SPRING 2015 VOL 4 NO 1 PERSONALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER. The Rise of Nursing Certification

Transcription

1 CenterNurse SPRING 2015 VOL 4 NO 1 PERSONALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER The Rise of Nursing Certification

2 SPRING 2015 CENTERNURSE MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER 2 FROM THE VP Dear Nursing Colleague, Thanks to rapid developments in technology, research, pharmacology and other aspects of patient care, nurses are adapting to ever more specialized practice environments, particularly in the acute care hospital setting. While nurses continue to practice such core nursing skills as pain management and patient education, they need more specialized skills, such as chemotherapy infusion, maintenance of implantable devices, stroke recovery and palliative care. The demands of these specialized practice areas are well recognized by professional nursing organizations, which have developed study and testing programs to certify those who attain optimal specialty skills. According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center of the American Nurses Association, these certifications offer a competitive edge in the job market. The Department of Nursing is expanding the number of certification and review courses we offer to Hospital Center nurses. Nurses can use their certification activities to qualify for an annual Clinical Advancement Program bonus, and can apply for educational grants to pursue certification training. The evidence is clear: certification helps nurses deliver the safest patient care. As you will see in this issue, the number of certifications are growing rapidly at the Hospital Center, and we are happy to provide even more opportunities for your professional development. Janis Donnelly, BSN, MS, MBA VICE PRESIDENT NURSING EXCELLENCE ON THE COVER: Patient Care Manager Susan Oyola, left, and nurse Erin Snow, from the 1EIMC PCCN certification study group

3 3 SPRING 2015 CENTERNURSE MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER Ready? Set? Get Certified! Adding a study schedule for certification to your already busy calendar can be a daunting prospect. As these three Hospital Center nurses share, getting certified can be easier than you think and proved worth the effort. A LONG-TERM PAYOFF Andra Cornish, Clinical Nurse, Main OR Certification: CNOR (Operating Room) I took the CNOR certification exam in It wasn t something everyone did at that time, but I had been working in the operating room for seven years as an OR Tech and two years as an RN. I felt it was a good time to have some outside validation. I can tell you that it has definitely been important over the years. It s been important in my job search. When I applied here in 2007, it was part of the consideration. I think having the certification has paid off in terms of the salary I ve been able to earn and the opportunities I ve had where I work. b Andra Cornish, RN WENT WITH MY PASSION Sara Groff, Nurse Educator Certification: CMSRN (Med/Surg) I had worked in Med/Surg nursing for three years, mostly on 3C, and I thought Sara Groff, RN I had a good foundation in the specialty. I wanted to prove that I had arrived. So I decided to take the Med/ Surg certification. It s ironic, because I hated Med/Surg in college. But I found I really like the challenges in the Med/Surg patient population, and the practice involves a lot of creative and collaborative care. I took a review course in 2012, but didn t start really studying until about six months later. I also used the review program on the website of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. I don t like to wait, so I went to a testing center and took the certification test online, because you get immediate results. Having the certification gave me concrete proof of my professional development. It gives you a very positive way to think beyond just your shifts or your contract, to a more career-based, long-term time frame. b NEVER WANT TO STOP LEARNING Linda Conley, Nursing Director, 4G and CVRR Certification: CNML (Nurse Manager and Leader) I have been CCRN certified (critical care) for many years. Linda Conley, RN I maintain this certification because I still take care of patients at the bedside and because I encourage all my staff to become certified. Last year, I thought about pursuing an advanced degree, but I am supporting kids in college, so I don t have the ability to do that right now. Having had several years of leadership experience both here and in other institutions, I felt that I might be able to use my experience and what I have learned in training here. I took a one-day review course offered by American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), and passed when I took the exam this February. I have always thought that nursing leadership is an extremely challenging job, with so many facets. This was a way for me to validate that I have gained certain skills and understanding that are necessary for my job. In the self-assessment process, I realized that there were a couple of topics I need to study more. The associates in my departments and my patients deserve excellent leadership, and this is one way for me to assess myself as I try to grow toward that. b

