Nursing credentials are formal qualifications and professional designations that demonstrate a nurse's educational attainment, licensure, specialized knowledge, and professional achievements [1][2]. They are awarded or recognized by academic institutions, regulatory authorities, and professional certification organizations based on established educational, examination, or practice requirements [3]. Common forms include academic degrees, nursing licenses, specialty certifications, and professional honors [2][4]. These credentials communicate a nurse's qualifications, scope of professional preparation, and areas of recognized expertise to employers, healthcare organizations, colleagues, and patients. Their accurate use supports professional accountability, recognition of nursing competence, and public confidence in healthcare services [3][4].
- nursing credentials
- professional certification
- nursing licensure
- professional qualifications
- nursing competence
References
- Kathy Chappell; Rima ElChamaa; Dahn Jeong; Deborah Kendall-Gallagher; Elizabeth Salt; Scott Reeves; Donald Moore; Curtis Olson; Thomas Van Hoof; Vicki Lundmark; et al. Conceptualization and Operationalization of Certification in the US and Canadian Nursing Literature. JONA J. Nurs. Adm. 2018, 48, 238-246, 10.1097/nna.0000000000000608.
- Rodney W. Hicks; Mary Ellen E. Roberts; Judith A. Berg; Garrett K. Chan; The importance of knowing what your nursing credentials mean. J. Am. Assoc. Nurse Pract. 2025, 37, 485-490, 10.1097/jxx.0000000000001183.
- Kathy B. Chappell; Matthew S. Howard; Vicki Lundmark; Cathy Ivory; Credentialing and certification: Overview, science, and impact on policy, regulation, and practice. Int. Nurs. Rev. 2021, 68, 551-556, 10.1111/inr.12721.
- Rima ElChamaa; Dahn Jeong; Kathy Chappell; Vicki Lundmark; Simon Kitto; Constructing a Sensitizing Definition of Certification in Nursing. JONA J. Nurs. Adm. 2019, 49, 1-3, 10.1097/nna.0000000000000697.