American Nurses Foundation Celebrates Landmark Research Project Success on Certified Nurses Day

SILVER SPRING, MD - March 19, 2026 - Today on Certified Nurses Day, the American Nurses Foundation (ANF) is proud to announce that one of the grant recipients of the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grant, Olga Yakusheva, PhD, MSE, FAAN, has successfully completed her research examining the crucial link between nurse certification and the tangible benefit for both patient care and health systems. The emerging findings are promising and have only been exclusively shared during private poster sessions at select universities, such as the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the University of Michigan School of Nursing. ANF awarded a total of $223,864 to Dr. Yakusheva to complete this study.

Some of the emerging findings from this study suggest:

• Strong evidence supporting the benefit for hospitals to invest in aiding and incentivizing specialty RN certification programs to achieve systemic improvements in patient care.
• The importance of continuing professional education for nurses beyond formal education and licensure.

"On Certified Nurses Day, we recognize not only the dedication and expertise of certified nurses across the nation, but also the critical need to continue investing in research that demonstrates their impact," said Kathy Driscoll, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CCM, the President of the American Nurses Foundation. "The American Nurses Foundation remains committed to advancing meaningful research to ensure health systems, policymakers, and the public fully understand the value certified nurses bring to healthcare delivery. The work of Dr. Yakusheva is evidence that sustained investment in nurse-led research is an essential step to improving health outcomes nationwide."

The Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grant is administered by ANF with donor support from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This funding opportunity aims to advance exploration of credentialing in nursing and examine its impact on healthcare quality and patient outcomes.

"Specialty certification represents a nurse's commitment to clinical excellence and lifelong learning," said Brad Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FAAN, FACHE, Chief Nursing Officer at the American Nurses Credentialing Center. "Research from Dr. Olga Yakusheva supported through the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grants Program demonstrates that this commitment translates into measurable improvements on patient outcomes. On Certified Nurses Day, we celebrate certified nurses and the vital difference their expertise makes for healthier patients and stronger communities."

The full results from this study will be published are under peer review with the intent to be published in the near future. Learn more about the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grants Program by visiting ANF's Awards & Grants resource page. To learn more about the ANCC Certification Program and obtain a certification in nursing, please visit https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/ .

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About the American Nurses Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Foundation inspires change and innovation by harnessing The Power of Nurses™ through strategic, nurse-led philanthropy. With its 501(c)(3) status, the foundation mobilizes critical resources to fund innovative research and support initiatives that advance nursing practice, education, and leadership. By forging intentional partnerships and providing targeted grants, the foundation empowers nurses to drive change within healthcare systems and communities. This commitment ensures that nurse-led solutions remain at the forefront of efforts to enhance care delivery and patient outcomes.

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The American Nurses Credentialing Center works with the nation's largest group of healthcare professionals to uphold the highest standards of nursing excellence. With a comprehensive suite of individual certifications and organizational accreditation programs designed to foster research, innovation, career growth, and leadership development, the credentialing center equips nurses to achieve safer, patient-centric outcomes both nationally and internationally. Committed to harnessing The Power of Nurses™ to elevate care standards worldwide, the credentialing center continuously sets the benchmarks that support excellence in every facet of nursing practice.