MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine is celebrating Certified Nurses Day, March 19, by recognizing its board-certified nurses for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in patient care. 
Nursing, like healthcare in general, has become increasingly complex. And board certification of nurses plays an increasingly important role in the assurance of high standards of care for patients and their loved ones.
While a registered nurse (R.N.) license provides entry to general nursing practice, the knowledge-intensive requirements of modern nursing require extensive education, as well as a strong personal commitment to excellence by the nurse.
There are many nursing certification specialties, such as medical-surgical, pediatric, pain management, cardiac vascular, oncology, hospice, case management, emergency nursing, and critical care.
“It is my honor and privilege to thank and acknowledge the hundreds of certified nurses at WVU Medicine,” Melanie Heuston, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., chief nursing executive for the WVU Health System, said. “Certified nurses have proven their competency and have distinguished themselves in their area of specialty. Certification requires continued competency for renewal, which enables the nurses to stay contemporary in their area of specialization. Research has found that certification provides recognition of the nurse’s knowledge and expertise, which is empowering. As a certified nurse, I support and applaud this process and recognize the certified nurses of WVU Medicine.”
Certified Nurses Day occurs every March 19, the birthday of Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles, R.N., Ed.D., F.A.A.N., one of the great leaders in the field of nursing certification. She was a driving force behind the creation of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and advanced nurse certification services and programs across the U.S. and abroad.
The ANCC administers the Magnet Recognition Program®, which designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their nursing strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes.
The Magnet Recognition Program provides a roadmap to nursing excellence, which benefits the whole of an organization. To nurses, Magnet Recognition means education and development through every career stage, which leads to greater autonomy at the bedside. To patients, it means the very best care, delivered by top nurse in the field. WVU Medicine WVU Hospitals is the only Magnet facility in West Virginia.
The WVU Health System has more than 500 certified nurses, who work in all areas of its hospitals, including direct care, specialty care, nursing administration, and nursing education.
For more information on WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org. For more information on a career in nursing at WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org/Careers.