4 SPRING SPRING CENTERNURSE MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER CENTER 4 4 COVER STORY The Rise in Nursing Certifications Susan Oyola has always been interested in nursing education. So when her unit, 1EIMC, was looking for a volunteer to lead its education committee, Oyola stepped forward. There s just so much opportunity today, so many skills that nurses want to acquire. What she quickly discovered: some of the best education for nurses working with the acute care emergency patients treated on 1EIMC is available from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). In fact, Oyola found the preparation for the PCCN specialty certification covered so many of the issues we come across every day. I decided to get the certification myself first, to see if that would be a valuable project for everyone, and to see if it would provide not only the education, but a good way to validate what we know. Within two months, Oyola had earned her PCCN certificate. It was challenging, but it definitely gave me a new confidence that I have the skills to treat the patients we see, she says. As her education project for the unit, Oyola formed a study group. In March, 11 nurses gathered for a few days to study together for the PCCN exam. The nurses on 1EIMC are not alone: unit 2H has 21 nurses who recently earned certifications in stroke and critical care. A few of the 1EIMC study group: left front, Anna Norwood, RN; left back, Ayesha Ibrahim, RN; right back, Janna Miranda, RN and right front, Susan Oyola, RN, PCCN. The Infusion Team at the Washington Cancer Institute, seen here with their Exceptional Nurse Award from Nurses Week, made a pact to earn the OCN Nursing Certification. All nine nurses were certified within one year. According to the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), in 2013, nurses in the United States and Canada held more than 588,407 certifications, an increase of more than 94,000 certificants when compared to 2010 survey data. These certifications were granted by 27 different certifying organizations, mostly professional nursing organizations such as the AACN, that conduct specialty-specific nursing practice research. Many of the organizations offer their tests in conjunction with the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (see chart on back page). Nurses at the Hospital Center are following the national trends certifications are up, more than 15 percent of all RN s here have at least one certification. There is new enthusiasm, driven in part by the Clinical Advancement Program bonus that started in January, where earning a nursing certification can fulfill almost half of the points required for a bonus. With more certification classes through the Center for Excellence in Nursing (see story page 6), the number of nurses earning certifications is set to rise dramatically at the Hospital Center during the next few years. For Oyola and the study group on 1EIMC, the hope is that the group that studies together succeeds together. So far, so good. The first member of the group to take the test, Anna Norwood, passed the exam on April 30. b

5 5 SPRING 2015 CENTERNURSE MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER All Together Now 4E Works as a Unit to Earn National Institutes of Health Stroke Certification Last July, unit 4E took part in a Hospital Center effort to earn a Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from the Joint Commission. This designation means the Hospital Center as a whole and the unit as an integral part of the team is uniquely qualified to handle some of the most complicated patients who have suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIA), when blood flow to the brain is blocked for a short period. Few hospitals have the expertise or resources to have such dedicated focus on this complex medical issue. To prepare, all 45 nurses on 4E studied for and earned National Institutes of Health certification in TIA/Stroke, says Megan Rupe, a recent patient care manager for the unit. Every new nurse on the unit gets certified as well, she says. While not exactly the same as a certification developed and sanctioned by a professional nursing organization, the NIH TIA/Stroke certification does carry its own cachet. The certification involves four hours of computer modules, plus one two-hour class devoted to TIA. At the end, nurses take a two-hour test, which includes having to scale patients on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). This five to eight-minute process, originally a research tool but now used for clinical assessment of stroke patients, helps predict patient outcomes and clinical acuity. Nurses with NIH certification have to recertify after the first year, and then recertify every two years to maintain their certification. Not one of our nurses missed the certification deadline, which helped the Hospital Center s Stroke Center earn the Joint Commission designation, says Rupe. It shows how dedicated these nurses are. It gives the unit a true expertise in treating these patients. It s just a great sense of accomplishment for all of us. b Back: James King, RN, Saffie Bangura, RN, Makia Fofana, Unit Clerk; Front: Jennifer Muse, PCT, Mary Heine, RN, Natalie Nyame, RN, Candi Jackson, RN, Megan Rupe, PCM, Kimberly Lane, RN, Kiara Williams, RN and Olha Ejedoghaobi, RN

6 SPRING 2015 CENTERNURSE MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER 6 THE HOW TO OF CERTIFICATION Taking Advantage of Courses and Classes One weekend this winter, 35 nurses were in True Auditorium, taking a two-day review course for the Operating Room certification (CNOR). Meanwhile, more than 40 nurse leaders were in the Center For Excellence in Nursing for two days, taking leadership certification preparation. At the Hospital Center, courses in a certification can be offered when there is interest from a number of nurses. To set up a review class: Determine whether colleagues are interested in forming a study group Speak with the nurse educator assigned to your unit/area to discuss setting up classes Connect with the Professional Development Collaborative Governance Council to express interest or survey whether there is interest among a larger group of nurses. The nurses heading that council: Lindsay Baird (Lindsay.A.Baird@medstar.net) and Erin Curry (Erin.M.Curry@medstar.net). A free Med/Surg certification class will be offered July 9 and 10. b Spending the weekend in True Auditorium, nurses from the OR prepare for CNOR certification testing. Nurse leaders review the skills that will be on nurse leadership certification tests. Establishing a Niche Nurses Lead Hospital Center to Exemplar Designation in Senior Care It involves online study and a test. It means going through sensory deprivation training and learning to perform everyday tasks like dressing and eating with limited visibility, hearing and function in your hands and feet. It is not quite a certification. Yet so many nurses and PCTs have taken the Geriatric Resource Nurse or Geriatric Care Technician training from Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders, or NICHE, that last fall, the Hospital Center was awarded the highest Exemplar designation. Studying to be a Geriatric Resource Nurse can be a logical first step to earning the Gerontological Nursing Certification, says nurse educator Caeden Dempsey, RN. At least four nurses who went through NICHE are currently pursuing the certification. With the NICHE program, nurses learn about the special needs and care requirements for patients 65 years of age and older. NICHE is the leading nurse driven program designed to help hospitals improve geriatric care. The Exemplar status the highest of four possible program levels was assigned following a rigorous program evaluation of the current state and future goals of the Hospital Center s NICHE program. b

