Celebrating Certified Nurses Day: Recognizing Certified Nurses

The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) is proud to celebrate Certified Nurses Day by recognizing the dedication, expertise, and commitment of certified nurses who elevate patient care every day. Certification, including the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) credential, represents a nurse's specialized knowledge, professional growth, and dedication to excellence in rehabilitation nursing. Certified nurses play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes, advancing the nursing profession, and fostering a culture of excellence in healthcare. On this special day, ARN honors their hard work and encourages all nurses to consider the impact of certification on their careers and the patients they serve.

What is Certified Nurses Day? 

Certified Nurses Day is an annual event on March 19, dedicated to honoring the achievements of certified nurses and raising awareness about the importance of nursing certification. This day serves as a reminder of the dedication and commitment that certified nurses demonstrate in their pursuit of excellence in providing patient care.

The Importance of Nursing Certification 

Nursing certification is a formal recognition of a nurse's expertise in a specific area of practice. It involves meeting predetermined eligibility criteria, gaining practical experience, and passing a certification examination. Certification validates a nurse's knowledge, skills, and abilities, ensuring they meet the highest standards of care.

According to a scoping review by Chappell et al. (2019, 2020), certification in nursing acts as a mechanism for validation or formal recognition by documenting individual nurses' knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to their specialty. The intended outcome of certification is to improve safety, quality of care, and health outcomes for patients.

Benefits of Certification 

• Certification validates specialized clinical knowledge and demonstrates a nurse's commitment to professional growth and development.

• Certified nurses receive recognition from peers, employers, and other healthcare professionals, enhancing their professional credibility.

• Studies have shown that certification is associated with better patient outcomes. For instance, certified nurses have been linked to decreased length of stay and readmission rates.
• McNair et al. (2023) found that hospitals with higher percentages of certified nurses reported a 6% decrease in average length of stay for every 1% increase in certified nurses.
• Additionally, Nelson et al. (2007) observed that a 1% increase in CRRN (Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse) was associated with a 6% decrease in patient length of stay.

• Certification has been linked to increased job satisfaction and lower intent to leave current positions (Reich et al., 2016; Whitehead et al., 2019).​

Promoting Certification 

• Offer an annual bonus or hourly certification pay as an incentive for maintaining certification.

• Display certification credentials on ID badges to highlight their expertise.

• Feature photos or names of certified nurses on unit bulletin boards or recognition walls.

• Have senior leadership send personalized emails to newly certified CRRNs and express gratitude to all certified nurses for their commitment to excellence.

• Provide special uniforms or apparel, such as certified nurse shirts or jackets, to distinguish certified nurses.

• Organize a meal or treat in their honor to recognize their hard work.

• Offer tokens of appreciation such as CRRN® pins, badge reels, tumblers, T-shirts, or jackets as a symbol of their achievement.

• Encourage more nurses to pursue certification by providing access to study resources like the CRRN® Success Suite, covering exam fees, and allowing dedicated study time during shifts.

Special Offer: 19% Off Everything in the ARN Learning Center

In honor of Certified Nurses Day, enjoy 19% off all courses in the ARN Learning Center - including the CRRN® Success Suite and hundreds of hours of CEU. Invest in your professional development and take the next step in your certification journey! This offer is valid Monday, March 17 through Friday March 21. Use code CERTDAY19 at checkout. 

Show Us How You Celebrate 

Submit your photos, stories, and more. We will share throughout the year. Simply email your story to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you will be followed-up with by our marketing team.

ARN and the CRRN® 

The Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN) is a professional organization dedicated to promoting and advancing the practice of rehabilitation nursing. One of ARN's key initiatives is the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) credential, which has been widely recognized and respected for over 30 years. The CRRN certification validates a nurse's expertise in rehabilitation nursing, demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality care to individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. With more than 12,000 current certificants, the CRRN credential is a testament to the dedication and specialized knowledge of rehabilitation nurses.

The CRRN is accredited by the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) and is an accepted certification by the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Program.

Maureen Musto, MS RN APRN-CNS ACNS-BC CRRN FARN
ARN Board of Directors President, 2023-2025
Clinical Nurse Specialist, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital