About Carol

CAROL HARTIGAN, MA, RN - is Senior Policy Strategist for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the AACN Certification Corporation. AACN, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit association, is more than the world’s largest specialty nursing organization; AACN is an exceptional community of acute and critical care nurses offering unwavering professional and personal support in pursuit of the best possible patient care. The AACN Certification Corporation an independent 501(c) (6) corporation, promotes and enhances consumer health and safety by establishing and maintaining high standards of professional practice excellence through certifying and recertifying registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses in the care of acutely and critically ill patients and their families. In her role, Hartigan provides leadership for the conceptualization and advancement of comprehensive certification programs and policy initiatives within the strategic context of the Corporations’ visions and the broader credentialing industry while assuring that exams and organizational structure comply with regulatory and accreditation standards. She has more than thirty years of experience in licensure and regulation. Before coming to AACN, Carol was National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Contract Manager for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), where she helped facilitate the simultaneous transition of the national nursing licensure examinations from paper and pencil to computerized adaptive testing in all states and territories. This was the first large, high-stakes examination to make this conversion to CAT. She also has experience as a regulator, serving as the Associate Executive Director of the Missouri State Board of Nursing, and in a variety of critical care nursing, executive and faculty/educator positions. Hartigan has a BS in Nursing from Northwest Missouri State University and an MA in Adult and Continuing Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. PUBLICATIONS Hartigan, C. (2016). Scope of practice: Critical Care Nurse, 36(5), 70-72. Hartigan, C. (2016). Consensus model for APRN regulation: licensure, accreditation, certification and education. In S. Hardin & R. Kaplow (Eds.), Synergy for Clinical Excellence: The AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care 2nd Ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Hartigan, C. (2011). APRN regulation: the licensure-certification interface. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 22(1), 50-65. Fabrey, L., Hartigan, C. Basic psychometric principles. In L. Knapp & L. Anderson (Eds.), Certification: The ICE handbook, 2nd edition. Washington DC: Institute for Credentialing Excellence; formerly National Organization for Competency Assurance. 2009 Hartigan, C. (2008). Nurse certification and synergy. In M. A. Q. Curley (Ed.), Synergy; the unique relationship between nurses and patients. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau Intl. Becker, D., Kaplow R., Muenzen P., Hartigan C. (2006). Activities performed by acute and critical care advanced practice nurses: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses study of practice. American Journal of Critical Care, 15(2), 130-148. Hartigan, C. (2004) Nurse certification and the synergy model. Excellence in Nursing Knowledge, http://www.nursingknowledge.org/Portal/main.aspx?pageid=3507&ContentID=56472 SELECTED PRESENTATIONS Hartigan, C., Stanik-Hutt, J., Bolton, P., Zych, J. (2017) Is Your Scope of Practice Legally Defensible? AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. Houston, TX. (Invited, Podium, Panel) Harrison, P., Staebler, S., Hartigan, C., Meadows, R., Thompkins, D. (2017) What Attaining and Maintaining Certification Means. National Council of State Boards of Nursing APRN Roundtable. Chicago, IL. (Invited, Panel) Staebler, S., Stanley, J., Butlin, J., Meadows, R., Thompkins, D., Hartigan, C., Drayton-Brooks, S., Cahill, M., Harrison, P. (2017) Plenary Session: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE) 43rd Annual Meeting National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Washington, DC. [Invited, Plenary Panel] Hartigan, C., Delgado, S., Stanik-Hutt, J., Wright, J. (2016) APRN Scope of Practice issues: Protecting your Right to Practice. Pre-Conference to AACN National Teaching Institute/ Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. New Orleans, LA. [Invited, Podium, Panel] Hartigan, C. (2016) Achieving the Desired Future State: Good Governance. Institute for Credentialing Excellence Annual Conference. Colorado Springs, CO. (Peer-Reviewed, Podium) Staebler, S., Kesten, K., Butlin, J., Stoll, M., Meadows, R., Borlie, E., Hartigan, C., Drayton-Brooks, S., Cahill, M., Harrison, P., Thomas, A. (2016) Plenary Session: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE) 42nd Annual Meeting National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Seattle, WA. (Invited, Plenary Panel) Hartigan, C., Miller Murphy, C., Cahill, M., Kesten, K. (2015) Return of the APRN Stakeholders: Discussion on Special Issues and Questions from Past 8-9 Years. LACE Implementation Conference. Silver Spring, MD. (Invited, Panel) Hartigan, C, Darragh, I., Delk, W. (2015) Can You Hear Me Now? Getting Your Message Through to