John Parisot, MSN, RN, ACRN, PhD (he/him/his)

Nurse Educator, Care Program, Chicago, IL

President, HANCB

Years as an ANAC Member: 10

Local ANAC Chapter: President, Chicago Chapter

I came to HIV nursing by a very unlikely pathway. My first professional role was as a college French professor after earning a PhD in French literature in 2001. I later worked on an HIV prevention project in a correctional facility, the goal of which was to make condoms available to detainees. In 2012, I went to nursing school and subsequently worked as a community outreach nurse in psychiatric nursing. I recently celebrated my 10-year anniversary as a nurse educator at a Ryan White–funded clinic, the Care Program in Chicago. That journey has shaped both my professional identity and my deep commitment to HIV care and education.

What does Certified Nurses Day mean to you?

Certified Nurses Day is about shining a spotlight on certified nurses and celebrating the effort and dedication it takes to become certified. It’s a reminder of what an incredible and worthwhile accomplishment certification represents. It is also an opportunity to encourage our colleagues and professional networks to pursue certification—or recertification—if they have been considering it. Sometimes, that gentle nudge is all it takes.

When did you certify as an ACRN?

I certified as an ACRN in May 2021 and was the last person to take the computerized version of the exam. Although I had already completed many modules in the National HIV Curriculum, I wanted to challenge myself by passing the standardized exam—200 questions in four hours.

Taking the exam during COVID-19 added an extra layer of complexity, but I passed and later recertified in 2025. Since then, the certification process has transitioned to a self-directed learning model using the National HIV Curriculum, which we hope makes certification more accessible, user-friendly and less daunting.  

What does certification mean to you?

Certification represents standardized proficiency and excellence in HIV nursing through mastery of nationally recognized competencies. It signifies a strong and current knowledge base—whether learning new information, staying updated on advances in HIV care, or reinforcing existing expertise.

Being an HIV-certified nurse reflects a commitment to lifelong learning, dedication to evidence-based practice, and accountability to the highest standards of care.

Why is it important to you to maintain your certification?

Maintaining certification is essential for staying current in a rapidly evolving field and for demonstrating an ongoing commitment to excellence in patient care. It is also deeply rewarding on a personal level. I enjoy professional challenges and the sense of accomplishment that comes with them. There are many pathways to recertification through continuing education and professional activities. For example, attending the national ANAC conference annually over a four-year period and attending most of the sessions can fulfill nearly all recertification requirements.

Why did you join the fight to end HIV?

My commitment to ending HIV began almost 20 years ago while working at Cook County Jail in Chicago, where I witnessed firsthand the urgent need for advocacy and common-sense interventions, including access to harm reduction tools for our most vulnerable populations. I worked closely with LGBTQ individuals and advocated for the prioritization of their needs, always striving to promote dignity and respect. As part of the HANCB Board, we have also prioritized ensuring that populations disproportionately impacted by HIV—including sexual and gender minorities and racial and ethnic communities—remain visible and represented within HIV education and certification resources.

What words of wisdom would you share with nurses considering certification?

I am proud to be a lifelong learner, and I truly believe that education is never in vain. Many nurses already possess the knowledge and skills required for certification—they simply need to take the step of demonstrating it. I encourage nurses to carve out even one hour per week to work through certification modules. Mentorship is also invaluable. Reach out to certified nurses, ask questions, and support one another. And stay tuned for upcoming virtual informational sessions related to certification and recertification focusing on each level of certification. 



I would especially like to thank Lynda Wileman, the cornerstone of HANCB and the certification process, as well as all HANCB Board members for their dedication to HIV nursing certification. I am honored to play a small part in the long and meaningful legacy of HANCB and HIV nursing certification.