11/18/2025
Reposting from Natalia North, Blogger at Beneath the Surface of Purpose
In light of the sudden restructuring at IAFN, other organizations are already promoting their own certifications as alternatives. Moments like this can create pressure to act quickly or “fill the gap,” which is exactly why forensic nurses need clarity and confidence before spending money. This is not about judging any organization. It is about making informed, financially responsible decisions during an unstable time.
In nursing, the primary national body that establishes credibility for specialty certification is the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). When a certification is accredited or recognized by ANCC, it signals:
professional legitimacy
broader acceptance across institutions
alignment with established nursing standards
national recognition
meaningful impact on hiring, credentialing, or advancement.
Without ANCC recognition, a certification may still offer useful education, but its professional impact can be inconsistent, employer-dependent, and at times limited. Right now, certifications from FNCB are not accredited. That doesn’t make them harmful, it simply means nurses should take a more thoughtful approach to what they are paying for and why.
I encourage forensic nurses to be intentional with their investments. If a certification is not accredited or recognized by ANCC, and if it does not clearly support your immediate or long-term goals, it may be wise to wait.
Credentialing committees may or may not count it. Employers may or may not consider it valuable. In times of uncertainty, your money and your professional growth deserve extra protection.
Before You Pay for Anything, Ask Yourself:
Is this certification accredited or recognized by ANCC?
Does my hospital or system formally acknowledge or reward it?
Will it meaningfully help my career, or is it simply additional letters?
Does this reflect the reality of current forensic nursing practice?
Am I investing because it benefits me, or because it benefits the organization offering it?
If you cannot answer these questions with confidence, it’s okay to pause.
You are not “falling behind.” You are being intentional.
Here’s the Truth:
Your value does not come from a badge.
Your competence is not determined by extra letters. Your strength comes from:
your clinical skill
your documentation
your trauma-informed approach
your mentorship
your lived experience
your commitment to patients
These are the things that define the specialty.
These are the things that build careers.
These are the things that matter.
My Guidance, Said Simply
If a certification is not accredited
or not recognized by ANCC,
and if it does not clearly support your professional goals, wait before spending your money. Forensic nursing already carries enough emotional and financial weight.
Do not let instability in the field create pressure to purchase something that may not serve you.
Protect your wallet.
Protect your time.
Protect your practice.
And above all, protect your future.
