1. ABNS OVERVIEW Orientation and Overview

2. Supported by funding from the Macy Foundation Incorporated in 1991 Initial goal of ABNS was to serve as an advocate for consumer protection by setting standards for the formal recognition of nursing certification programs. HISTORY

3. Major reorganization begun in 1999 and completed in 2000 ABNS created as a membership organization with an accreditation function Today, Regular member organizations represent over half a million certified registered nurses (588,740) HISTORY

4. In 2009, a separate corporation created for accreditation activities – Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABSNC) Allowed ABNS to seek a change to its tax status with the IRS – in 2011 reclassified to a 501(c)(3); ABSNC remained a 501(c)(6) HISTORY

5. Specialty nursing certification is THE standard by which the public recognizes quality nursing care! VISION

6. ABNS promotes the value of specialty nursing certification to all stakeholders MISSION

7. INTEGRITY CONSUMER PROTECTION QUALITY COLLEGIALITY, INCLUSION, MUTUAL RESPECT EXCELLENCE ABNS VALUES

8. INTEGRITY ABNS exhibits integrity and earns trust through demonstrated member responsiveness, transparency in all activities and decision-making processes, and a commitment to an accreditation program based on peer- reviewed and research-based standards. ABNS VALUES

9. CONSUMER PROTECTION As an association comprised of specialty nursing certification organizations, ABNS supports the role certified nurses play in promoting optimal health outcomes and ensures that its accreditation standards are driven by the needs of health care consumers. ABNS VALUES

10. QUALITY ABNS is committed to providing the highest level of quality products and services and will engage in evidence- based improvement activities to ensure that quality, as defined by the members, is consistently achieved. ABNS VALUES

11. COLLEGIALITY, INCLUSION, MUTUAL RESPECT ABNS encourages and respects diversity of thought and of individuals. We embrace the belief that we can achieve more as a group than any of us can as individual member organizations. ABNS VALUES

12. EXCELLENCE ABNS promotes excellence as the minimum desirable standard for specialty nursing certification. ABNS VALUES

13. INTEGRITY CONSUMER PROTECTION QUALITY COLLEGIALITY, INCLUSION, MUTUAL RESPECT EXCELLENCE ABNS VALUES

14. I.ABNS is the authoritative resource and voice for issues of specialty nursing certification. II.ABNS ensures organizational vitality with sustainability. We provide benefits that delight our members. SUCCESS MARKERS

15. III. ABNS advances knowledge regarding specialty nursing certification through research. IV. ABNS supports continuing competence as a means for ensuring patient safety. SUCCESS MARKERS

16. V. ABNS promotes accreditation to recognize quality specialty nursing certification programs. Recognize and support ABSNC. SUCCESS MARKERS

17. CORE MEMBERS ◦Regular members ◦Potential Regular members MEMBERS ◦Not for profit and for profit organizations that have an interest in the promotion of specialty nursing certification (affiliate and potential affiliate members) CUSTOMERS ◦Individual RNs, MDs, Employers, Payors, Administrators, Regulators, Educators KEY STAKEHOLDERS ◦The public, funding agencies STAKEHOLDERS

18. Certification is defined as the formal recognition of the specialized body of knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health outcomes ABNS DEFINITION OF CERTIFICATION

19. Regular member organizations – 33 Affiliate member organizations – 13 Public member – 1 Auditors at meetings ABNS Structure

20. Regular Membership Regular Membership Specialty nursing organizations that certify registered nurses exclusively or as a majority portion of their population Membership Categories

21. Affiliate Membership Affiliate Membership Organizations with an interest in the promotion of specialty nursing certification Public Membership Public Membership Maximum of 2; voting privileges. Represent the public Membership Categories

22. Bylaws Elected Board of Directors ◦President ◦President-Elect ◦Secretary/Treasurer ◦Member at Large ◦Public Member (appointed) ◦President – Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification ◦President – Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification* * Ex-officio Member ABNS Governance

23. Bylaws, Policy and Procedure** Finance** Nominations and Elections* Research Public Relations Program Awards and Recognition ** Committee of the Board *Elected ABNS Committees

24. Semi-annual meeting schedule; Spring (1st weekend in March) and Fall (1st weekend in October) Spring meeting is the official Annual Meeting Regular member organizations have one vote Assembly Meetings

25. Business of the organization Organizational Sharing “Certification” University and benchmarking forums (Contact Hours) Formal and informal networking Strategic thinking Awards and recognition Accreditation Q&A Friday evening reception Meeting Features

