American Nurses Credentialing Center

American Nurses Credentialing Center. The American Nurses Credentialing Center is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, and it is the largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization in the world, with over 500,000 certified nurses, including Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The organization is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, and it has partnerships with numerous nursing organizations, including the National League for Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The center's mission is to promote excellence in nursing practice, and it does so by providing certification programs, accreditation services, and other resources to nurses and healthcare organizations, such as Hospitals, Health Systems, and Nursing Schools.

● History

The American Nurses Credentialing Center was established in 1991 by the American Nurses Association to provide a credentialing program for nurses, with the first certification exams administered in 1992. The center's early years were marked by significant growth, with the introduction of new certification programs, such as the Certified Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Midwife programs, and the development of partnerships with organizations like the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. The center's history is also closely tied to that of the American Nurses Association, which has a long history of advocating for nurses and promoting excellence in nursing practice, dating back to the 1897 founding of the organization by Isabel Hampton Robb and Lavinia Dock. The center has also worked with other organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, to promote healthcare quality and patient safety, as outlined in the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005.

● Organization

The American Nurses Credentialing Center is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from the American Nurses Association, as well as other nursing organizations, such as the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health and the Society of Pediatric Nurses. The center is also advised by a number of committees, including the Certification Committee and the Accreditation Committee, which are composed of experts from organizations like the American Academy of Nursing and the National Institute of Nursing Research. The organization has a staff of over 100 employees, including nurses, educators, and administrators, who work together to develop and implement certification programs, accreditation services, and other resources, such as the Nursing Knowledge Center and the ANCC Certification Exam Review.

● Certification Programs

The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers a wide range of certification programs for nurses, including the Certified Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist programs, as well as specialty certifications, such as the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife programs. These programs are designed to recognize excellence in nursing practice and to promote patient safety and quality care, as outlined in the Institute of Medicine report, To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System. The center's certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and the American Board of Nursing Specialties, and they are recognized by organizations like the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The center also offers certification programs in partnership with other organizations, such as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates.

● Accreditation

The American Nurses Credentialing Center provides accreditation services to nursing organizations and healthcare providers, such as Hospitals and Health Systems, that meet certain standards of quality and excellence, as outlined in the Magnet Recognition Program and the Pathway to Excellence Program. The center's accreditation programs are designed to promote excellence in nursing practice and to recognize organizations that demonstrate a commitment to quality care and patient safety, as outlined in the National Patient Safety Goals and the Hospital Accreditation Standards. The center's accreditation services are recognized by organizations like the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and they are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and the American Board of Nursing Specialties. The center also provides accreditation services in partnership with other organizations, such as the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

● Magnet Recognition Program

The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program is a prestigious recognition program that recognizes healthcare organizations that provide high-quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice, as outlined in the Magnet Model and the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program Manual. The program is based on the Forces of Magnetism, which include Quality of Care, Nursing Leadership, and Professional Development, and it is designed to promote excellence in nursing practice and to recognize organizations that demonstrate a commitment to quality care and patient safety, as outlined in the National Patient Safety Goals and the Hospital Accreditation Standards. The program is recognized by organizations like the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and it is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and the American Board of Nursing Specialties. The center also provides resources and support to organizations that are seeking to achieve Magnet Recognition, including the Magnet Learning Community and the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program Toolkit.