This certification demonstrates a nurse leader’s dedication to excellence in executive nursing practice and signifies their commitment to ongoing professional development. Certified nurse executives can use the CENP credential on their resumes, professional profiles, and within their organizations to showcase their expertise and leadership skills. The AONE Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) certification exam is a prestigious test conducted by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), formerly known as the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). This certification is designed for experienced nurse leaders who are seeking to demonstrate their expertise, knowledge, and skills in executive nursing practice. It signifies a high level of commitment, competence, and professional achievement in the nursing leadership field. Nurse leadership roles are filled by experienced nurses with advanced degrees.
The process includes completing an online application, providing documentation of professional experience and education, passing an examination, and agreeing to abide by AONL’s Code of Ethics. The mission of CGFNS International, Inc. is to serve the global community through programs and services that verify and promote the knowledge-based practice competencies of healthcare professionals. CGFNS determines whether the international applicants are eligible to take AONL’s certification examinations based on comprehensive foreign credential comparability standards and AONL’s eligibility requirements. The CENP practice exam is an online practice exam that parallels the format, cognitive levels and difficulty of the CENP certification exam and, like the certification exam, the content is based on the AONL Nurse Executives Competencies ™. While the CENP certification exam contains 175 multiple-choice items, of which 150 are scored and the other 25 are pre-test items, the CENP Practice exam contains 100 items.
In addition, she has a certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) and a certification as a Forensic Nurse Examiner from the International Association of Forensic Nurses. Hayes is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Advances in Nursing Doctoral Education & Research, 4 (1); p.8-16. The ANAC certification process typically takes about six months from start to finish. To begin the process, applicants must submit an application along with supporting documentation such as transcripts or proof of licensure.
“Solving the Y2K problem with a web based solution, The Fairview Experience”, Minnesota Chapter of Healthcare Information Management Systems Society, September 01, 1999. “Our Journey to Patient Centered, Interdisciplinary, Evidenced Based Practice”, Sigma Theta Tau International, 18th International Research Congress, Vienna, Austria. University of Hawaii, Hawaii Simulation Collaborative, Honolulu. (Invited keynote speaker) Nurse-Physician Communication.
AONL is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 15740. To be eligible for the CENP examination, a candidate must meet the target practitioner definition and fulfill one of the following requirements for education / work experience. Lorraine earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and her Master of Nursing degree from Chamberlain College of Nursing.

Nurse administrators can have rewarding and lucrative careers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics includes nurse administrators in the category of “Medical and Health Services Manager” for which the median annual salary is $88,580. In addition, candidates must pass an exam that covers topics such as patient safety, quality improvement initiatives, financial management, human resources management, and organizational dynamics.
While there is no specific certification for a CNO, there are numerous certifications related to healthcare administration, leadership, and management. These include Nurse Executive, Certification (NE-BC), Executive Nursing Practice Certification (CENP), Nurse Manager and Leader Certification (CNML), Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), and Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification (NEA-BC). Nurse executives plan and direct nursing services in a health care organization. Instead of being in rooms with patients, their work typically takes place in offices and boardrooms. These career projections and salaries are only a reference point; fine-tuning what a nurse executive earns and the job outlook depends on location, experience, education, certification and more.

Start Your Journey to AONE Certified in Executive Nursing Practice Success Today!

Often, interested individuals will have to relocate to find available positions. How much does a Nurse Administrator make in the United States? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that the median annual salary of Medical and Health Services Managers, such as Nurse Leaders and Nurse Administrators is $100,980 as of May 2019.

In 2013, she accepted a faculty position at the University of Minnesota, school of nursing, teaching in the Health, Innovation and leadership track in the Doctorate of Nursing program (DNP). In 2015, she assumed overall leadership for the DNP program, the largest hybrid – DNP program in the nation with over 300 full time students in eleven specialties. Her teaching responsibilities have focused on leadership, quality, business and global studies.
The three-and-half hour NE-BC exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions and must be taken at a certified testing facility after registering online through the ANCC. Initial certification costs $270 for members of the ANA, and $395 for non-members. RNs who have not completed an MSN program are eligible to apply for NE-BC certification, provided they hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and have completed 30 hours of continuing education in nursing administration. These standards are maintained by the ANCC, which extends eligibility for the NE-BC credential to RNs who teach nursing administration and who work as nurse administrator consultants. As the nursing workforce ages, and experienced nurses leave the profession, the need for experienced nurse leaders is expected to increase, especially given the ever-growing demand for healthcare services. For some nurses, these positions also represent a career path, as it’s common for employers to require experience as a nurse or nurse manager for higher-level leadership positions.
A professional nursing certification may benefit you in your nurse executive job search and may be required for many nurse executive positions. Professional credentials like the NEA-BC and NE-BC are available to indicate that you’ve met ANCC’s requirements for certification. You’ll need an active RN license to get a nurse executive certification. Nursing licensure varies by state, so check your state’s specific requirements.
Furthermore, depending on the hospital’s performance, they may be eligible for bonuses. Her work has been published extensively and can be found in the Journal for Simulation in Healthcare, Clinical Simulation for Nursing, Journal of Nursing Education, NAQ, JONA, Nurse Leader and other journals. She has authored/edited 5 books and numerous book chapters on finance and budgeting and simulation. The BLS also reports the 2020 median pay for top executives was $107,680 per year, with 4% more positions by 2029, about average growth.

