What organizations provide certification for registered nurses?

Several organizations provide certification for registered nurses (RNs) in different specialties and practice areas. Here are some of the prominent organizations that offer RN certifications:

1. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): The ANCC is the largest nursing credentialing organization in the United States. It offers a wide range of certifications, including specialty certifications like Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and many others.

2. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN): The AACN provides certifications in critical care nursing, such as the CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) and CCRN-K (Critical Care Registered Nurse - Pediatric).

3. Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN): The AMSN offers certifications in medical-surgical nursing, such as the CMSRN (Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse) and the APRN-CNS (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Clinical Nurse Specialist) Medical-Surgical certification.

4. Emergency Nurses Association (ENA): The ENA offers the CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) and CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse) certifications for nurses working in emergency and flight nursing settings.

5. Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN): The AWHONN provides certifications in women's health, including the RNC-OB (Registered Nurse - Obstetric) and RNC-MNN (Registered Nurse - Maternal-Newborn) certifications.

6. National Association of Orthopedic Nurses (NAON): The NAON offers certifications in orthopedic nursing, such as the ONC (Orthopedic Nurse Certified) and CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room) certifications.

7. Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA): The SGNA provides certifications in gastroenterology nursing, such as the CGRN (Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse) and CGRN-A (Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse - Advanced).

8. Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN): The WOCN offers certifications in wound, ostomy, and continence nursing, including the WOCN (Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse) and CWOCN (Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse) certifications.

These organizations have rigorous eligibility criteria and require nurses to meet educational, clinical experience, and continuing education requirements to obtain and maintain their certifications. RNs who hold these certifications demonstrate their expertise and commitment to professional development and quality patient care in their specialized areas of practice.