Depending on what color scrubs you wear, you may already know that March 19 is Certified Nurses Day. This annual observance celebrates nurses worldwide who contribute to better patient outcomes through earning and maintaining advanced credentials in their specialty.
In 2008, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) collaborated to establish Certified Nurses Day and garner support from leading nursing organizations and key government entities, including the U.S. Congress. Inspired by Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles, RN, EdD, FAAN – a pioneer in nursing certification – Certified Nurses Day also encourages nurses to advance their careers by pursuing certification.
A broad-based and inclusive initiative, Certified Nurses Day invites participation from nursing stakeholders around the globe. Coalition members include certification boards, accreditation bodies, licensing agencies, nursing associations, educators, and a wide range of providers.
“The UAB Medicine leadership team and I sincerely value our certified nurses’ achievements,” says Chief Nursing Officer Terri Poe, DNP, RN, NE-BC. “This milestone is a direct reflection of advanced skill sets, specialized knowledge, and leadership abilities. It also means that our patients receive the highest level of care and experience better outcomes.”
At UAB Medicine, we encourage all of our nursing staff to pursue certification by removing financial barriers. Through our participation in programs from the ANCC and the Oncology Nursing Certification Corp. (ONCC), nurses can be certified in multiple nursing specialties at no cost or receive full reimbursement for certain certifications outside of these programs.
As of March 2022, UAB Medicine offers a new employee benefit for certified nurses to receive an annual recognition payment of $500 for achieving the distinction of certified nurse.
Join us in celebrating and honoring our certified nurses at UAB Medicine.