Recipients of the 2025 Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grant Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grant represents a critical investment in advancing nursing credentialing research to inform patient outcome
SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Foundation (ANF), in collaboration with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is excited to announce the 2025 recipients of the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grant. This funding opportunity aims to advance exploration of credentialing in nursing, and examine its impact on healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
Nurse credentialing research analyzes credentialing standards and variables impacting healthcare performance and organizational effectiveness in order to help inform policy at all levels and improve healthcare delivery. \This allows for a clear understanding of actionable ways to support credentialing standards, inform policy, and explore links between credentialing, competency, patient outcomes, and healthcare costs.
A total of $250,000 is being awarded to four recipients who submitted three proposals which will be awarded in three respective tiers of funding:
- Matthew D. McHugh, PhD, JD, MPH, RN, FAAN, and David (Hyunmin) Yu, PhD, RN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, University of Pennsylvania, Tier 1: Multilevel Evaluation of the Pathway to Excellence Program - $150,000
- Kevin Letz, DNP, MBA, RN, CNE-Ret, FNP-C, ANP-BC, PPCNP-BC, ENP-C, FAANP, American Board of Nursing Specialties, Tier 2: The Value of Specialty Nursing Certification: A Multidimensional Investigation - $75,000
- Julissa Hance, BSN, RN, CMSRN, EBP-C, University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio, Tier 3: Aligning the National Sample Survey (NSSRN) with the Pathway to Excellence Framework: Insights from Nurses in PTE and Non-PTE Credentialed Organizations - $25,000
“Nurse-led research is at the heart of everything we do at the American Nurses Foundation,” said Graig Eastin, Executive Director of ANF. “It’s what drives our work to gather the critical financial resources needed to find solutions to some of nursing’s most urgent and complex problems. By partnering with ANCC on the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grant, we can leverage the talents and expertise of nursing scholars to help us to continue evolving the practice of nursing to transform healthcare delivery.”
ANCC's current credentialing programs for healthcare organizations indicate the institution upholds the highest standards for safety, professionalism, and support for the nursing workforce. It also represents the gold standard in nursing excellence.
“The Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grant underscores our shared commitment to advancing the science of credentialing and its direct connection to patient outcomes,” said American Nurses Enterprise Chief Nursing Officer Brad Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FNP-C, FAAN.. “These projects provide the evidence we need to ensure that credentialing continues to evolve in ways that strengthen nursing practice, support workforce well-being, and ultimately improve the safety and quality of care for every patient we serve.”
ANCC’s credentialing programs undergo periodic evaluation to stay current with the dynamic healthcare delivery landscape. Specific priorities for the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grant include an exclusive focus on credentialing and competency, the relationship between credentialing and patient outcomes, and addressing the educational gaps in credentialing research literature. To learn more about this year’s recipients and to apply for this grant or others, please visit https://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/awards/styles-fund.
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American Nurses Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Foundation inspires change and innovation by harnessing The Power of Nurses™ through strategic, nurse-led philanthropy. With its 501(c)(3) status, the foundation mobilizes critical resources to fund innovative research and support initiatives that advance nursing practice, education, and leadership. By forging intentional partnerships and providing targeted grants, the foundation empowers nurses to drive change within healthcare systems and communities. This commitment ensures that nurse-led solutions remain at the forefront of efforts to enhance care delivery and patient outcomes.
American Nurses Credentialing Center
The American Nurses Credentialing Center partners with the nation’s largest group of healthcare professionals to uphold the highest standards of nursing excellence. With a comprehensive suite of individual certifications and organizational accreditation programs designed to foster research, innovation, career growth, and leadership development, the credentialing center equips nurses to achieve safer, patient-centric outcomes both nationally and internationally. Committed to harnessing The Power of Nurses™ to elevate care standards worldwide, the credentialing center continuously sets the benchmarks that support excellence in every facet of nursing practice.
American Nurses Enterprise
The American Nurses Enterprise champions nurses by harnessing The Power of Nurses™ to drive transformation and innovation across the healthcare landscape. As the unifying force behind three foundational pillars—the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the American Nurses Foundation—the enterprise sets the professional standards that empower nurse-led innovation, advocacy, and research. By uniting these core organizations, the enterprise advances the nursing profession and shapes a healthier future for communities nationwide and around the globe.