Legislative Audiences. Institute for Credentialing Excellence Annual Conference. Portland, OR (Peer reviewed, Panel, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2015) What an NBC Reporter Learned from Certified Nurses During the Ebola Crisis. Institute for Credentialing Excellence Annual Conference. Portland, OR (Peer reviewed, Podium) Hartigan, C., Durley, C. (2015) Adventures in Governance; Keeping Your Board Focused on the Business of Regulation. Institute for Certification Excellence Annual Conference. Portland, OR. (Peer Reviewed, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2015) The Role of Certification Boards in Regulation. Athletic Trainers Board of Certification Annual Regulatory Conference, Omaha NE (Invited, Plenary Podium) Hartigan, C., (2015) Critical Care is Everywhere. National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers Annual Conference. Denver, CO. (Peer-reviewed, Breakout, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2015) Implementation of the APRN Consensus Model – Are You Ready? AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. San Diego, CA. (Invited, Podium) Staebler, S., Stanley, J., Butlin, J., Meadows, R., Thompkins, D., Hartigan, C., Cahill, M., Harrison, P. (2015) Plenary Session: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education (LACE) 41st Annual Meeting National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Baltimore, MD. [Invited, Plenary Panel] Barnhill, G., Elliott, J., Hartigan, C. Lane, M. (2014) Collaboration with Voluntary Certification Organizations. Citizen Advocacy Center Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD. (Invited, Podium, Panel) Harrison, P., Hartigan, C., Witt, C., Germano, E., Meadows, R., Thiemann, L., Thompkins, D. (2014) Certification Report. National Council of State Boards of Nursing 2014 State of the Consensus Conference. Chicago, IL (Invited, Panel) Hartigan, C. (2014) Update on the APRN Consensus Model. AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. Washington, DC. (Invited, Podium) Darragh, I., Thieman, L., Hartigan, C., Barnhill, G., Swankin, D. (2014) The Role of Certification Boards in Scope of Practice and Other Legislative Changes. Institute for Credentialing Excellence Annual Conference. San Antonio, TX. (Invited, Panel, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2014) Celebrating APN Practice. Cleveland Clinic APN Summit. Cleveland, OH. (Invited, Keynote, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2013) Specialty Certification: Current Trends in the Next Step of the Consensus Model. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX. (Invited, Podium) Barksdale, D., Stanley, J., Butlin, J., Meadows, R., Thompkins, D., Hartigan, C., Bissinger, R., Drayton-Brooks, S., Cahill, M., Harrison, P. (2013) Plenary Session: Annual Dialogue on Licensure, Accreditation, Certification, and Education Issues of Interest to NP Educators. 39th Annual Meeting National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Pittsburgh, PA. [Invited, Plenary Panel] Hartigan, C. (2013) Consensus Model for APRN Regulation Update AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. Boston, MA. (Invited, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2013) The Critical Care Nursing Workforce. Citizen Advocacy Center Annual Conference. Seattle, WA. (Invited, Podium) Hartigan, C., Murphy, M., Thompkins, D., Thompson, C., Zuzelo, P., Stanley, J. (2013) Implementing the Consensus Model by 2015: Education and Certification Requirements for CNS Programs. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Webinar. Washington, DC. (Invited, Panel) Butlin, J., Hartigan, C., Meadows, R., Cahill, M., Thompkins, D., Stanley, J., (2013) Implementing the Consensus Model by 2015: Education and Certification requirements for APRNs Prepared to Care for Older Adults. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Webinar. Washington, DC. (Invited, Panel) Butlin, J., Gerbasi, F., Hartigan, C., Meadows, R., Plaus, K., Rusin, M., Yucha, C. (2013) Perspectives of Certifying and Accrediting Organizations Concerning Transition to the DNP. American Association of Colleges of Nursing National Dialogue on Quality and Excellence in Doctor of Nursing Practice Education. Chicago, IL. (Invited, Panel) Hartigan, C. (2012) Implementing the Consensus Model: Incorporating Gerontology into the Adult Acute Care NP and Adult CNS Certification Examination Programs. National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Scientific Symposium: Science to Policy. Alexandria, VA. (Peer reviewed, Poster) Hartigan, C. (2012) The APRN Consensus Model and Your Practice. AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. Orlando, FL. (Invited, Podium) Hartigan, C., Thompkins, D. (2012) Advancing the APRN Consensus Model-Elements in Certification. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Annual Summit. Washington, DC. (Invited, Podium) Barksdale, D., Stanley, J., Meadows, R., Thompkins, D., Hartigan, C., Bissinger, R., Drayton-Brooks, S., Cahill, M., Harrison, P. (2012) Annual Dialogue on NP Licensure, Certification, Accreditation, and Education Issues. 