ABNS OVERVIEWOrientation and Overview

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

In order to be a member of ABNS at that time, an organization needed to be accredited by ABNS.

In order to be accredited, an organization needed to require candidates/certificants to have a BSN degree. Many nursing certifying organizations were precluded from membership. There were only 13 members!

HISTORY

A major reorganization was begun in 1999 and completed in 2000.

ABNS reorganized as a membership organization with an accreditation function through the ABNS Accreditation Council.

HISTORY

In 2009, a separate corporation was 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

Specialty nursing certification is THE standard by which the

public recognizes quality nursing care!

ABNS VISION

ABNS promotes the value of specialty nursing certification to all

stakeholders

ABNS MISSION

INTEGRITYCONSUMER PROTECTION

QUALITYCOLLEGIALITY, INCLUSION,

MUTUAL RESPECTEXCELLENCE

ABNS VALUES

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

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

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

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

EXCELLENCE ABNS promotes excellence as the

minimum desirable standard for specialty nursing certification.

ABNS VALUES

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

III. ABNS advances knowledge regarding specialty nursing certification through research.

IV. ABNS supports continuing competence as a means for ensuring patient safety.

SUCCESS MARKERS

V. ABNS promotes accreditation to recognize quality specialty

nursing certification programs. Recognize and support ABSNC.

SUCCESS MARKERS

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, EducatorsKEY STAKEHOLDERS

◦The public, funding agencies

STAKEHOLDERS

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

Regular member organizations – 34

Affiliate member organizations – 12

Public member – 1

Auditors at meetings

ABNS Structure

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

Membership Categories

Affiliate Membership Organizations with an interest in the promotion of specialty nursing certification

Public Membership Maximum of 2; voting privileges. Represents the public

Membership Categories

BylawsElected Board of Directors

◦President◦President-Elect◦Secretary/Treasurer◦Member at Large◦Public Member (appointed)◦President – Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification*

* Ex-officio Member

ABNS Governance

Bylaws, Policy and Procedure**Finance**Nominations and Elections*ResearchProgramAwards and Recognition

**Committee of the Board

*Elected

ABNS Committees

Semi-annual meeting schedule; Usually Spring (1st weekend in March) and Fall (1st weekend in October) – depends on when Jewish holidays fall.

Spring meeting is the official Annual Meeting

Regular member organizations have one vote

Assembly Meetings

Business of the organizationOrganizational Sharing“Certification” University and

benchmarking forums (Approved Contact Hours)

Formal and informal networkingStrategic thinkingAwards and recognitionAccreditation Q&AFriday evening reception

Meeting Features

Active networkingSharing of innovative ideasCollaboration on the promotion of

nursing certificationSharing of resourcesBenchmarkingCombined research efforts

Benefits of Membership

ABNS Website

www.nursingcertification.org

A great resource…

ABNS Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy

Janel Parker President’s Award

ABNS Member Recognition Program

ABNS Awards Programs

Major Benefit to Members

Ability to participate in far-reaching research initiatives that would be

difficult to accomplish alone

A Word About Research

2006-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

Fall 2009 ABNS/CCI Research Summit

Objectives of Summit:◦Identified plans for certifying agencies to adopt research agenda

◦Designed communication and marketing plan to disseminate key messages about agenda

◦Developed funding plan to support research agenda

A Word About Research

Patient Outcomes

Continuing Competence

Work Environment

Research Agenda Priorities

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

National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI®) Certification Research Study ◦Examined 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

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

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

Certification bibliography.Search for new articles conducted

annually through Canadian Nurses Association support.

Contains comprehensive list of all nursing certification articles.

Available on website Research tab.

Great Resource

Regular Membership - $2000 per yearAffiliate Membership - $2500 per yearFees are prorated based on month

joining

Membership Fees

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

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

Demonstrate compliance with 18 Standards

See website:◦List of accredited certification programs◦Instructions for submitting accreditation application

◦Complete Standards document◦FAQs◦ABSNC Bylaws and P&P manual

Accreditation

Role in APRN Recognition

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

Accreditation

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

Based on number of certificantsFirst 25,000 x 30 centsOver 25,000 x 10 centsMaximum of $12,000Due annually by July 1

Accreditation Fees

ABNS is managed by the Niebuhr Consulting Group, LLC

Located in Aurora, OhioBonnie Niebuhr, MS, RN, CAE is Chief

Executive OfficerMelissa Biel, RN, DPA is Deputy

DirectorBarbara Glennon – Admin. Asst.Jane Tustin - Accreditation Manager

ABNS NATIONAL OFFICE

Promoting Excellence in Nursing Certification

ABNS….