What is Certified Nurses Day™?

Certified Nurses Day™ (CND), like so many wonderful realities, began as a dream over a year ago as the idea of ANCC staff member. The idea quickly ignited the imaginations of American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) staff and continues to grow. What better response than to give certified nurses their own annual day of recognition!

The American Nurses Association (ANA), which strongly supports certification across the country through its constituent member associations, the state nurses associations, joined ANCC in endorsing creation of a Certified Nurses Day™. A consensus quickly emerged that there was no better day to celebrate Certified Nurses Day™ than March 19th, the birthday of Margretta "Gretta" Madden Styles. Known as the 'Mother of Nurse Credentialing' Gretta Styles was the architect of the first comprehensive study of nursing credentialing in the 1970s; she served as President of the American Nurses Association, the International Council of Nurses, the California Board of Registered Nursing and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. A recipient of numerous honors and recognition globally, Gretta Styles' legacy is the powerful and growing role of board certification in contributing to high standards of patient care.

The American Board of Nursing Specialties and National Organization for Competency Assurance, who accredit the nation's leading nursing certification bodies, have joined in the proclamation making March 19th Certified Nurses Day™ and the effort beginning this year to achieve formal Congressional Recognition of this day. Magnet™ recognized health care facilities around the country are also strongly supporting Certified Nurses Day™. The Magnet Recognition Program ^® encourages health care organizations to promote continuous learning and certification among their nursing staff. This initiative also has support from the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), which is also celebrating its Centennial in 2008.