The Advanced Practice Initiatives & Certification Outreach Team
Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Featuring the Story of Daniel Misa, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NE-BC, NPD-BC, GERO-BC
Daniel Misa initially aspired to pursue a career in medicine with the goal of becoming a physician. To take the first step toward that goal, he began volunteering as a junior volunteer during his freshman year of high school at his local community hospital, Chilton Medical Center, where he continues to work to this day. It has remained a valuable and meaningful journey.
Every Friday afternoon, he volunteered on 4 West, a medical-surgical nursing unit. Over time, he observed that it was the nursing staff who were consistently present on the unit and at the bedside, playing a critical role in patient care. One nurse in particular—a male nurse named Dave—caught his attention. At first, Daniel mistook Dave for a physician, which challenged his assumptions and sparked a deeper interest in nursing. This volunteer experience ultimately inspired Daniel to shift his career focus from medicine to nursing.
Born in the United States to Filipino parents, Daniel grew up in a culture where nursing is a common and respected profession. Several members of his family, including his mother, aunt, and cousins, are nurses. Their experiences and encouragement played a significant role in his decision to pursue a career in nursing.
Daniel is a strong advocate for achieving specialty certification and often draws inspiration from colleagues who hold multiple credentials—an impressive "alphabet soup" following their names. He began his nursing career in the emergency department, earning his first two certifications as a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and a Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN).
With an interest in leadership, he soon transitioned into his first formal nursing leadership role and went on to obtain his first ANCC board certification in Nurse Executive (NE-BC). A few years later, Daniel's career path led him into professional development, prompting him to pursue and achieve the ANCC board certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC).
Working in an organization that serves a large population of older adult patients, Daniel saw an opportunity to expand his expertise further. When a certification prep study group for gerontological nursing was organized, he seized the chance and earned his third ANCC board certification in Gerontological Nursing (GERO-BC).
These certifications have played a significant role in supporting his practice, validating his knowledge, and strengthening his confidence as a registered nurse (RN). Being ANCC certified holds great significance for Daniel. He considers it a privilege to hold certifications from a widely recognized and accredited certifying body. When colleagues see his credentials, they recognize his expertise in his respective specialties.
Daniel is a proud member of the Philippine Nurses Association of America – New Jersey (PNANJ) Chapter, where the support of friends and colleagues has been instrumental throughout his professional journey. Along the way, mentors guided him in advancing his education and leadership in nursing associations.
He also holds memberships in several other organizations, including the American Nurses Association (ANA), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), and the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN). These professional affiliations allow him to build strong connections with fellow nurses. Daniel believes nurses in the state of New Jersey are fortunate to have local and state associations that work collaboratively to advance the nursing profession.
His organization is a Success Pays® partner, a program designed to support nurses in achieving certification by reducing test-taking anxiety and removing financial barriers. Daniel, an advocate for professional growth, is considering and looking forward to pursuing additional certifications through the Success Pays® program.
Celebrating Nursing Informatics Day May 12th Featuring the Story of Mark Heyward Johnson, MHA, BSN, RN, NI-BC, CMSRN
Mark Heyward Johnson's mother was a nurse for over 40 years at the same hospital, where his aunt also worked alongside her as a fellow nurse. His older sister is a nurse, and his younger sister is a Nurse Practitioner (NP), making nursing a strong tradition in his family. His mother often took him to visit former patients in nursing homes, showing him the lasting bonds between nurses and their patients.
In addition to his family's deep roots in the nursing profession, he grew up next door to a neighbor who had been disabled by polio. Watching her family provide dedicated, compassionate care each day left a profound impact on Mark.
He earned his first undergraduate degree, a BA in Psychology, from Clemson University before obtaining his Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from South Puget Sound Community College, shortly after completing an enlistment in the Army. He then earned a Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA) with a focus on Information Systems from the Medical University of South Carolina. To distinguish his expertise in informatics, he became ANCC board certified in Informatics Nursing (NI-BC) in 2005, marking his 20th anniversary of certification this year. He later earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Clemson University in 2018 and is also a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN).
Currently working for a Magnet®-designated hospital system, specialty certification is a key component of the program. Mark chairs the system-wide Practice Excellence and Informatics Council, which oversees all 19 hospitals. Although he works full-time at the bedside on a medical telemetry unit, his ANCC board certification allows him to demonstrate a strong understanding of informatics principles and best practices without holding a formal informatics position. Additionally, during the 14 years Mark spent working for a healthcare software company away from the bedside, his ANCC certification helped him maintain his nursing license in South Carolina by demonstrating continued competency.
With 27 years in nursing, Mark joined the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) in 2013 which has become his professional home and community. He joined the ANIA National Board in 2017 and is honored to currently serve as the 2025 National President.
While he is also a proud member of many nursing organizations, ANIA remains the organization that aligns most closely with his nursing purpose.
In 2018, he collaborated with ANCC to establish a partnership with ANIA, which offers members discounts on initial certification and certification renewal. Additionally, ANCC now attends the annual ANIA conference, providing members with direct access to ANCC resources. Recently, ANIA was approved as an Affiliate Member of ANA, an opportunity he is very excited about for the organization’s future.
He regularly teaches portions of ANIA’s certification review course and plans to continue supporting current and future members in achieving and maintaining ANCC NI-BC certification.
We Celebrate Collaborative Organization Members
A Special Message from Our Certification Outreach Program Manager
As an ANCC board certified nurse, I too understand the dedication certification requires, as it represents a lifelong commitment to learning and professional development. As the Certification Outreach Program Manager, I work closely with our partners to support nurses on their certification journey through the ANCC Success Pays® program and with our collaborative organizations. My goal is to provide clear guidance every step of the way. My devotion to nursing goes beyond my current role—volunteering and helping others are also essential parts of my life.
I volunteer as a member of the Philippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan DC (PNAMDC) Chapter, serving communities in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Through our outreach and international medical missions, I’m honored to help improve lives locally and globally. I’m continually inspired by the dedication of my fellow PNAMDC members, my team, and people like you. Wishing everyone a happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month—and special thanks to our Informatics Nurses for their invaluable work.
Success Pays® Program FAQs:
Launched in 2013
Over 600 Partners
Monthly Townhalls, hosted by Lourdes to stay connected.
Success Pays® Benefits:
Nurses are given two (2) opportunities to pass.
The organization only pays for the nurses who pass.
Reduces anxiety and financial barriers for nurses.
No minimum or maximum limit for number of certification renewals.
Share Your Story with Us!
Connect With Us if you are Interested in Providing a Testimonial
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!
Monthly Stories of Inspiration from ANCC Certified Nurses began in May of 2024. You can view all of the 2024 stories by visiting our Meet the Team's page, under the Resources for You tab. We also encourage you to read our 2025 stories:
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