American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the largest credentialing body of nurses in the world. It is a subsidiary of American Nurses Association. ANCC has been doing significant contributions in educating nurses, maintaining practice standards and promoting efficient and safe health care environment in United States. ANCC has been running several programs like Magnet Recognition Program®, Pathway to Excellence Program®, Pathway to Excellence in Long Term Care TM, and Credentialing Innovation Program®, which witness its role in health care sector.
Magnet Recognition Program has been useful in identification of healthcare institutions which have achieved excellence in providing nursing care and satisfies national standards. This program has successfully promoted safe and competent nursing practices among various nursing settings.
Pathway to Excellence Program is another initiative of ANCC for recognizing healthcare organizations which has been providing an environment where nurses can advance and improve their skills. This program has helped nurses in figuring out nursing settings where they would like to work and able to attain professional satisfaction.
ANCC has generated several educational products and services under its Credentialing Innovation Program. It is responsible for accrediting continuing education programs of nursing in USA.
Various certifications offered by ANCC for nurse practitioners include Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-BC), Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP-BC), Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP-BC), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-BC), and School Nurse Practitioner (SNP-BC).
Various certifications offered by ANCC for clinical nurse specialists include Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health (ACNS-BC), Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health (PMHCNS-BC), Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child/Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental Health (PMHCNS-BC), Clinical Nurse Specialist Core Exam (CNS-BC), Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM), Clinical Nurse Specialist in Home Health Nursing (HHCNS-BC), Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontology (GCNS-BC), Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatrics (PCNS-BC), and Clinical Nurse Specialist in Public/Community Health (PHCNS-BC).
Other ANCC certifications in different specialties include Ambulatory Care Nursing, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nursing, Cardiac Vascular Nursing, Case Management Nursing, College Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Diabetes Management – Advanced, General Nursing Practice, Gerontological Nursing, High risk Perinatal Nursing, Home Health Nursing, Informatics Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing, Nurse Executive, Nurse Executive – Advanced, Nursing Professional Development, Pain Management, Pediatric Nursing, Perinatal Nursing, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Public Health Nurse – Advanced, and School Nursing.