On April 29, BCEN was proud to announce our 2026 Distinguished CEN Award winner:
Michael Isaacs, MSN-NE, APRN, ACNPC-AG, NPD-BC, CEN, TCRN, BCMMHC
Nursing Professional Development Specialist–Emergency Services
Salinas Valley Health
Salinas, California
What does this award mean to you?
To be honest, it is a little humbling. To be chosen to receive this award out of the over 41,000 Certified Emergency Nurses (CENs) worldwide is truly an honor. When I received the call, I was practically speechless, which, if you ask my peers, is not a very common occurrence. Being board certified is something I have always held in high regard and something I have always pushed my colleagues toward. To be recognized for the work I have tried to do, and continue to do to enhance the knowledge and practice of my colleagues is something that is truly special to me.
Board certification is something I knew I wanted to achieve the minute I entered the emergency department. To be able to call yourself a “board-certified emergency nurse” is something that puts you in an elite group. Displaying the CEN credential is a sign to your patients that you have achieved a level of knowledge that reflects dedication to your practice.
How has holding the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) credential impacted your daily practice and your nursing career path?
When it comes to my career path, the CEN was the springboard to where I am now and what I have achieved. Passing the exam and having the confidence in my practice led me to pursue other certifications. It guided me to achieve my acute care nurse practitioner license, as well as my master’s degree in nursing education, and now my doctorate in nursing education as well.
I have held the CEN for 13 years and I see no reason to ever let it lapse.
What difference has being board-certified in emergency nursing made for your patients and their families?
When I was at the bedside, the CEN reflected a level of knowledge to my patients. When patients or families ask what the CEN on my badge means, my reply is simple: “You know how we have board-certified emergency physicians?” to which they usually answer yes. “Well, I am a board-certified emergency nurse. It means that I have studied and passed a certification exam that tests the scope of emergency nurse practice.” Very often I get a smile and a nod. I don’t think many of our patients or families know that nurses can be certified in their specialty, and when they find out, it usually instills confidence in their nurse.
As a nursing professional development specialist and unit educator, having my CEN is a foundation of how I teach nurses. I would never expect someone to learn from me if I did not show a level of knowledge that was proven and established. The CEN helps to provide that. Being able to teach the content to nurses and instill them with new knowledge always makes me smile. When I can catch that “aha!” moment when reviewing a CEN concept or going over the rationales to a question, I know that the nurses are learning and retaining new information. The great thing about the CEN is that whether you have been a nurse for two years or 25 years, you always learn something new from going through the process of certification.
Watching our department’s certification numbers double over the last year has been amazing and I cannot take credit for that. It’s about the culture that we have all tried to create in our department. From the leadership to the educators to our frontline staff, we know the work we do is exemplary. I know our nurses have an immense knowledge base. I just push them to show it by getting certified. I don’t believe there is one nurse in our ED who cannot achieve board certification; and if all goes well, we will get to that 100%. I know it’s a lofty goal, but I know this staff can do it.
In nominating Michael, Salinas Valley Health (SVH) Emergency Department Registered Nurse Jordan Schafer highlights the ways Michael inspires new graduates’ growth, retention, and pursuit of certification:
“I have been a nurse in the ED for a little over a year now. I joined the SVH ED team as a new grad and began my career by going through the emergency nurse residency program. Mike was the program director as well as a lead instructor for all of the didactic. Since I came off orientation, my first resource every time is Mike. His mentorship and leadership in the department is one of the reasons that the new grad program has had 0% turnover since it started three years ago.
In addition to being a top notch educator, Mike is a pretty impressive clinician as well. While he does not do daily bedside care, when he does jump in, he does it without hesitation, and with the innate ability to use the moment to teach others around him. He is calm in chaos in a way that is admirable and inspirational.
He is a wealth of information and experience that is needed and respected in the department. When it comes to certification, Mike is an absolute champion.”
Salinas Valley Health ED Director David Thompson, BSN, RN, said:
“While working as the educator in the emergency department, Michael observed a low certification rate for the specialty exam. He identified nurses’ fear of the exam as the primary obstacle. To address this, he developed a review class for the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) exam to help build confidence.
As a result, the certification rate rose from 17% to 40%, and his class maintains a 100% pass rate. Michael’s initiative and dedication have significantly validated the nurses’ specialized skills, boosted clinical confidence in critical situations, and enhanced patient safety.”
