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13 Fitzgerald Health Education Associates, Inc., March 2015 fhea.com A comment that I often hear made about this des- ignation is that NP-C clearly denotes that a person is a certified nurse practitioner and that perhaps all NPs should use this. However, NP-C is the AANP's certification designation and should be used only by those who have earned it. National Certification Corporation (NCC) Those who are certified by the NCC include women's health NPs and neonatal NPs and are granted the designations of WHNP-BC and NNP-BC, respectively. Here is an example: • Sarah Thiam, DNP, WHNP-BC Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) A pediatric nurse practitioner in pri- mary care who is certified by the PNCB is granted the designation CPNP, with the modifier of PC (pri- mary care) or AC (acute care). Here are examples: • Clifford Frost, MS, CPNP-PC • Kara Ashley, DNP, CPNP-AC What do I do if I hold more than one certification? In general, the most recently earned credential is listed last. Here is an example of a NP who has re- cently passed the AANP family NP certification exam but is also a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). • Maggie Ashley, PhD, CDE, NP-C What about adding RN or APRN to my credentials? This is certainly an option, particularly with the adoption of the Consensus Model for APRN Regula- tion. In that case, the designation RN or APRN (ad- vanced practice registered nurse) should be placed immediately before the NP certification title. Here is an example of a NP who is AANP certified and prac- ticing in a state where the Consensus Model has been adopted and has assigned the designation APRN to NPs, certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certi- fied registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and certi- fied nurse specialists (CNSs). • Iris Buck, MS, APRN, NP-C In the state where I am licensed and practice, the state board of nursing grants a specific advanced practice license designation. Where does this go? State law can dictate that a specific mandated title be used, such as advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP), which is used in New Hamp- shire, Washington, and other states, and advanced practice nurse (APN), which is used in New Jersey and oth- er states. Since these titles are not recognized state-to-state, using them as part of your formal credentials is likely not warranted. This issue is fur- ther confused by the APRN designa- tion being used increasingly to refer to NPs, CRNAs, CNMs, and CNSs. Do I need to check with my em- ployer about how to list my cre- dentials? Some institutions may have requirements regarding how to sign your name or represent yourself to oth- er healthcare providers and to the public. How should I list an honorific designation? An honorific designation such as Fellow of the Amer- ican Academy of Nursing (FAAN) or Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) typically goes at the end of the credentials. Here is an example: • Kathleen Thomas, PhD, NP-C, FAANP For the day-to-day, keep it simple and use the NP designation. For those special occasions when you need to use your full set of hard-earned, well- deserved professional credentials, show these off the right way. • NP Firsts Certification Q&A; Your highest academic degree should be placed immediately after your surname, before professional designation and certification credential. C ontinued from page 11