7 7 SPRING 2015 CENTERNURSE MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER All Together Now by Ken Kilemi When I was in nursing school, everyone joined the American Nurses Association (ANA). It was just the thing to do. It made us feel like we were part of something professional, even when we were students. After graduation, and after starting at the Hospital Center in 2010, I realized that I had actually learned a lot through the ANA. It was always letting us know about professional development opportunities, conferences, or other resources for our practice. I wanted something like that for my practice in Med/Surg nursing. The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses is a fantastic resource. You get to know your peers, you develop professional relationships that last into the future. In the D.C. chapter, we have members from the Hospital Center, Walter Reed, VA Medical Center, Providence, Georgetown, G.W., almost every hospital. There are educational forums and you learn about new practices that are making their way to the bedside. While many nurses move on from Med/Surg to more specialized nursing, the certification is one of the best ways for a new nurse to feel like an expert in your field. Many young members join the organization for the mentoring or the networking, and one of the best pieces of advice we can give them is to get certified. It gives you and your colleagues and your patients confirmation that you are an expert at what you do. It gives you the first of what will hopefully be a number of specialty certifications. Many nurses come to nursing for the flexibility of the career and because they can experience many different types of practice over the course of their career. A solid foundation in Med/Surg skills, validated by certification from the Academy, is a great way to prove mastery as you continue on that journey. b Ken Kilemi is the patient care manager on 2NW, a surgical oncology unit specializing in oncology surgery patients. He has been at the Hospital Center five years, and also serves as the president of the Greater District of Columbia chapter of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, the professional organization that prepares and offers nurses medical-surgical specialty certification.

8 Center Nurse MEDSTAR WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER CenterNurse is a quarterly publication for the members of the MedStar Washington Hospital Center Department of Nursing staff. The newsletter is produced by the Public Affairs & Marketing department. Please send suggestions, story ideas and comments to RN.Feedback@medstar.net. MedStar Washington Hospital Center is dedicated to delivering exceptional patient first health care. We provide the region with the highest quality and latest medical advances through excellence in patient care, education and research. MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a private, not-for-profit hospital, does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, physical handicap, national origin or sexual preference. John Sullivan President, MedStar Washington Hospital Center Theresa Dupart Chair, MedStar Washington Hospital Center Board of Directors Kenneth A. Samet, FACHE President and CEO, MedStar Health M. Joy Drass, MD Executive Vice President, Operations, Washington Region, MedStar Health Susan Eckert, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CENP Senior Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Executive Lucille Wilcox, RN Editor Annamarie G. DeCarlo, ABC Director, Internal Communications Managing Editor, Public Affairs & Marketing Tammi Bricker Graphic Design Norma Babington Monika Guttman Contributing Writers List of Certifications The following certifications are offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (nursecredentialing.org). AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (ACRN) Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Adult Nurse Practitioner Advanced Public Health Nurse Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) Advanced Practice RN, Board Certified (APRN, BC) Ambulatory Care Nurse ANCC Certification Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) Cardiac Vascular Nurse Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC) Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) Certified Infection Control Nurse (CIC) Critical Care Nurse Specialist (CCNS) Critical Care RN (CCRN) Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Certified Case Manager Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN) Clinical Nurse Leader Certified Nurse OR (CNOR) Certified Neuroscience RN (CNRN) Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN) Certified Continence Care Nurse (CCCN) Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI) SPRING 2015 CENTERNURSE 8 Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) Certified Wound and Ostomy Care Nurse (CWOCN) Family Nurse Practitioner Certified Gastroenterology RN (CGRN) Gerontological Nurse Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Holistic Nurse Certification (HNC) Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) Informatics Nurse Legal Nurse Consultant Certification (LNCC) Medical-Surgical Nurse Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse Nurse Educator Nurse Executive Nurse Practitioner Certification Nurse Practitioner Certification Review Nursing Case Management Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) Orthopedic Nurse Certification (ONC) Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN) Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse (CORLN) Pain Management Nurse Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) Pediatric Nurse Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) PSB-PN PSB-RN Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse (PMHN) School Nurse Certification Exam Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Pediatric (SANE-P)