BCEN Names 2026 Certification Champions in Emergency Nursing

The winners include Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital in the small facility category, Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center as the top large facility, and Inova Health System for health system excellence. These institutions distinguish themselves through robust internal support systems that encourage nurses to pursue and maintain specialty credentials across six nationally accredited programs.

BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker emphasized that these awards highlight organizations that treat certification as a cornerstone of clinical culture rather than a peripheral achievement. This year's recognition arrives alongside findings published in the July/August 2026 issue of Nursing Outlook, which link higher concentrations of certified staff to increased patient safety and a measurable reduction in preventable complications. The study, involving researchers from Johns Hopkins, Yale, and the University of Michigan, frames certification as a high-value workforce strategy for hospitals aiming to elevate system-wide performance.