The Value of Certification: How the Certified Healthcare Interior Designer Impacts Nursing

Blog Contribution by our partner, American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID). Thank you to CHIDs, Barbara Dellinger, Sandy Goodman, and Teri Bennett for sharing their insights and developing the blog post.

In the rapidly evolving world of healthcare design, collaboration between clinicians, design professionals, and industry partners is essential to shaping patient-centered environments that prioritize health, safety, and well-being. The members of the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD) and Certified Healthcare Interior Designers (CHIDs) share a common mission—to inform the design process in ways that enhance patient care, protect staff, and create healing spaces for families.

As healthcare environments become increasingly complex, it is crucial to ensure that the built environment is designed with the expertise of both CHIDs and NIHD members. By working together, these professionals bring evidence-based insights that enhance functionality, improve outcomes, and elevate the overall healthcare experience. Clear communication is enhanced when clinical and design professionals implicitly understand the unique languages of each discipline. NIHD members who meet the eligibility requirements may want to consider pursuing CHID certification to strengthen their role in shaping the future of healthcare design.

Why Certification Matters

Healthcare environments must support healing, enhance efficiency, and ensure safety for patients and providers alike. CHID certification demonstrates a deep understanding of healthcare interior design and validates expertise in critical areas such as:

• Evidence-based design principles that improve patient outcomes

• Compliance with healthcare regulations and safety standards

• Integration of infection prevention strategies

• Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, including nurses, to create functional spaces

• Sustainable and innovative design approaches for long-term facility performance

The Role of CHIDs and NIHD Members in Healthcare Design

NIHD members and CHIDs play complementary roles in designing environments that are not only functional but also enhance the well-being of those who use them. Nurses, because of their organic 24/7 understanding of the challenges involved when working in healthcare environments that do not support the best clinical practices and therefore are able to bring firsthand experiences to the challenges, ensuring that designs support efficient workflows, patient safety, and staff well-being. CHIDs contribute specialized knowledge in program and space planning, overall interior design which includes compliance with industry regulations and infection control (as it relates to the built environment) along with material selection.  They also provide post-occupancy evaluations once projects are completed to understand if desired outcomes were met. Together, they create healthcare spaces that are both operationally efficient and conducive to healing.

Having a CHID-certified professional involved in healthcare design projects ensures that the built environment aligns with best practices in safety, infection control, and patient-centered care. By working alongside nurses, CHIDs help bridge the gap between clinical needs and design solutions, ultimately improving healthcare environments for all stakeholders.

Why NIHD Members Should Consider CHID Certification

1. Strengthen Professional Credibility – CHID certification reinforces your expertise and demonstrates a commitment to upholding the highest industry standards.

2. Enhance Interdisciplinary Collaboration – Certification validates your ability to contribute meaningfully to healthcare design projects alongside designers, nurses, and facility leaders.

3. Advance Your Career – CHID distinction can open doors to leadership roles, consulting opportunities, and greater influence in shaping the built environment.

4. Improve Patient and Staff Outcomes – Certified professionals bring research-driven insights that improve the quality-of-care environments for patients, families, and healthcare workers.

5. Expand Your Professional Network – Becoming CHID-certified connects you with a prestigious group of professionals dedicated to advancing healthcare interior design.

Take the Next Step

CHIDs and NIHD members share a commitment to ensuring that healthcare environments prioritize safety, efficiency, and healing. If you are an NIHD member with experience in healthcare design, pursuing CHID certification is an opportunity to enhance your expertise and elevate your impact in the field.

Learn more about the certification process at AAHID’s website and take the next step in shaping the future of healthcare design through informed, evidence-based solutions.

NIHD collaborates with clinicians, design professionals and industry partners in the healthcare design process to shape the future of healthcare design.