American Nurses Credentialing Center to Launch New Credential: Well-Being Excellence™
Positions organizations as market leaders in health care well-being
Credential utilizes an evidence-based framework to assess an organization’s well-being program effectiveness and work environment impacts.
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SILVER SPRING, MD – Today, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announces the upcoming launch of its new credential, Well-Being Excellence™. This new credential is designed to assess and enhance well-being programs within health care organizations and settings that employ nurses. Using an evidence-based framework, this unique credential assesses the effectiveness of well-being efforts, initiatives, and approaches to improve the well-being of nurses and diverse teams.
ANCC sets the highest standard in nursing and health care credentialing worldwide. The rigorous programs establish the highest benchmarks in practice, education, and organizational excellence. The Well-Being Excellence credential provides applicants the opportunity to assess the enculturation and effectiveness of their well-being programs as well as the impact on the work environment and interprofessional teams.
“Across many professions, industries, and workforces, employee burnout is at an all-time high,” said Rebecca Graystone, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC, ANCC senior vice president of accreditation and organization credentialing. “This new credential emphasizes the critical role that effective well-being programs play in improving the overall health of the workforce, resulting in lowered turnover, increased engagement, and increased job satisfaction. Studies suggest well-being programs are one essential aspect of retaining employees while underscoring how these efforts improve the overall health of an organization.”
“Organizations that thrive prioritize the well-being of their workforce and offer evidence-based strategies to mitigate stress and burnout,” added Christine Pabico, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FAAN, ANCC Pathway to Excellence® program senior director. “These organizations are better positioned to recruit and retain top talent, ensuring a robust workforce and a safe, supportive work environment.”
The health care industry is particularly affected by high levels of stress contributing to workforce shortages across the country. A recent survey of more than 7,000 nurses nationwide revealed that 56% of nurses reported symptoms of burnout, with many not receiving mental health support. Additionally, two-thirds of respondents indicated that they had not accessed available mental-health resources due to associated stigma. In addition to clinical care settings, other organizations grapple with similar escalating stress levels and burnout, exacerbating workforce shortages nationwide.
As attested by Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion and chief wellness officer for The Ohio State University, “The new ANCC credential is a wonderful mechanism to recognize hospitals and healthcare systems’ programs that are deeply committed to the health and well-being of their people.”
Applications open December 1, 2024. At this time, organizations that employ nurses within and outside of health care can take the first step in transforming workplace well-being. Starting with the ANCC Well-Being Self-Assessment, the tools are in place to evaluate current programs and identify areas for improvement.
For more information about the ANCC Well-Being Excellence credential, including key deadlines and application tips, visit Achieve Workforce Well-Being with ANCCs Well Being Excellence™ (nursingworld.org) or contact wellbeingexcellence@ana.org.
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About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on Twitter. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.