Newswise — AACN Certification Corporation has completed the process of aligning all its certification exams for advanced practice nurses with the requirements of the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation.

With the launch this month of a new credentialing exam for clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) who care for neonatal patients (ACCNS-N), AACN Certification Corporation – the credentialing arm of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) – now has four Consensus Model-aligned advance practice exams.

In 2013, it launched ACCNS-AG and ACCNS-P exams for CNSs who care for adult-gerontology and pediatric patients and the ACNPC-AG for acute care nurse practitioners who care for adult-gerontology patients.

The updated ACCNS and ACNPC-AG exams are among the first advanced practice nursing certification exams to be revised to reflect the new standards of the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education, which goes into full effect in 2015.

The Consensus Model establishes the first national standards for uniform regulation of advanced practice registered nurses in all states. It was developed by 48 APRN nursing organizations nationwide that have pledged support for these standards.

“AACN Certification Corporation played an active role in the development of the Consensus Model, so aligning all four of our advanced practice nursing certification exams with the model is exciting,” said Carol Hartigan, AACN certification and policy strategist.

“As the organization representing the interests of, and setting standards for, acute and critical care nurses, we know the indispensable role that advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners play in meeting the healthcare needs of America’s most medically fragile patient population and, therefore, believe that protecting the role is imperative,” she continued.

The ACCNS programs are entry-level certifications for advanced practice nurses educated at the graduate level as CNSs to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of healthcare services (from wellness through acute care) to meet the specialized needs of adult-gerontology, pediatric or neonatal patient populations.

ACNPC-AG is an entry-level certification for nurses educated at the graduate level to provide advanced nursing care across the continuum of healthcare services to meet the specialized physiologic and psychologic needs of adult-gerontology patients (young adults, older adults and frail elderly) with complex acute and/or chronic health conditions.

Potential candidates for the exams should apply online on the AACN Certification Corporation website, where they can also find information on the individual certifications, test plans, practice exam questions and exam eligibility requirements, the APRN Consensus Model and other APRN resources.

About AACN Certification Corporation: AACN Certification Corporation, a separately incorporated company, develops and administers the CCRN, PCCN, CCRN-E, CCNS, ACNPC, ACNPC-AG, ACCNS-AG, ACCNS-P and ACCNS-N specialty exams, and the CMC and CSC subspecialty exams. In collaboration with the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Credentialing Center AACN Certification Corporation also offers the CNML exam. AACN Certification Corporation promotes and enhances consumer health and safety by establishing and maintaining high standards of professional practice excellence through certification and certification renewal for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme