ANCC Salutes Dr. Margretta Madden Styles on Certified Nurses Day
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Zachary Levine
301-628-5071
zachary.levine@ana.org
Shannon McClendon
301-628-5391
shannon.mcclendon@ana.org
“Do not settle for less than the recognized authority in nursing credentialing.” This has been an unwavering message to health care providers from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) since its creation 30 years ago.
Friday, March 19 is Certified Nurses DayTM, a national day of recognition, honoring the important achievements of the more than 265,842 nurses to date who have earned professional certification from ANCC. March 19th isn’t a random date. It was on a March 19th more than 90 years ago that the woman credited as the architect of nursing credentialing was born.
Her name was Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles (1930-2005.) Styles is celebrated nationally and globally for defining the critical work that recognizes and differentiates quality in all aspects of nursing practice.
Styles storied career was steeped in academia. She was professor and dean of the University of Texas School of Nursing, San Antonio, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, and the University of California, San Francisco. Her byline is found on many peer-reviewed articles on nursing socialization and professionalism. She is also the author of several books.
As a scholar, Styles believed that research provides critical evidence for credentialing standards and that research informs policy at all levels.
With that sentiment in mind, in 2009, the American Nurses Foundation created the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grants program. Ten years earlier, in 1999, the American Academy of Nursing recognized Styles as a Living Legend.
For exceptional leaders who have partnered with ANCC’s president to advance ANCC’s mission, vision and strategic goals, ANCC created the Margretta Madden Styles President’s Award. Honorees are personally selected by the president.
It’s no surprise that Styles was inducted into the 125-year old American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Hall of Fame (2000) for her leadership.
Continuing on the path pioneered by Styles, the credentialing movement remains ever strong. Its enthusiasts applaud the evidence that proves credentialing in nursing leads to quality outcomes in health care.
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About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), part of the ANA Enterprise, leads the profession to shape the future of nursing and health care. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes healthcare organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits healthcare organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at visit us at nursingworld.org/ancc and follow us on Twitter. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification. The ANA Enterprise is the family of organizations that is composed of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Nurses Foundation.