What does CNAA mean in NURSING

Any registered nurse with a current and valid RN license who has completed a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited school of nursing may apply for CNAA certification. In addition, applicants must have at least three years of experience within the specialty area and have completed formalized education in health care administration or management.

The CNAA certification lasts for five years and renewal requires evidence of ongoing activities related to nursing administration. The activities must demonstrate current knowledge of both nursing practice standards and healthcare organization principles.

To obtain CNAA certification, you must first complete the application process on the ANCC website. This includes submitting documentation such as your RN license, transcripts from your college or university, proof of relevant continuing education courses that meet ANCC criteria, three professional letters of recommendation, and more. Once your application has been approved, you will need to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam administered by Pearson VUE.

Yes, applicants must satisfy prerequisites prior to taking the exam. These include completing an accredited baccalaureate degree program with credits from a course on management/administration or healthcare organizations; having three years' work experience as a nurse administrator; providing documentation verifying completion of at least 20 hours of continuing education related to nursing administration; completing a set number of hours in specific practice disciplines; and providing three professional letters of recommendation addressing applicant's suitability for nursing administrative roles.

The CNAA exam covers a variety of topics related to nursing administration including organization theory; quality improvement models; legal implications related to procedures & standards; financial analysis methods & techniques; budget management strategies & practices; organizational development theories & principles; communication & relationship building strategies; problem-solving techniques & decision-making models; human resource management concepts & applications; recruitment & retention methods & processes related to staffing patterns applicable to patient care delivery systems; research utilization models applicable to practice settings.