AACN and the ANCC are two of the leading organizations in the nursing field. AACN focuses primarily on supporting critical care nurses, while ANCC provides certification for various nursing specialties. Both organizations have existed for over a century and offer valuable resources to nurses.
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AACN Vs. ANCC ?
AACN
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is a professional association that provides education, certification, and networking opportunities for critical care nurses. AACN’s certification programs focus on preparing nurses to practice in the intensive care setting and cover topics such as basic critical care nursing, advanced cardiac life support, trauma nursing, and neonatal intensive care.
ANCC
American Nurses Credentialing Center is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), which offers credentialing and certification programs for nurses in all practice areas. It has certifications for utilization review nurses, acute care nurses, gerontology nurses, informatics nurses, and many other specialties. ANCC also offers continuing education credits for certified nurses to help them keep their credentials up-to-date.
What does the American Nurses Credentialing Center do?
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is an American Nurses Association (ANA) subsidiary. It offers credentialing and certification programs to ensure nurses have the knowledge and expertise to provide safe and effective patient care.
The ANCC’s utilization review nurse certification recognizes nurses knowledgeable in utilizing evidence-based practices, protocols, and guidelines to assess the appropriateness of medical treatments and services.
This certification prepares nurses to work in utilization review roles as they can evaluate patient care plans, analyze healthcare data, and recommend cost-effective treatment options.
What does the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses do?
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is a professional organization that supports critical care nurses. AACN provides education, certification, and networking opportunities to its members. AACN’s certification programs focus on preparing nurses to practice in the intensive care setting. These programs cover topics such as basic critical care nursing, advanced cardiac life support, trauma nursing, and neonatal intensive care.
How to Choose Between AACN Vs. ANCC Certifications?
The right certification for you will depend on your practice specialty and focus. Those already specializing in intensive care nursing or those interested in doing so should consider AACN’s certifications. ANCC’s various certification programs may be a better option for those looking to expand their skill set into other areas of nursing practice. Ultimately, choosing between AACN and ANCC certification will depend on your professional goals and needs.
Is AACN or ANCC More Respected?
AACN and ANCC are both highly-respected organizations in the nursing community. Both offer an impressive range of certifications employers widely recognize as evidence of a nurse’s knowledge and dedication to their practice. However, some employers may prefer one certification over the other depending on the kind of nursing role they are looking to fill; therefore, it is essential to do your research before deciding which certificate is best for you. Ultimately, both AACN and ANCC certifications will be respected by employers in the nursing field.
What are ANCC Certifications ?
ANCC Certifications are credentials issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) that demonstrate a nurse’s expertise in specific practice areas. These certifications are offered in many specialty areas, including acute care, gerontology nursing, informatics nursing, and more.
- Below is the list of ANCC Certifications
- Family Nurse Practitioner Certification
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification
- Cardiac Vascular Nursing Certification
- Family Nurse Practitioner Certification
- Informatics Nursing Certification
- National Healthcare Disaster Certification
- Nurse Executive Certification
- Pain Management Nursing Certification
- Pediatric Nursing Certification
What is the Passing Score for ANCC ?
The passing score for ANCC certification is determined on a scale of 0-100 and depends on the type of certification being taken. Generally, the passing score for most ANCC certifications are scale score of 350 or higher. However, some certificates may have higher or lower cut-off scores depending on their difficulty level. It is essential to check your certification exam’s passing score before taking it to prepare and study adequately.
What are the Benefits of the ANCC ?
• Validates expertise and expertise in a specialized practice area
• Demonstrates commitment to professional development
• Enhances job opportunities
• Improves employability options within the nursing field
• Provides access to discounts and other resources from ANCC for certified nurses
• Offers recognition from peers, employers, and patients
• Increases salary potential and provides a competitive edge in the job market.
What are AACN Certifications?
AACN certifications are credentials issued by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) that demonstrate a nurse’s expertise in advanced practice areas such as critical care, progressive care, and informatics.
Below is the list of certifications provided by AACN
- CCRN (Adult)
- CCRN (Pediatric)
- CCRN (Neonatal)
- CCRN-K (Adult)
- CCRN-K (Pediatric)
- CCRN-K (Neonatal)
- CCRN-E
- PCCN
- PCCN-K
- ACCNS-AG
- ACCNS-P
- ACCNS-N
- ACNPC-AG
- CMC
- CSC
What is the Passing Score for AACN ?
The passing score for AACN certifications varies by exam. The passing score for the CCRN-Advanced certification is 60% or higher, while the passing score for PCNN, ACCNS-AG, and CCNS-BC certifications is 75% or higher. It is essential to find out your exam’s previous years passing score before taking it in order to prepare effectively for the test.
What are the Benefits of AACN certifications?
• Validates expertise and expertise in advanced practice areas
• Demonstrates commitment to professional development
• Enhances job opportunities
• Improves employability options within the nursing field
• Offers recognition from peers, employers, and patients
• Increases salary potential and provides a competitive edge in the job market.
• Provides access to discounts and other resources from AACN for certified nurses.
• Offers ample opportunities for professional growth.
FAQs
How many times can I take ANCC?
The ANCC allows nurses to take the same certification exam thrice in 12 months. After reaching this limit, nurses must wait one year before retaking the exam. It is vital that you adequately prepare for the exam before taking it so that you can maximize your chances of passing.
How long does the ANCC certification last?
The ANCC certifications have a five-year validity period, after which nurses must retake the exam to maintain their certification. Nurses can also take advantage of continuing education credits or other activities that the ANCC approves to keep their certificates current. It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest information and practices in nursing to ensure that your certification remains valid.
What are the recertification requirements for ANCC?
The recertification requirements for ANCC certifications vary depending on the type of certification. Generally, nurses must accumulate at least 50 continuing education credits within their five-year validity period to renew their certification. Some certifications may require additional requirements such as a written exam, an oral presentation, or completion of clinical hours. It is essential to check your certification’s specific needs before attempting to recertify. In addition, nurses must pay any applicable fees associated with recertification.
What is the highest score on ANCC?
The highest possible score on the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification examination is 500. This score represents a perfect performance and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the nursing field. However, it’s important to note that the pass score for the ANCC exam may vary depending on the specific certification and the complexity of the test.
Final Words
In conclusion, the AACN and ANCC provide nurse certifications. However, they each have different requirements, specialties, and focus areas. The AACN focuses more on critical care and offers a range of certificates for both staff and advanced practice nurses. In contrast, the ANCC provides a broader range of nursing certifications in research, leadership, and informatics. Ultimately, it is up to each nurse to decide which certification best meets their career goals.
Mrs. Marie Brown has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. She began her nursing career at a Level I Trauma Center in downtown Chicago, Illinois. There she worked in the Emergency Department and on the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. After several years, she moved to the Midwest and continued her nursing career in a critical care setting. For the last 10 years of her nursing career, Mrs. Brown worked as a flight nurse with an air ambulance service. During this time, she cared for patients throughout the United States.