The Advanced Practice Initiatives Team hopes you had a wonderful and productive summer! As the fall semester begins and classes are back in session, we want to remind you that we are here to support APRN faculty, staff, and students every step of the way. This newsletter includes important content and details to help you navigate the semester successfully. Please share it with others who you believe may find the information helpful. Your help in spreading the word can ensure that those who need these updates and tools have access to them.
At our most recent townhall, we covered the steps to apply for APRN certification, eligibility criteria, how to analyze ANCC aggregate data reports, helpful resources, and much more!
APRN faculty and staff members can invite the ANCC Advanced Practice Initiatives Team to engage your APRN students in an interactive conversation. These sessions are tailored to highlight the value of ANCC certification, offer practical guidance for navigating the certification journey, and provide helpful insights.
Requests for a presentation may be submitted only by APRN faculty or staff. You will need to confirm that you are an APRN faculty or staff member when completing this questionnaire:
Student success is important to us. Our team is committed to equipping students and faculty with the materials they need for an effective semester and to prepare for graduation and the ANCC board certification exams. Below are resources to help guide you along the way:
Sean DeGarmo, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, FNP-BC, ENP-BC Director of Advanced Practice Initiatives APRNFaculty@ana.org
Connect with the Certification Program Manager to prioritize your school’s certification goals. By investing in their students’ success, schools can help future APRNs feel more confident and prepared to pursue ANCC certification while reducing the stress and anxiety associated with the testing process. Supporting students on their certification journey can open doors to career growth and create a ripple effect that extends beyond the classroom.
Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC Certification Program Manager SuccessPays@ana.org
Being part of a student’s journey to becoming an ANCC certified APRN means playing an important role in helping them demonstrate their knowledge, practice with confidence, and provide patient-focused care that can positively impact the lives of the patients and communities they serve.
Katelyn Bern, MA Senior Outreach Engagement & Tradeshow Liaison & Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC Certification Program Manager
Program FAQs
Launched in 2013
Over 600 Success Pays Partners
Students are given two (2) opportunities to pass
Schools only pay for those who pass
Monthly townhalls with Lourdes and outreach staff to stay connected
Preparing Future APRNs for Healthy Aging Through Partnership
As future APRNs, you have made a meaningful decision to advance your skills and knowledge within the nursing profession. In my role as the APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager, I want to help support you throughout your academic journey and provide resources that can benefit you even after graduation.
As a former APRN student myself, I understand that the path to graduation can feel challenging at times. Seeking guidance from mentors and exploring valuable insights, such as the content shared in "Dr. Page’s Corner", can help you navigate your academic experience and prepare for your future as an APRN.
September is Healthy Aging Month, offering an opportunity to recognize that aging encompasses much more than a list of diagnoses. Healthy aging includes physical and emotional well-being, social connection, independence, and a sense of purpose. Providing care for older adults is most effective when it is approached as a partnership between the patient and healthcare professional.
When working with a patient, remember to ask, “What matters most to you?” rather than “What is the matter with you?". This simple shift in perspective can help ensure that care reflects each patient’s goals, values, culture, and lived experience.
How to Help the Aging Population as a Future APRN?
As you prepare for your future APRN role, remember that caring for older adults means looking at the whole person—not just a diagnosis. Consider these approaches when working with your patients:
Assess mobility, nutrition, sleep, cognition, mood, and social support.
Review medications for side effects, interactions, and unnecessary complexity.
Address fall risks and barriers to safe, independent living.
Involve patients in setting realistic and meaningful health goals.
Include family members and caregivers—with the patient’s permission.
Connect patients with helpful community resources.
Recognize patients’ strengths, not only their diagnoses or limitations.
I look forward to continuing our collaboration as you advance in your nursing careers. Please know that my team and I are here to support you every step of the way. Should you decide to pursue ANCC certification, I encourage you to explore the full range of certifications we offer. Remember, earning certification is more than a milestone—it represents a lifelong commitment to professional growth. Through ongoing renewal requirements, certification helps ANCC certified nurses continually enhance their knowledge, strengthen their skills, and stay current in practice. Below is our full list:
Article by: Tonya L. Page, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, LSSGB, FCCS-C APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager APRNFaculty@ana.org
I hope you found this information helpful and encourage you to take advantage of the below promo codes:
Transform Your School with ANCC Well-Being Excellence®
Burnout and staff shortages are not limited to hospitals and healthcare settings. Well-being is equally important in academic environments, including schools of nursing. Looking for ways to improve well-being at your school? Consider how your school measures the success of its well-being initiatives. Has well-being improved among faculty and staff? A healthier, more supportive work environment can positively influence how faculty and staff engage with and interact with students.
By earning the ANCC Well-Being Excellence® Credential, organizations demonstrate a commitment to creating a supportive environment for the entire workforce, attracting and retaining top talent, and fostering greater employee satisfaction. The Well-Being Excellence Team is ready to assist your school of nursing as you begin your journey toward earning this credential.
You are encouraged to attend one of our FREEupcoming 30 minute sessions to learn more about this credential and take the first step toward getting started:
Stay connected with the latest from ANCC! Get updates on upcoming webinars, tradeshow appearances, newsletters, inspiring stories, and much more! Our Senior Outreach Engagement & Tradeshow Liaison is committed to keeping you informed.
Follow along using the below hashtags to enhance the APRN academic experience:
Support Student Success with the ANCC Readiness Test
Are your students graduating soon or preparing for their ANCC board certification exams? Help students build confidence with the Readiness Test—the pretest that mirrors the real exam experience.
Benefits for Students
Reduce test-taking anxiety with a realistic, timed, live-proctored exam.
Gain familiarity with ANCC question style and Prometric’s testing platform.
Receive scoring feedback to guide study efforts and improve readiness.
Nursing programs can purchase Readiness Tests in bulk at discounted rates ($5–$15 off per test, based on quantity).
Vouchers are valid for 6 months and are one-time use.
Students redeem vouchers when scheduling their Readiness Test through Prometric.
Please note: Use of these or any other materials does not guarantee eligibility or success on certification exams.
Webinar: Introduction to Test Writing
If you are a nurse educator responsible for developing course assessments, this webinar is for you.
Introduction to Test Writing is a 2-hour live, interactive webinar that walks you through the essentials of question development. Topics include aligning questions to learning objectives and exam blueprints, understanding cognitive levels, choosing the right item types, and writing stems that are clear and bias-free. You will leave with:
Immediately applicable knowledge of how to write effective test questions.
A copy of the presentation slides.
An item development and review checklist.
A webinar outline sent to you before the session to help you follow along.
2026 Magnet & Pathway Conference® “Know Before You Go” Webinar Oct. 14 | 12:00 p.m. ET
Headed to the Magnet & Pathway Conference® this fall? Get conference-ready with our “Know Before You Go” Webinar! We’ll share essential tips and information to help you make the most of your conference experience, including:
Navigating the conference website and app
Agenda highlights and must-see sessions
Networking opportunities and ways to connect with fellow attendees
American Nurses Enterprise, 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States, 1-800-284-2378
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