38th Annual Meeting National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Charleston, SC. (Invited, Plenary Panel) Hartigan, C. (2012) Consensus Model Challenges for Three CNS Programs. Society for Clinical Nurse Specialist Education Conference. Louisville, KY. (Peer reviewed, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2011) Update on the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation. AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. Chicago, IL. (Invited, Podium) Barksdale, D., Stanley, J., Meadows, R., Thompkins, D., Hartigan, C., Bissinger, R., Cahill, M., Harrison, P. (2011) Annual Dialogue on NP Certification, Program Accreditation, and Regulatory Issues. 37th Annual Meeting National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Albuquerque, NM. (Invited, Plenary Panel) Butlin, J., Chornick, N., Dumas, M., Hartigan, C., O’Sullivan, A., Stanley, J., Tanner, S., Thompkins, D., Towers, J. (2010) LACE Roundtable. 36th Annual Meeting National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Washington, DC. (Invited, Plenary Panel) Hartigan, C. (2010) Update on the APRN Consensus Model. AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. Washington, DC. (Invited, Podium) Hartigan, C., (2010) Assuring Regulatory Sufficiency of APRN Exams. Oregon Board of Nursing. Portland, OR. (Invited, Podium) Fabrey, L., Hartigan, C. (2009) Basic Psychometric Principles -Shining the Light on Measurement. National Organization for Competency Assurance Annual Conference. Phoenix, AZ. (Peer Reviewed, Podium Preconference) Miller Murphy, C., Hartigan, C. (2009) Recruiting, Recognizing, Rewarding and Retaining Your Volunteers. Institute for Credentialing Excellence Annual Conference. Phoenix, AZ. (Peer Reviewed, Podium) Hartigan, C. (2009) The APRN in Acute/Critical Care – How Did We Get Here & Where Do We Go Next? AACN National Teaching Institute/Advanced Practice Institute and Critical Care Exposition. New Orleans, LA. (Invited, Podium) Bissinger, R., Harrison, P., Hartigan, C., Towers, J., Thompkins, D. (2008) Responding to Regulator and Educator Needs. 34th Annual Meeting of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Louisville, KY. [Invited, Plenary Panel) Hartigan, C. (2004) Standards and Certification of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Acute and Critical Care; the Evolution of a Specialty. APN Consensus Conference. Washington, DC (Invited, Podium) SERVICE AACN Certification Corporation representative to the APRN Licensure Accreditation Certification & Education (LACE) Workgroup (2009-2018) American Association of Critical-Care Nurses representative to the Coalition for Patients’ Rights (CPR) (2009-2018) Consultant to American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Scope & Standards Task Force (2016-2017) National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education: Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (2016) AACN Certification Corporation representative to the Alliance for Nursing Accreditation; later Alliance for APRN Credentialing (2003-2016) Consultant to American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Scope & Standards Task Force (2013-2014) National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Work Group: Primary Care and Acute Care Certified Nurse Practitioners statement (2013) Consultant to American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Scope & Standards Task Force (2011-2012) National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education: Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs (2012) National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) National Clinical Nurse Specialist Education Standards Validation Panel: Criteria for the Evaluation of Clinical Nurse Specialist Master’s, Practice Doctorate, and Post-Graduate Certificate Educational Programs (2011-2012) AACN Certification Corporation representative to the American Board of Nursing Specialties (2000-2012) Consultant to American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Acute and Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Scope & Standards Task Force (2009-2010) NOCA Board-appointed Commissioner, National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) (2007-2009) AACN Certification Corporation representative to the APN Consensus Work Group to develop the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification Education (2004-2009) AACN Certification Corporation representative to the APN Consensus Work Group to develop the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification Education (2004-2009) National Clinical Nurse Specialist Competency Task Force (2006-2008) Elected Member, Board of Directors of National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) (2003-2005) National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) National Panel for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Competencies (2004) Member American Nurses Association Member American Association of Critical Care Nurses AWARDS Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) Lifetime Achievement Award (2016) Recognizes the lifetime achievement of an individual whose vision, efforts, commitment and contributions have advanced the credentialing industry. First time awarded to a woman; sixth time awarded since inaugural award in 1999. American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) Leaders’ Legacy Award (2012) First recipient of inaugural award recognizing the contributions of specialty nursing certification leaders.