Alumna elected president of the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification

Over the past two decades, Amy Grand, BSN ’96, has become a leader in nursing accreditation — literally — setting the standard for the profession.  

In July 2025, she was elected president of the board of directors for the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), the only accrediting body specifically dedicated to evaluating nursing certification programs. There are currently 87 exam- and assessment-based programs accredited by the ABSNC, including board certifications for critical care, operating room and emergency nursing. 

“It is very important that certification exam programs are accredited,” said Grand. “For nurses and employers, accreditation demonstrates that a certification program meets a rigorous set of recognized industry standards. For patients and the public, accreditation provides assurance that nurses who earn that credential have verified, current knowledge and skills in their specialty. Accreditation is both a mark of distinction and trust." 

Grand has served on the ABSNC board of directors since 2019 in various roles, including vice president. She looks forward to leading initiatives at ABSNC through strategic planning and program development. In particular, Grand hopes to continue ABSNC’s work with research about the value of certification and the board’s responsibility about inclusivity and diversity from a multifaceted perspective.  In addition, since ABSNC is one of the select few accrediting bodies recognized by the American Nursing Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program — the gold standard for nursing excellence in healthcare organizations — its accreditation process is meticulously regulated. Grand hopes to create more resources for credentialing organizations to have assistance in meeting these standards, because the more opportunities there are for nurses to further their education through specialty programs, the better care patients can receive. 

Grand has an extensive background in accreditation and credentialing. She understands the necessity and nuances for organizations seeking to have their programs accredited and nurses looking to hone their expertise. After starting her career as an ICU nurse at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, she followed an opportunity to become a content developer for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX®) at Pearson VUE, an educational testing service. 

“I was still working to maintain my nursing knowledge but shifted to supporting the profession and advocating for patients in a different way by helping to uphold consistent standards. Most nurses do not know how exams are created, especially a licensure exam like the NCLEX,” stated Grand. "The opportunity to be behind the scenes and see how exams are created, maintained and validated really captured my attention. I've stayed in exam development ever since.” 

In addition to leading the ABSNC board of directors, Grand will be celebrating her 10th year at the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) this November. BCEN offers national certification programs in six emergency specialties, including trauma, critical care transport and burn nursing. After starting as the certification manager, she currently oversees the development and review process for their programs as the director of certification and accreditation. 

One of her favorite aspects of her role at BCEN is supporting nurses who are going through the certification process. 

“Most people are very well prepared from a content perspective. They’ve taken advantage of all the exam preparation resources. They are working in an emergency setting,” said Grand. “Sometimes it's about test anxiety and talking them through how to approach the exam in order to be successful.” 

Grand’s goal has always been to help people. Initially, she attended MSU with the intent of becoming a teacher. One day, a professor for a biology lecture class pulled her aside and advised her to consider nursing. She applied to the nursing program and never looked back. 

“I felt extremely prepared entering the workforce, having been through Michigan State's nursing program,” said Grand. “I had an excellent foundation. Having hands-on clinical skills helped tremendously, but so did the didactic part of it as well. It set me up for success in the profession.” 

 

Published Aug. 6, 2025.