By James X. Stobinski , Ph.D., RN, CNOR, CSSM(E), CNAMB(E)
My inspiration for these monthly column comes from unexpected sources. A recent news release from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NBCSN) regarding a Unique Nurse Identifier, or UNI, prompted this article.1 This UNI, specific to an individual American nurse, already exists in the NCSBN records although many of us know very little about the concept. Nurses working in licensure, credentialing or certification functions use the NURSYS system administered by NCSBN but a UNI is a fairly recent development. Let’s dive into the details of a UNI, its potential uses and its utility to the nursing profession.
The NCSBN, as part of licensure processes, assigns a unique number “… to every nurse upon their first licensure with a board of nursing (BON). It’s the only unique nurse identifier (UNI) for all nurses and allows concise communication among systems while still protecting a nurse’s personal information (PII).”(2) Importantly a UNI, “… gives us the potential to exchange data between systems without disclosing personal identifiable information.”2 What does this mean for the individual nurse who may be reading this column? The quick answer for many nurses is that a UNI may have little application. If you are not applying for a new job or moving to another state to practice a UNI and the NURSYS system may have no practical application for you. However, for those working in nursing professional development or research this concept presents exciting possibilities.
The UNI can become a secure, verifiable digital credential that could be accessed by employers, certification boards and education bodies. If a UNI was widely used and incorporated into recordkeeping systems all relevant data associated with that nurse can be linked to that nurse via the NCSBN ID to include all licenses, education degrees and certifications. A UNI could be used as one part of a larger workforce development strategy documenting a nurse’s accomplishments throughout a career. A nurse could use their UNI on their resume to allow credentialing bodies, employers or universities secure access to their licensure history. Becoming aware of your UNI and incorporating it into your professional life and recordkeeping is at present wholly voluntary. To make this real on a personal level I accessed my NURSYS record and quickly found my NCSBN ID which is now incorporated into my CV.
Continued nursing workforce shortages necessitate a “grow your own” strategy for healthcare facilities featuring active engagement with staff and career development paths. There have been recent articles documenting innovative strategies for engaging early career nurses at facilities such as Mass General Brigham.3 The use of UNIs could be a method to increase engagement with a changing workforce with different priorities. This could change the focus from the current segmented system to a more accessible, user-friendly, individualized system controlled by the nurse as part of their lifelong professional development. Digital badges, used by some certification boards, are another example of nurse centered recordkeeping systems which can be used to document credentials and educational achievement4, 5 The nurse can choose to participate and build their professional records facilitated by UNIs and the meta data linked to digital badges.
As NCSBN details, UNIs could also be used in research to establish the contributions of nurses in American healthcare.6 Imagine a system where licensure, education and certification information for the nurses who provided care for an individual surgical patient could be linked across recordkeeping systems such as EHRs. For researchers who have long struggled with establishing the value of nursing care this is an exciting possibility which is dependent on nurses engaging voluntarily and using resources such as UNIs and digital badges.
– James X. Stobinski , Ph.D., RN, CNOR, CSSM(E), CNAMB(E), is a senior perioperative consultant with National Institute of First Assisting (NIFA).
References
- NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc.). (n.d.). The Unique Nurse Identifier (UNI). In Nursys. https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/eNotify_Flyer-NCSBNid.pdf
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (2024). Nursys®. https://www.nursys.com/Help/FAQ.aspx
- Ashley, M. (November 26, 2024). Mass General Brigham’s CHRO unveils Gen Z retention success. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/mass-general-brighams-chro-unveils-gen-z-retention-success.html?origin=HRTalent&utm_source=HRTalent&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=0705J2387567B1E
- Accredible (2024). 2024 state of Credentialing report. https://www.accredible.com/reports/2024-state-of-credentialing#Introduction
- Dorlevi, E., & Dorlevi, E. (2024, November 18). Digital badges for students. Sertifier. https://sertifier.com/blog/digital-badges-for-students/
- NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc.). (2024). NCSBN ID: The One True Unique Nurse Identifier [Transcript}. https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/videos/transcript_2024-ncsbn-id.pdf
