ABNS is a not-for-profit, membership organization governed by an elected group of representatives. We are focused on improving patient outcomes and consumer protection by promoting specialty nursing certification. ABNS member organizations represent more than a half million certified registered nurses worldwide. We have a strong, unified voice. Becoming an ABNS member is the best way to connect with other nursing credentialing organizations and dialogue about the specific issues nurses face. Click here to read the ABNS Fact Sheet.

The ABNS mission statement is, "to promote the value of specialty nursing certification to all stakeholders." Learn more about ABNS in the About Us section.

Please note: ABNS does not verify credentials of individual nurses. To verify a credential, contact the certifying agency that granted the credential. ABNS is a membership organization for certifying agencies and does not actually administer certification program(s).

Please Note: This website contains information specific to specialty nursing certification and is not intended or designed to give medical or nursing advice in any sense.

Announcements

• The ABNS Awards and Recognition Committee announced during the organization’s Spring Assembly meeting that it has selected Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ as the recipient of the 2012 Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy. (Read full press release)
• The ABNS Awards and Recognition Committee announced at its Spring Assembly meeting that it has selected three institutions to receive honorable mentions for the 2012 Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy. ABNS recognized Saint Luke’s Neuroscience Institute of Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, MO; St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center, Surgical Services, Dept., Boise, ID; and Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA as strong advocates of specialty nursing certification. (Read full text)
• ABNS has elected Rick Meadows, RN, MS, ANP-C, FAANP, as Secretary-Treasurer. Meadows term will begin in July 1, 2012. (read full text)
• ABNS Board of Directors Endorses Statement on Continuing Competence for Nursing: A Call to Action. Read more in the Resources section by clicking on Statement on Continuing Competence for Nursing: A Call to Action.
• Download the Institute of Medicine 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.
• A link to the Nursing License Map web site has been added the Resources page. This site offers a simple guide to licensure in each state.

The Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), formerly the ABNS Accreditation Council, is the only accrediting body specifically for nursing certification. ABSNC accreditation is a peer-review mechanism that allows nursing certification organizations to obtain accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the highest quality standards available in the industry. Accreditation is available for both ABNS member and non-member organizations. More...

Visit the ABNS News section for the latest information and updates.