Beyond the Bedside: Expanding Your Impact as an ANCC Certified Nurse Through Community Outreach
A Message from Lourdes Careaga: Empowering Nurses to Serve Their Communities
The Expanded Role of the ANCC Certified Nurse: Beyond the Bedside and Honoring Community Care
Years of clinical practice at the bedside have led me to the nurse credentialing space. As the current Certification Outreach Program Manager, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with primary contacts and executive leaders from the ANCC Success Pays® program, as well as with the collaborative organizations I support.
Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC Certification Outreach Program Manager
I commend those who are ANCC certified—or considering certification—for their commitment to excellence. As an ANCC certified nurse myself, I value the dedication it takes to earn and maintain certification—and I apply it both in my professional role and in my community volunteer work. Community outreach is a true passion of mine. Through my membership in the Philippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan DC (PNAMDC), I am given an avenue to deliver health education directly to communities and empowering individuals.
Through volunteer and outreach work, you too have the opportunity to promote wellness, assist vulnerable populations, and provide guidance where it’s needed most. As nurses, we have many opportunities to support and care for others—community outreach is one powerful way to do so. If you're passionate about volunteer work too, it can:
Bring Personal Fulfillment – By knowing you’ve made a real difference in someone’s life.
Promote the Value of Community Care – Helping build trust and awareness so people know support is available.
Improve Access to Preventive Care – Showing that nurses can provide help outside of hospital settings, before health issues become emergencies.
Advance Professional Acumen – When supporting individuals in the community, it’s important to see the bigger picture, make informed, goal-oriented decisions, build strong relationships, adapt to best practices, and find effective solutions.
Enhance Mentorship – Guiding new and internationally educated nurses as they transition into patient-centered care, while also educating community members on best health practices to promote their overall well-being.
The U.S. healthcare system continues to face significant challenges, and nurses—its largest and most critical workforce—are at the center of patient care. To address gaps, we must stay engaged across all specialties. Volunteer work strengthens our impact and fosters collaboration, learning, and support within the communities we serve.
The American Nurses Association’s Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice defines who we are as nurses, what we do, where and how we deliver care—and most importantly, why our profession exists: to fulfill our social contract and obligation to society by achieving optimal patient outcomes. No matter your role or specialty, it's vital to use available resources and seize opportunities that help move patients along the health continuum. I encourage you to go beyond your daily duties and consider the value and fulfillment that community outreach can bring.
Article by: Lourdes B. Careaga, MSN, RN, NE-BC Certification Outreach Program Manager
If you are ANCC certified or working toward it, I encourage you to find your passion and serve beyond the bedside. Your efforts can truly impact lives and even inspire a ripple effect of kindness, helping to build a stronger, more supportive community. For more information about our certifications, please visit:
Exclusive to Success Pays partners. Use your discount code at checkout to obtain leading ANA resources that support your certification and leadership journey. Your code can be applied to Scope and Standards of Practice as well as Review and Resource Manuals. If your organization is interested in setting up a discount code, please contact the American Nurses Association's Publications Financial and Data Manager with the Education & Resources Department. She is eager to assist your team with purchasing content that may be valuable to you and your unit!
*Use of these or any other course(s)/material(s) does not imply eligibility for certification or successful performance on any certification exam, nor is it a requirement to qualify for individual certification.
Katelyn Bern, MA Outreach Engagement Manager & Tradeshow Liaison
To see how others are using their certifications, explore our Monthly Stories of Inspiration from ANCC Certified Nurses, created by Katelyn Bern, who also leads customer engagement through social media and at ANCC tradeshows. Launched in May 2024, these stories can be found on the Meet the Team page under the Resources for You tab. We hope you enjoy these stories!
Brought to you by The Advanced Practice Initiatives & Certification Outreach Team
American Nurses Enterprise, 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States, 1-800-284-2378
