American Nurses Credentialing Center

Background: In 2025, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) released updated definitions of nursing and nurse to reflect evolving global health systems, professional expectations, and regulatory frameworks. Purpose: The aim was to examine the historical evolution of ICN definitions and analyze the implications of the 2025 definitions for perioperative nursing practice and professional standards. Methods: This scholarly analysis reviews prior ICN definitions, including the 1947 constitutional definition, Virginia Henderson’s 1960 definition, and the 2002 ICN definition, and outlines the modified Delphi consensus process used to develop the 2025 revisions. Results: The 2025 definitions position nursing as a regulated, science-based profession grounded in ethical standards, social justice, culturally safe care, and systems leadership. For perioperative nurses, they reinforce commitments to patient safety, advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leadership in surgical systems. Conclusions: The definitions provide a contemporary framework supporting credentialing, scope of practice, and global professional alignment.

In today’s resource-constrained healthcare environment, a business case is often used to provide formal justification for a project or initiative. Aspects covered in a business case include benefits, costs, risks, and strategic alignment between a project and an organization. The Pathway to Excellence® (Pathway) designation is supported by evidence in each of these areas. The author reviews current evidence in developing the business case for allocation of resources to support Pathway designation.

Magnet® Program Directors (MPDs) are often the unsung heroes of healthcare organizations. They have multiple responsibilities that extend far beyond Magnet document application and submission. This article examines the multifaceted role the MPDs play in creating and sustaining a culture of nursing excellence and shares information on the newly announced DAISY MPD award.

Peer feedback, also known as peer review or evaluation, is a structure and process in which nurses assess one another's competencies, ethical conduct, and adherence to professional standards. Embedded in Magnet® standards, peer feedback supports professional development and accountability. As healthcare delivery evolves, organizations may face challenges implementing standardized peer feedback, especially when nurses practice in environments where they are the only RN or advanced practice RN. Magnet's inclusive approach ensures meaningful feedback across all roles and levels of practice.

Bodine, Jennifer DNP, FNP-C, NPDA-BC, CENEditor(s): Bodine, Jennifer DNP, FNP-C, NPDA-BC, CEN Author Information

Dr. Echeng is a Resident, Dr. Burrell is Assistant Professor, and Dr. Zaluski is Assistant Professor, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, 101 Dudley St, Providence, RI 02905; E-mail: [email protected]. All authors, faculty, and staff have no relevant financial relationships with any ineligible organizations regarding this educational activity. CME Accreditation Lippincott Continuing Medical Education Institute, Inc., is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Lippincott Continuing Medical Education Institute, Inc., designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. To earn CME credit, you must read the CME article and complete the quiz and evaluation on the enclosed answer form, answering at least seven of the 10 quiz questions correctly. Please visit https://cme.lww.com/browse/sources/153. This CME activity expires at 5 pm EST on January 29, 2026. NCPD Accreditation Lippincott Professional Development is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Lippincott Professional Development will award 2.5 contact hours for this NCPD activity. This activity is also provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 11749 for 2.5 contact hours. Lippincott Professional Development is also an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the District of Columbia, Georgia, West Virginia, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Florida, CE Broker #50-1223. Your certificate is valid in all states. Instructions for earning ANCC contact hours are included on page 7 of the newsletter. This NCPD activity expires on March 6, 2026.

In 1983, the original study "Magnet Hospitals: Attraction and Retention of Professional Nurses" identified professional development, continuing education, formal education, and career development as critical success factors in creating an environment that fosters nurse engagement. In alignment with the findings, the Magnet Recognition Program® requires organizations to have structures and processes to support nurse certification. In June of 2021, the Magnet Recognition Program announced only nursing and healthcare-related professional board certifications would be accepted as of January 1, 2024. The 2.5-year timeline allowed organizations the opportunity to prepare for the change.

Dr. Ramesh is Research Associate, Center for Advancement in Managing Pain, University of Connecticut School of Nursing, Storrs, Connecticut; and Dr. Starkweather is Chamings Professor and Assistant Dean for Research Development, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, PO Box 100197, Gainesville, FL 32610; E-mail: [email protected]. The authors, faculty, and staff have no relevant financial relationship with any ineligible organizations regarding this educational activity. CME Accreditation Lippincott Continuing Medical Education Institute, Inc., is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Lippincott Continuing Medical Education Institute, Inc., designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. To earn CME credit, you must read the CME article and complete the quiz and evaluation assessment survey on the enclosed form, answering at least 70% of the quiz questions correctly. Please visit https://cme.lww.com/browse/sources/125. This CME activity expires at 5 pm EST on November 30, 2025. NCPD Accreditation Lippincott Professional Development is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Lippincott Professional Development will award 2.5 contact hours for this NCPD activity. This activity is also provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 11749 for 2.5 contact hours. Lippincott Professional Development is also an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the District of Columbia, Georgia, West Virginia, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Florida, CE Broker #50-1223. Your certificate is valid in all states. Instructions for earning ANCC contact hours are included on page 11 of the newsletter. This NCPD activity expires on September 5, 2025.

Peanut allergy in children is a population health problem. Evidence suggests early peanut introduction (EPI) for infants can reduce the development of peanut allergy. Primary care settings have not widely adopted guidelines recommending EPI. Peanut allergy prevention depends on primary care providers incorporating EPI guidelines into well-child check (WCC) encounters. We aimed to improve guideline adherence in a primary care setting by implementing a bundle of clinical decision support (CDS) tools. Using quality improvement methodology, the team developed a standardized work protocol and CDS tools within an electronic medical record (EMR) at 4, 6, and 9-month WCC encounters. The team executed changes and modifications through plan-do-study-act cycles and analyzed results with statistical process control charts. We collected data from 445 WCC encounters from baseline through sustainability. EMR documentation of EPI guidance at 4, 6, and 9-month WCCs shifted from 13.9% to 83.5% over 12 months. Provider adoption of smart lists and templates increased from 2% to 73%, the distribution of home peanut introduction handouts increased from 5.2% to 54.1%, and caregiver-reported peanut ingestion increased from 0% to 34.6%. Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccination rates remained at 100% for 6-month visits, and patient in-room time remained at 65 minutes. Quality improvement methodology improved documentation of EPI guidance and increased reported peanut ingestion at routine WCC encounters without impacting other measures. Broader use of bundled CDS tools and EMR standardization could further improve guideline adherence and increase early peanut introduction to prevent peanut allergy in infants.

The Magnet Recognition Program® is built on the results of a study. Magnet® has continued to be evidence-based and forward reaching with each new manual requirement. The foundation of the Forces of Magnetism combined with current future-facing evidence continues to promote a culture of excellence. While it is nursing recognition, Magnet is an organizational credential from which an entire organization benefits.