American board of nursing specialties: Past, present, and future

Abstract

T he American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) is the only organization dedicated exclusively to bringing standardization and unity to nursing specialties. As the national peer review organization for nursing specialty certification, ABNS promotes consumer protection by establishing, maintaining, and evaluating uniform standards. Specialty certifying bodies may apply to ABNS for review and approval, and member status is granted to those that are approved by the ABNS Assembly) Membership in ABNS provides assurance to professionals and consumers that a certifying body has undergone a rigorous review process and has demonstrated that the criteria required by ABNS standards are present. The designation board certified indicates to professionals and consumers that a particular certification credential, regardless of the certifying body, has met the national standards of ABNS. This process ensures quality and consistency and eases the burden of those at tempting to identify quality credentials.