Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) joins with hospitals and other healthcare groups across the country Wednesday, March 19, to celebrate and recognize the essential work of certified nurses as part of Certified Nurses Day.

“Certification promotes excellence among nurses and contributes to better patient outcomes,” said Linda Harrington, PhD, DNP, RN-BC, CNS, CPHQ, CENP, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, chair, AACN Certification Corporation board of directors. “AACN honors the commitment certified nurses make to providing the specialized care needed in our increasingly complex world of modern nursing. We are proud to celebrate nurses everywhere who have achieved specialty and subspecialty certification.”

According to data collected by the American Board of Nursing Specialties in 2013, more than 683,684 nurses in the United States and Canada hold certifications, an increase of more than 87,111 certificants compared to 2012 survey data.

These certifications were granted by 27 certifying organizations and represent 122 different credentials. Currently, more than 84,000 certified acute and critical care nurses in the U.S. hold AACN Certification Corporation’s credentials, such as CCRN, PCCN, CCRN-E, CCNS, ACNPC, ACNPC-AG, ACCNS-AG, ACCNS-P, ACCNS-N, CNML, CMC and CSC.

Certified Nurses Day is an annual worldwide event dedicated to celebrating certification as a means to help ensure high standards of patient care and to promote continuing excellence in the nursing profession.

Initially proposed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the day honors the birthday of the late Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles, an international pioneer of nursing certification and longtime friend of AACN and AACN Certification Corporation. Styles designed the first comprehensive study of nurse credentialing.

For more information about Certified Nurses Day, visit www.aacn.org/certnursesday.

About AACN Certification Corporation: AACN Certification Corporation promotes and enhances consumer health and safety by establishing and maintaining high standards of professional practice excellence through certification and certification renewal for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme