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Recommended Citation
Brown H, Bailey A. Paving the Way: Empowering Nurses to Achieve Certification. Professional Development podium presentation at Transforming Practice: The Intersection of Technology and Nursing Excellence; Advocate Health Nursing Research and Professional Development Conference 2025; November 12, 2025; Virtual.
Presentation Notes
Professional Development podium presentation at Transforming Practice: The Intersection of Technology and Nursing Excellence; Advocate Health Nursing Research and Professional Development Conference 2025; November 12, 2025; Virtual.
Abstract
Background
Nursing certification is a gold standard for clinical excellence – elevating practice, enhancing confidence, and improving patient outcomes. Yet baseline data showed only 27% of nurses across three acute care hospitals were certified. To spark improvement, the Professional Development Council, backed by senior leaders, launched a bold campaign to transform culture and increase certification rates by 2% annually.
Purpose
The goal was to inspire and empower eligible nurses to achieve specialty certification within six months, aiming to increase the certification rate to 29% by April 2025.
Method
Rather than launching a broad certification campaign, the Professional Development and Nurse Management Councils devised a targeted strategy to identify and engage only eligible nurses for certification. Using criteria for specialty certifications, nurse managers provided the number of eligible nurses for each unit. In September 2024, nursing support reached out to eligible nurses to encourage certification, emphasizing personal, professional, and financial benefits. Nurses made virtual pledges, facilitating easy follow-up to provide support through certification preparation materials, courses, and the formation of peer study groups.
Results
Across three facilities, 59 of 63 units participated with 313 nurses (24%) pledging to become certified. Eleven units had 50% or more eligible nurses pledge. A total of 90 pledges (29%) achieved certification by March 2025. Three units had 100% of pledges achieve certification, and 13 units had 40% or more pledges achieve certification. By targeting eligible nurses, the overall certification rate improved to 31.6%, surpassing the goal. With certification achievement, more nurses are eligible for clinical advancement programs further promoting professional development. As a result, 47 nurses successfully advanced to higher credential levels.
Conclusion
A culture of professional growth has many benefits including increased retention and improved patient outcomes. This nurse-driven initiative demonstrated how collaboration, targeted engagement, and leadership support can pave the way for successful certification achievement, increasing overall certification rates.
Document Type
Oral/Podium Presentation
Publication Date
11-12-2025
Paving the Way: Empowering Nurses to Achieve Certification
Background
Nursing certification is a gold standard for clinical excellence – elevating practice, enhancing confidence, and improving patient outcomes. Yet baseline data showed only 27% of nurses across three acute care hospitals were certified. To spark improvement, the Professional Development Council, backed by senior leaders, launched a bold campaign to transform culture and increase certification rates by 2% annually.
Purpose
The goal was to inspire and empower eligible nurses to achieve specialty certification within six months, aiming to increase the certification rate to 29% by April 2025.
Method
Rather than launching a broad certification campaign, the Professional Development and Nurse Management Councils devised a targeted strategy to identify and engage only eligible nurses for certification. Using criteria for specialty certifications, nurse managers provided the number of eligible nurses for each unit. In September 2024, nursing support reached out to eligible nurses to encourage certification, emphasizing personal, professional, and financial benefits. Nurses made virtual pledges, facilitating easy follow-up to provide support through certification preparation materials, courses, and the formation of peer study groups.
Results
Across three facilities, 59 of 63 units participated with 313 nurses (24%) pledging to become certified. Eleven units had 50% or more eligible nurses pledge. A total of 90 pledges (29%) achieved certification by March 2025. Three units had 100% of pledges achieve certification, and 13 units had 40% or more pledges achieve certification. By targeting eligible nurses, the overall certification rate improved to 31.6%, surpassing the goal. With certification achievement, more nurses are eligible for clinical advancement programs further promoting professional development. As a result, 47 nurses successfully advanced to higher credential levels.
Conclusion
A culture of professional growth has many benefits including increased retention and improved patient outcomes. This nurse-driven initiative demonstrated how collaboration, targeted engagement, and leadership support can pave the way for successful certification achievement, increasing overall certification rates.
Affiliations
Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center