACN does offer printable downloads, recognition products for sale, and sample social media messages that could inspire emails, intranet posts, or other camaraderie-building content. The organization’s website also offers a number of nurse stories and articles that highlight the value of certification.

This is also where we can help. Nurse credentialing is a key topic for OR Manager, which regularly publishes extensive articles about certification options, trends, advice, and more. Recent examples include articles on perianesthesia certification impacting retention; new specialty designations under the CNOR certification (for example, cardiac or orthopedic surgery); and the potential of expanding competency assessment beyond licensing. In fact, a subscription could be a great way to show support and while also staying informed on the latest in nurse competency and credentialing. Use the promo code HERO15 for 15% off!