AONE Certified in Executive Nursing Practice Certification Exam

Once a nurse completes a BSN, MSN or dual MBA/MHA program, he or she may choose to become certified as a nurse executive. Certification demonstrates a high level of competence in the field, and may often be required for an executive position. Experience in nursing leadership or administration is necessary for certification, so once certification is obtained, the nurse is deemed an “expert” in the field. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the terminal practice degree in Nursing.
AONL offers practice exams and resources to help prepare yourself for the CENP exam. We recommend that you review the preparation resources and CENP handbook before taking the certification exam. Becoming a CNO requires hard work, dedication, and determination. CNOs need to be able to multitask, have strong leadership skills, and communication skills.

Following the review chapters, a practice exam of 220 randomized Q&As can be taken to simulate the actual certification exam. The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) practice exam is an excellent tool to assist CENP candidates to prepare for the CENP certification exam. Developed by a group of experts in the field, it was created using a rigorous process similar to the development of the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) examination. It can serve as a diagnostic tool to assess strengths and areas for improvement in the content domains covered on the exam. Other practitioners may find the tool useful for professional development purposes. The certification requires applicants to pass an exam, which provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills required of a nurse executive.
She also holds a national certification in Executive Nursing Practice. Lorraine serves on several committees with the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNOs fall under the Top Executives category. Unfortunately, there is not a current breakdown of the specific career outlook for a CNO — rather they are lumped together with other top executives. To become a Chief Nursing Officer you must first become a registered nurse and complete the following steps.
Certification must be renewed every three years by completing continuing education credits or retaking the exam. The CNA program typically takes about six months to complete. To get certified, you must first complete an approved course of study and pass an exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The cost for the course and exam varies by state but generally ranges from $200-$400. After successfully completing the program and passing the exam, you will receive your CNA certification which is valid for two years.
Because nurse managers are directly involved in clinical care, they work on the floor of their unit or department. Nurses who want to play an active role in developing healthcare policy and ensuring the quality of nursing practice can do so as a nurse executive, nurse administrator, or nurse manager. Also offered through the ANNC, the Nurse Executive Advanced Certification is an exam for nursing administrators who already have the Nurse Executive Certification. This 175-question test must also be completed in 3.5 hours.
The program offers attendees the opportunity to earn up to 13.0 contact hours. “My favorite thing about ExamEdge’s online practice test is that they mimicked the actual exam. I walked into the exam feeling confident I knew the material and walked out knowing my time studying with Exam Edge was well worth the effort.” Your job title might not match the title of the exam application, but you may be practicing in the role and specialty the exam tests. Please refer to the Test Content Outline and target audience found in the Candidate Handbook for details and compare it to your job function. As of 2018, there were 2,639,500 top executives in the U.S. and by 2028 there will be a need for 2,790,200 which is a 6% increase. Generally, CNO positions fill very quickly and are not always available.

Nurse executives can also work in educational settings like nursing colleges, leading teams of nursing instructors. Nurse executives may be public-facing; public speaking may be required for presentations about organizational developments. Nurse executives should be comfortable talking to large groups, contributing creative ideas and working with individuals and teams to improve outcomes for organizations. The skills a nurse executive develops may also translate to a non-nursing role, such as a business leader or consultant.
Policy change to CNML and CENP certification exam retake

Effective Jan. 15, 2021, candidates who receive an unsuccessful result on a CENP® or CNML® certification exam have the opportunity to retake the examination at a future date. Candidates can retake the exam no sooner than 90 days after their most recent exam date. An application will be available after the 90 days have passed. Candidates may apply for and take the same certification exam up to 3 times in a 12-month period. Chief Nursing Officers have the same continuing education requirements as other RNs.
The CENP exam is composed of 175 multiple-choice questions. A candidate’s score is based on 150 of these questions; 25 are “trail” or “pretest” questions interspersed throughout the examination. A valid and unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse; and a baccalaureate in nursing plus four years of experience in an executive nursing role. The recertification process provides certificants with the opportunity to demonstrate the retention, reinforcement and expansion of their knowledge and skills. In addition to the academic requirements, students are expected to adhere to the technical and professional standards of the program.
To apply for a nurse license and become an RN, you’ll have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). You have completed a bachelor’s program in nursing, currently work in the field and are now ready to take the next step in your career. If you are considering becoming a certified nursing administrator, here is what you need to know.