26. Active networking Sharing of innovative ideas Collaboration on the promotion of nursing certification Sharing of resources Benchmarking Combined research efforts Benefits of Membership

27. ABNS Website www.nursingcertification.org A great resource…

28. ABNS Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy Janel Parker President’s Award ABNS Member Recognition Program ABNS Awards Programs

29. Major Benefit to Members Ability to participate in far-reaching research initiatives that would be difficult to accomplish alone A Word About Research

30. 2002 – survey of nurse managers about their perceptions of certified nurses and how nursing certification is recognized/supported in their institutions ◦See article: Frank Stromborg, Marilyn, et al. Specialty Certification – More Than A Title. Nursing Management, May 2005. A Word About Research

31. First collaborative research effort with 20 participating member organizations – The Value of Specialty Nursing Certification Purpose – to validate the perceptions, values, and behaviors related to nursing certification of certified nurses, non certified nurses, and nurse managers Also examined barriers and challenges to certification, incentives for certification, impact on lost work days and nurse retention. A Word About Research

32. Fall 2009 ABNS/CCI Research Summit Objectives of Summit: ◦Identify plans for certifying agencies to adopt research agenda ◦Design communication and marketing plan to disseminate key messages about agenda ◦Develop funding plan to support research agenda A Word About Research

33. Patient Outcomes Continuing Competence Work Environment Research Agenda Priorities

34. National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI ® ) Certification Research Study ◦ABNS (and 26 ABNS members) partnering with AACN (critical care) ◦18 month long study conducted in two phases, beginning fall 2010 Dr. Diane Boyle, NDNQI Principal Investigator Research Agenda – current study

35. National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI ® ) Certification Research Study ◦Is examining trends in specialty certification of RNs in acute care hospitals using a unique nursing data resource – NDNQI database ◦Data on how the prevalence of specialty certified RNs impacts patient safety Research Agenda

36. National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI ® ) Certification Research Study ◦Phase One Completed: participating organizations given descriptive data about nurses holding their credentials as well as a description of the overall sample for comparison ◦Phase One results are posted on the ABNS website, Research tab Research Agenda

37. National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI ® ) Certification Research Study ◦Phase Two has been completed ◦Looking at nurse outcomes as related to certification status of inpatient hospital units. ◦Findings: Over time, as nurse specialty certification rates increased, fall rates decreased or slowed. Research Agenda

38. Certification bibliography Search for new articles conducted annually through Canadian Nurses Association librarian Contains comprehensive list of all nursing certification articles Available on website Research tab Great Resource

39. Regular Membership - $2000 per year Affiliate Membership - $2500 per year Fees are prorated based on month joining Membership Fees

40. ABSNC –Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification formerly known as the ABNS Accreditation Council The only accrediting body specifically for nursing certification Separately incorporated from ABNS in August 2009 Accreditation

41. ABSNC composed of 9 - 10 elected board members Includes a professional Psychometrician and Public Member Organizations with accredited certification programs are members of ABSNC ABSNC shares the ABNS website – see information about accreditation under Accreditation tab Accreditation

42. Demonstrate compliance with 18 Standards See website: ◦List of accredited certification programs ◦Instructions for submitting accreditation application ◦Complete Standards document ◦ABSNC Bylaws and P&P manual Accreditation

43. Role in APRN Recognition NCSBN Recognized by NCSBN as an approved accrediting organization for Advanced Practice RN (APRN) examinations, in the current version of the interstate compact language for advanced practice nursing Accreditation

44. Role in APRN Recognition ABSNC is represented on the LACE (Licensure/Accreditation/Certification/ Education) Group by ABNS/ABSNC CEO, Bonnie Niebuhr, MS, RN, CAE Regular updates/forum about APRN issues are given at ABNS Assembly meetings Accreditation

45. Based on number of certificants First 25,000 x 30 cents Over 25,000 x 10 cents Maximum of $12,000 Due annually by July 1 Accreditation Fees

46. ABNS is managed by the Niebuhr Consulting Group, LLC Located in Aurora, Ohio Bonnie Niebuhr, MS, RN, CAE is Chief Executive Officer Melissa Biel, RN, DPA is Deputy Director Barbara Glennon – Admin. Asst. ABNS NATIONAL OFFICE

47. Q&A ABNS…

48. Promoting Excellence in Nursing Certification ABNS….