SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) announced the launch of a new certification through portfolio for Advanced Forensic Nurses. This new certification, announced at IAFN's Scientific Assembly in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, will help validate advanced forensic nurses' unique knowledge and skills. ANCC supports IAFN members and all advanced forensic nurses in their pursuit to be certified in their specialty area. The new certification program is scheduled to launch in November 2012.
ANCC's certification through portfolio is an alternative assessment method for recognizing individual registered nurses in their specialty area. Nurses will document their skills, knowledge, abilities, and career accomplishments as part of this alternative application assessment process. Certification through portfolio requires equivalent rigor to meet accrediting bodies' criteria to determine proficiency through a peer review process informed by nurse experts.
Nurses certified through the portfolio assessment method are regarded as experts in their specialties and are considered to be among the highest-qualified nurses in the world. These credentials foster both professional growth and job satisfaction while demonstrating a nurse's commitment to providing excellent care.
"Certification through portfolio is an excellent method for credentialing and will greatly serve the nursing profession as nurses' knowledge grows ever more specialized. IAFN has been an excellent collaborator in building this new process. We are so pleased to see the launch of this first certification through the portfolio assessment methodology," said ANCC Executive Director Karen Drenkard, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.
Jenifer Markowitz, ND RN WHNP-BC SANE-A, President of the IAFN says, "We are honored to collaborate with ANCC in providing the portfolio credentialing option for advanced forensic nursing. As an alternative board certification methodology, the portfolio offers a means by which seasoned forensic nurses can demonstrate their specialized knowledge and expertise via a different vehicle, albeit with the same rigor that is applied to a national/international certification board examination. We are delighted and excited to offer this option to recognize the passion, commitment, and quality that advanced forensic nurses bring to their practices and the care of their patients every day."
ANCC incorporates the latest nursing practice standards, ensuring that nurses are credentialed using the most current criteria. ANCC's experience with in-house test development using psychometric practices provides an excellent foundation for the development of the Advanced Forensic Nursing certification through portfolio. The ability to operationalize and administer individual credentialing programs is one of ANCC's core competencies, and it is the only nurse credentialing organization to achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification in the design, development, and delivery of global credentialing services and support products for nurses and healthcare organizations.
About ANCC
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. It 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. ANCC's Credentialing Knowledge Center offers educational materials to support nurses and organizations as they work toward their credentials. ANCC is the first and only healthcare certification organization in the United States to have successfully achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification. www.nursecredentialing.org.
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About the International Association of Forensic Nurses
The International Association of Forensic Nursing is a not-for-profit professional membership organization whose mission is to provide leadership in forensic nursing practice by developing, promoting, and disseminating information internationally about forensic nursing science. Founded in 1993, the International Association of Forensic Nursing has more than 3,000 members in 24 countries. Forensic nurses have a specialized knowledge of the legal system and skills in injury identification, evaluation and documentation. After attending to a patient's immediate medical needs, a forensic nurse often collects evidence, provides medical testimony in court, and consults with legal authorities. They serve patients who have suffered unintentional injury such as sexual assault, interpersonal violence, child and elder abuse, and many other forms of violence. Members include practicing forensic nurses, academic personnel, researchers, law enforcement, advocates, and others. More information about the Association can be found online at www.iafn.org.