Generation of knowledge to inform evidence-based practice clinically and administratively is one of the cornerstones of professional practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center(R) (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association(R), promotes excellence in nursing and healthcare globally through credentialing programs such as the Magnet Recognition Program(R) and Pathway to Excellence(R) Program. The ANCC has designated a research council to provide external expertise to inform ANCC's research program and make recommendations for its strategic direction. Members of the ANCC research council can be reviewed in the Figure 1.
Three major accomplishments over the past year are particularly relevant to this JONA research issue and to topics important to nurse executives. These accomplishments include (1) hosting an ANCC research symposium; (2) issuing a call for proposals for multisite research studies; and (3) publishing a national agenda for credentialing research in nursing. Each will be briefly described.
2012 ANCC Research Symposium
The 2012 ANCC research symposium, Building Research Capacity in Your Organization, was held prior to the annual Magnet conference in Los Angeles. The symposium was targeted to meet the needs of hospital-based researchers.1 The agenda provided both advanced and skill-building sessions to help participants establish or expand engagement in research in healthcare organizations. Although this editorial focuses on last year's research accomplishments, it is important to mention that ANCC has hosted an annual research symposium since 2009.
Call for Multisite Research Study Proposals
Based on requests from Magnet organizations to participate in rigorous, high-quality, multisite research, our team (investigators from University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing ) was selected to conduct the 1st study supported by 40 Magnet organizations examining the effect of nursing care on heart failure patient outcomes (knowledge, self-care, and readmission). Subsequently, ANCC determined that additional multisite studies should be supported, issuing a call for concept papers in November 2012, with selected studies invited for full proposals. Funding decisions are expected in 2013.2
Participation in this and future multisite studies will build organizational research capacity, generate knowledge, and facilitate the ability of Magnet organizations to meet research standards. The ANCC research council role is to (1) act as a catalyst, organizer, convener; (2) select and commission desired studies; (3) invite Magnet organizations to participate; and (4) monitor the progress of studies.
A National Agenda for Credentialing Research in Nursing
A national agenda for credentialing research in nursing has been developed and published.3 The research agenda provides a definition of credentialing research, summarizes evidence supporting variables that link credentialing to individual and organizational outcomes, and proposes a conceptual model for credentialing research. Gaps in knowledge are reviewed, and a research agenda was suggested.
In follow-up, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) convened a standing committee sponsored by ANCC to inform strategic planning to move the science of credentialing research forward.4 The 1st meeting was held in January 2013, with the proceedings available online.5
There are long-term benefits for nurse executives from the ANCC research symposium and sponsored multisite studies and enhancing our leadership in generating the new knowledge needed to understand the impact of organizational and individual credentialing. The research symposium and initial multisite study provided education, mentorship, and skill building for individuals and organizations in research concepts and methods. In the future, multisite studies will provide responsive opportunities to answer important questions generated from practice so they can be immediately studied and applied. Pressing forward on a research agenda for credentialing research with the input from the IOM standing committee demonstrates commitment to the examination of important questions about credentialing on individuals and organizations. These 3 highlighted accomplishments demonstrate how professional organizations can take a leadership role to further develop scientific discoveries.
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