Date, History, Facts about Nursing

Certified Nurses Day is observed annually on March 19 to honor nurses who have chosen to increase their professional knowledge through certification. There are currently over 3,800,000 nurses in the United States. Not only is it one of the largest occupations, but it also has one of the greatest and most far-reaching effects on society. Did you know that there are over 200 specialties and subspecialties in nursing? In their pursuit of certification in one or more of these areas, nurses aspire for professional excellence and superior patient care due to the increasing complexity of the medical field. Today, let’s acknowledge and thank these men and women for their efforts in obtaining their professional certifications.

The background of Certified Nurses Day

Certified Nurses Day was established in 2008 by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in collaboration with the American Nurses Association (ANN) to recognize the achievement of certification and the commitment to professionalism and critical knowledge of specialty areas that it demonstrates.

Dr. Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles, RN, EdD, FAAN, who was a pioneer in the field of nursing certification, was born on March 19. In the 1970s, Dr. Styles began advocating for stricter standards of credentials to validate expertise. Later, she played a pivotal role in establishing the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Clinical experts who have demonstrated a level of knowledge validated by credentialing boards are considered certified nurses. They have committed to lifelong learning because they are expected to participate in ongoing educational opportunities and maintain a level of expertise in their field(s).

As patients, we can rest assured that these standards of competency have been met. According to studies, certified nurses provide higher levels of patient satisfaction, patient-centered care, and fewer medical errors. Over ninety percent of nurses surveyed agreed that their certifications were significant indicators of their level of competence and increased their professional credibility. In addition, the majority of respondents agreed that obtaining specialty certifications was personally rewarding and boosted their professional confidence.

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5 Interesting Facts About Nursing

Through 2026, it is anticipated that 200,000 new certified nursing positions will be created annually.

Despite the fact that 58% of nurses are employed by medical and surgical hospitals, they are also employed by private medical offices, nursing homes, clinics, the military, schools, and even general enterprises.

One of the highest-paying professions is nursing.

In an average 12-hour workday, nurses will walk four to five miles!

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there is a shortage of 4.5 million nurses worldwide!

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CERTIFIED NURSES DAY DATES