Education Clinician UPMC St. Margaret Ford City, Pennsylvania, United States
Description: Specialty certification is an objective measure that validates a registered nurse (RN) possesses the knowledge needed to provide specialized nursing care. Certification provides formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skill, and experience demonstrated by the achievement of identified standards. In September 2019, of the 19 Perioperative Rns who met eligibility requirements for certification, only three were certified (16%) at St. Margaret Hospital. Previously, certification was suggested, but not publicized or encouraged. Literature supports the benefits of certified nurses, which include improved staff retention, increased patient safety, decreased patient mortality rates and increased patient satisfaction. How will having a proactive approach compared to a re-active environment effect certification rates in eligible Perioperative RNs over the course of a year? To identify barriers, the unit participated in a survey. Many expressed not having adequate study time or materials, knowledge on how to schedule and finances. To solve this issue, the hospital agreed to financially assist those who were interested in sitting for the test. A nurse was also appointed to be an advisor. Information was provided weekly on topics such as scheduling the test, study strategies and practice questions. To keep them on track, the advisor followed up with these individuals frequently on their study progress, provided them with additional study materials when needed, and privately quizzed them on material in the weeks before their test date. To get the entire unit involved and promote awareness of CNOR, the mentor started doing “What the??! Wednesdays.” Each Wednesday, the mentor would email the unit a review question. Whoever would respond back with the correct answer would be entered into a drawing for a small prize. For those who were successful with testing, leadership recognized them in their monthly newsletter and presented them with a small gift in front of the entire unit. Within one year, 9 nurses sat for the certification exam and 7 passed: increasing the percentage of certified nurses from 16% to 53%. These results suggest that by approaching certification in a proactive manner (providing a financial assistance program and assigning an advisor), as opposed to a re-active one (recognizing those who pass AFTER the individual sat for the exam) had a positive impact on participation and passing rates. Certification leads to better patient care and satisfaction, which are major influences for the nursing profession. By becoming certified, these nurses showed that they have the knowledge, skills, and drive to deliver high quality care to our patients.