March 19 - please join NBCSN in a Global Celebration of Certified Nurses Day!

March 19th is recognized around the world as Certified Nurses Day™.

Certification in nursing is a hallmark of distinction. The registered nurse (RN) license affirms an individual has met broad, general requirements to practice nursing. Certification validates an RN’s advanced knowledge and skill in a selected nursing specialty area to provide the highest quality of care.

The NCSN credential establishes school nursing as an area of specialty practice and symbolizes the knowledge, experience, and skills required to care for students in school settings. Currently, there are nearly 4,000 school nurses worldwide who hold NCSN and almost 300 retired school nurses who carry lifelong emeritus (NCSN–E).

In addition to an annual day of gratitude and recognition for obtaining and maintaining certification, Certified Nurses Day also increases public visibility and awareness of the importance and value of specialty nursing certification.

Ways to celebrate Certified Nurses Day:

• Display your NCSN/NCSN-E credential proudly by adding it the credential to your signature (including your email signature) and wearing your NSCN pin.
• Encourage and mentor colleagues to sit for the NCSN certification exam.
• Plan a presentation for parents and/or school faculty and staff about school nursing as a specialty and the importance of national certification.
• Send a personal note acknowledging NCSN colleagues.

As NBCSN president, I congratulate those certified on an outstanding professional achievement and wish all a fantastic Certified Nurses Day.

Warm regards,

Shirley Gordon, PhD, RN, NCSN, AHN-BC

President, National Board for Certification of School Nurses