The Advanced Practice Initiatives & Certification Outreach Team
Celebrating Black History Month
Featuring the Story of Andrea Petrovanie-Green, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, AMB-BC & Ambulatory Care Nurses Week (Feb 9-13)
Andrea Petrovanie-Green was raised by her grandmother, who instilled in her the importance of giving without expecting anything in return. Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, Andrea witnessed firsthand the profound impact of caring for others and how compassion could make a meaningful difference within a community. These experiences shaped her values and guided her calling to pursue a career in nursing. She began this journey in high school when she volunteered as a candy striper at a local hospital.
At the hospital, nurses took the time to mentor her and encouraged her to explore the many specialties within the profession. One year later, she enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program at Curtis High School in Staten Island, New York, where she became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Upon graduating in 1989, Andrea successfully passed the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) examination and continued working at a local nursing home while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Wagner College.
During her sophomore year, Andrea was selected for the U.S. Navy’s Bachelor Degree Completion Program, and upon graduation she was commissioned as an Ensign in the Nurse Corps, United States Navy. After 30 years of distinguished service in multiple leadership roles and locations—including a deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort—Andrea retired with the rank of Captain in May 2023.
One of Andrea’s mentors, Dr. Wanda Richards (CAPT, Ret.), challenged her in 2000 to pursue certification in ambulatory care nursing. As a lifelong learner committed to nursing excellence, Andrea actively sought advanced education and training opportunities to further refine her clinical expertise and leadership skills, while serving as a role model for others to emulate. Following her assignment at Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Andrea was selected to attend The Catholic University of America, where she pursued a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) through the Clinical Nurse Specialist program and subsequently achieved certification as a CNS.
Being ANCC dual board certified as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACNS-BC) and in Ambulatory Care Nursing (AMB-BC) reflects her personal commitment to the nursing profession and, more importantly, to the patients and families she serves.
Andrea’s certifications also opened doors to unique professional opportunities during her Navy career. Notably, she was selected to deploy aboard a hospital ship, with her AMB-BC certification serving as the deciding factor. In another significant achievement, Andrea authored a white paper that led to the establishment of the Navy Nurse Corps’ first Specialty Leader position in ambulatory care nursing.
Andrea continues to inspire nurses to pursue certification within their specialties and to pay it forward through mentorship. She firmly believes that certification is a wise investment—one that strengthens professional practice, opens doors to new opportunities, and yields lasting dividends over time.
This year marks Andrea’s 26th year as an active member of the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN). Throughout her involvement, she has served in numerous leadership roles, including Tri-Service Military Co-Chair, Nominations Committee member, Board Secretary, and Board Liaison for multiple task forces, special interest groups, and committees.
She has also contributed as a chapter reviewer for the Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Telehealth Nursing and the AAACN Core Curriculum for Ambulatory Care Nursing, currently in publication.
Andrea is deeply grateful for the mentors and leaders who continue to invest in her professional growth, and she makes it a personal priority to pay that mentorship forward. This year’s AAACN conference will be held in Orlando, Florida—the same city where Andrea attended her first AAACN conference in 2000 alongside CAPT Richards. She is honored to assume the presidency in Orlando and to continue her service and advocacy on behalf of AAACN members and the nursing profession.
Andrea’s experience serving as a Director on the AAACN Board of Directors has been both rewarding and challenging. The most meaningful aspects of her involvement have been the mentorship opportunities and the lifelong professional relationships she has built along the way. She remains deeply appreciative of the Board of Directors, whose continued dedication ensures the organization stays focused on its mission of shaping care where life happens.
Featuring the Story of Kimberly Anne Moore, BSN, RN, CV-BC & Heart Health Awareness Month
Kimberly Anne Moore was 13 years old when her mother became ill and was hospitalized with what she later came to understand was end-stage liver disease. The local hospital was approximately two miles from her childhood home, and Kimberly walked there every day hoping to see her mother. Unfortunately, the hospital enforced a strict policy prohibiting visitors under the age of 16, and she was repeatedly turned away. Still, she continued to try.
After one particularly difficult day, Kimberly sat on the curb outside the hospital’s main entrance, overwhelmed with grief. In that moment, a woman approached and sat beside her, offering comfort and making sure she was okay. Moved by the woman’s kindness—and missing her mother deeply—Kimberly shared her entire story. The woman, Sara, then helped Kimberly to her feet and escorted her into the hospital, directly to her mother’s room. It turned out that Sara was the nurse manager of the unit where Kimberly’s mother was receiving care and had been aware that her mother was struggling emotionally from being separated from her children.
Sara went on to take Kimberly from her home to the hospital twice a week so she could spend time with her mother, and she even arranged visits for Kimberly’s brothers. With compassion and patience, Sara taught Kimberly about her mother’s condition and remained at her mother’s bedside, holding her hand as she took her last breath. Sara attended her mother’s funeral and continued to be a presence in Kimberly’s life until Sara passed away years later.
Sara’s profound kindness and dedication left a lasting impact on Kimberly. Inspired by the difference Sara made during the most vulnerable time in her life, Kimberly chose to follow in her footsteps and become a Registered Nurse (RN)—a decision she considers the best she has ever made.
Kimberly became ANCC board certified in Cardiac-Vascular Nursing (CV-BC) through her employer as part of the ANCC Success Pays® program, which supports nurses within an organization in achieving certification by reducing test-taking anxiety and eliminating financial barriers. Having found her professional home on the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery team, she recognized earning her CV-BC as the next logical step in her career.
Kimberly has been a member of the Society for Vascular Nursing (SVN) for over a year and attended the organization’s annual conference for the first time last year. She found the experience to be both welcoming and inspiring, noting the exceptional knowledge and support shared by attendees throughout the conference. The opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and receive encouragement to become involved at a level comfortable to her made a lasting impression.
Kimberly is passionate about education and clinical project management, and SVN consistently supports her and encourages her ideas. Now serving on the Planning Committee for this year’s conference, she has been inspired by every member she has interacted with—from the President to fellow members like herself—to turn her nursing dreams into reality. She is incredibly grateful to be a part of this group.
Honoring Our Collaborative Organizations
Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Certification Outreach Program Manager
As the Certification Outreach Program Manager, I have the privilege of managing relationships with our collaborative organizations. My team and I are grateful to our partners for recognizing that certification is not a single milestone, but a lifelong journey of growth and learning that reflects the expertise of their members. As an ANCC certified nurse myself, I share the value of certification and the commitment of certification renewal.
Together, my team and I are dedicated to supporting members at every stage of their professional development. We also thank the members of AAACN and SVN for sharing their inspiring and meaningful stories, and we wish them continued success in their professional endeavors. To learn more about these collaborative organizations, consider attending their upcoming conferences:
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Meet Katelyn Bern who manages customer engagement through social media and at ANCC tradeshows. She is committed to delivering engaging and meaningful content to keep you informed about important updates, including celebrations of certified nurses, stories of inspiration, newsletters, upcoming webinars, and more!
Stories of Inspiration from ANCC Certified Nurses began in May of 2024. You can view all previous stories by visiting our Meet the Team page, under the Resources for You tab. Please let us know if you are interested in sharing your story with us by completing the below survey:
