Pathway to Excellence^® General FAQs

The ANCC Pathway to Excellence Program is an internationally recognized designation that fosters positive practice environments conducive to nurses’ professional fulfillment and growth. Distinguished by its unique focus on staff well-being, this program underscores the importance of creating work settings where nurses can thrive and be the organization’s partners in achieving sustained quality outcomes.

Pathway to Excellence is not just for hospitals; organizations across the healthcare continuum that employ nurses are eligible to apply.

• See Pathway to Excellence application eligibility criteria: https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/pathway/apply/eligibility/
• A multi-facility healthcare system is not eligible to apply as a single entity. However, individual organizations within the system may be eligible to apply independently. Can my organization include our other locations in our application?
  Applicant organizations may include additional campuses and/or branches as defined by Pathway. Please refer to the campus and/or branch definition in the current Pathway to Excellence application manual.

Questions? Email your questions along with the organizational chart reflecting nursing service to pathwayinfo@ana.org.

• Applicant organizations whose Pathway Applicant Registration (PAR) has been approved, and Pathway Pre-intent Program members are authorized to utilize the Pathway on the Journey logo.
• Pathway-designated organizations are authorized to use the Pathway to Excellence certification mark (logo). The Marketing Toolkit contains program logos, trademark use guidelines, and sample press releases. Visit the Pathway Learning Community https://www.pathwaylearningcommunity.org to access the Marketing Tool.

Pathway application fees include:

1. Non-refundable Pathway Applicant Registration (PAR) fee (submitted when the online application is completed)
2. Appraisal Process fee – fee for document review and validation based on the number of licensed beds or the number of annual visits (ambulatory care) or unique patients (dialysis centers and other unique outpatient settings).

• After the completed PAR and associated fee are received, the Pathway Program Office (PPO) will review the application, and a Pathway Senior Analyst will be assigned to the organization. The analyst will send a ‘Welcome’ email correspondence to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Pathway Program Director (PPD) as designated on the PAR.
• This email contains your organization’s unique application number and serves as notification of official applicant status and confirmation of the approved document submission cycle.

• Pathway-designated organizations are required to apply for redesignation. The process for applying for Pathway to Excellence redesignation and initial designation is the same.

• Pathway-designated organizations must submit the PSD on a document submission cycle no later than the expiration date of the current designation.
• For example, an organization designated in April expires on the first day of April and must submit the PSD for redesignation by the April 1st submission cycle.
• Pathway-designated organizations whose expiration month does not fall on an established submission cycle may submit the Pathway Standards Document on the next submission cycle.
  • E.g., An organization designated in March, designation expires in March, the Pathway Standards Document may be submitted in April.
• The current Pathway designation status will remain in good standing while the appraisal process is underway.
• Pathway Online Application and non-refundable application fee is completed 8 to 12 months before the intended submission cycle.
• Notify the Pathway office of your intention to apply for redesignation one year before your current designation expires.
• Please Note: When an organization’s designation expires and if the organization fails to designate, the next time that organization applies and achieves designation will be considered an initial designation.

• The Pathway Learning Community® (PLC) is an exclusive online community for nurses committed to creating positive practice environments and promoting excellence in nursing practice. The PLC provides an opportunity for nurses to connect and share the best practices, resources, research, experiences, and strategies that have led to positive practice environments, quality patient care, and excellence in professional nursing practice.
• The PLC features:
• Downloadable supplemental documents and resources to help you on your Pathway journey
• Pathway to Excellence resource modules and webinars
• Networking opportunities with designated and applicant organizations
• The opportunity for mentoring by volunteer Pathway leaders
• A discussion board where you can ask questions, share best practices with other Pathway organizations, and get questions answered to assist you on your journey
• Get the latest news and information from the Pathway Program Office
• Find information about upcoming events related to the ANCC & Pathway

• A Pathway Learning Communities (PLC) membership is available free of charge to healthcare organizations that are currently Pathway-designated, official applicants who have paid their application fee and received a Welcome email or are a member of the Pathway Pre-intent Program. Pathway-designated organizations receive two memberships in the community, one for the CNO and one for the PPD.
• Eligible organizations receive up to ten memberships in the PLC.
• A public page of the PLC is accessible to organizations that have yet to apply