Certified Nurses Day 2026: BCEN Honors Nurses Who “Invest in Themselves”
- BCEN celebrates over 55,000 registered nurses who hold at least one BCEN certification.
- Certified Nurses Day is celebrated on March 19th and honors those who hold a specialty certification, identifying them as an expert in their field of nursing.
- The Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) certification for critical care ground transport nurses celebrates its 20th year.
- Trauma Certified Registered Nurses (TCRNs) are celebrating their credential’s 10th anniversary.
As healthcare organizations around the globe prepare to recognize Certified Nurses Day on March 19th, the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) is spotlighting the tens of thousands of specialty certified nurses who deliver expert care across the emergency spectrum. From busy urban emergency departments to military treatment facilities and critical care transport teams, these nurses voluntarily earn and maintain rigorous board certifications that underscore their commitment to patient safety, quality, and outcomes.
By The Numbers
As of March 1st, there are nearly 55,000 registered nurses who hold one or more BCEN certifications. Approximately,
- 41,500 nurses hold the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) credential
- 5,800 are Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurses (CPEN)
- 8,900 are Trauma Certified Registered Nurses (TCRN)
- 7,800 hold the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) credential.
- 675 nurses are Certified Transport Registered Nurses (CTRN)
- 750 are Certified Burn Registered Nurses (CBRN
This year, BCEN is marking Certified Nurses Day with a series of initiatives to highlight the stories of certified nurses and help organizations celebrate their teams. The board has introduced the fifth nurse in its national “Invest in Yourself” campaign, featuring the story of double board-certified emergency and trauma nurse Gretchen Brown Carroll, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, in a new video titled “Silver Linings, Stronger Than Ever.” BCEN has also refreshed its free Nurse Recognition Kit with updated designs, including note cards, flyers, posters, and materials using the popular “RN-credible” theme, available for download on its Certified Nurses Day page.
BCEN Statement
"“Certified Nurses Day celebrates nurses who invest in themselves to deliver the highest level of patient care,” said BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, ICE-CCP, CENP, CPHQ, FABC, and past president of the American Board of Nursing Specialties. “We are especially proud to recognize the nearly 55,000 emergency, pediatric emergency, trauma, flight, critical care ground transport, and burn nurses who are board certified through BCEN.”"
BCEN CEO
The organization is also celebrating milestone anniversaries for two of its specialty credentials. The Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) certification for critical care ground transport nurses turns 20 this month, while the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) program marked its 10th anniversary in February. In addition, nurses and employers who purchased BCEN certification vouchers in February received a complimentary Certified Nurses Day celebration kit to support local recognition efforts.
Voucher Program
BCEN is expanding its popular voucher program to make certification preparation more accessible and affordable. Beginning this month, the program will include discounted practice exams and review courses from BCEN Learn, the board’s award‑winning professional development platform. Employers, nurse leaders, and individual nurses can now purchase as few as three vouchers at a reduced rate for CEN, CPEN, TCRN, CFRN, and CBRN practice exams, as well as CEN, CPEN, and TCRN review courses, in addition to existing vouchers for initial certification, retesting, and recertification.
Founded in 1980, BCEN is an independent, not‑for‑profit organization dedicated to advancing emergency nursing through specialty certification. Its six credentials—CEN, CPEN, CFRN, CTRN, TCRN, and CBRN—are nationally accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) and accepted by ANCC Magnet‑designated organizations.
BCEN is inviting nurses, hospitals, and professional organizations to join the #CND2026 conversation and celebrate certified nurses on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram throughout Certified Nurses Day.
🤔Nurses, are you certified or have you thought about obtaining a specialty certification? Share your thoughts below.
If you have a nursing news story that deserves to be heard, we want to amplify it to our massive community of millions of nurses! Get your story in front of Nurse.org Editors now - click here to fill out our quick submission form today!
