
Building the Business Case for Pathway to Excellence®
The Pathway to Excellence ROI Resource Bundle equips organizations to translate the evidence supporting positive practice environments into a clear, strategic business case on the value of Pathway to Excellence.
Why Positive Practice Environments Matter
Investing in a positive practice environment is essential.
In The Evidence Behind ANCC's Pathway to Excellence® Credential's Return on Investment, Ellen Swartwout, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN, synthesizes current evidence linking positive practice environments with measurable workforce and organizational outcomes.
Read more studies on the benefits of Pathway to Excellence:
- Pathway to Excellence Designation, Nurse Work Environment, and Hospital Quality and Safety: A Multi-State Hospital Study, Yu, H., Brooks Carthon, J. M., Aiken, L. H., McEwan, K. K., & McHugh, M. D. (2026)
- The Influence of Pathway to Excellence® Designation on Patient Satisfaction, Yu, H., Golinelli, D., McHugh, M. D., Carthon, J. M. B., & Aiken, L. H. (2024)
- Practice Environment and Nurse Outcomes by ANCC Designation: Insights From NDNQI, George, N., Pascale, A., & Warshawsky, N. E. (2025)
- The protective effect of Pathway to Excellence designation on patient satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yu, H., Golinelli, D., Aiken, L.H., McHugh, M.D., & Brooks Carthon, J.M. (2025)
Positive Practice Environments are associated with:
The ROI Resource Bundle helps organizations understand how starting the Journey to Pathway to Excellence delivers measurable financial results alongside meaningful human impact through an evidence-informed, strategic lens.
ROI Resource Bundle
How does an investment in Pathway to Excellence deliver measurable returns, for your patients, staff, and bottom line? Discover your organization's ROI using the resources below and clearly articulate the value to your organization's executive leadership team:
Ready to Get Started?
With questions on the ROI Resource Bundle or Journey to Pathway to Excellence, reach out to the Pathway Program Office at pathwayinfo@ana.org.





