Celebrating Certified Nurses Day!
Midland Health proudly recognizes our many board-certified nurses on Certified Nurses Day, March 19th, 2024. A ceremony will be held for all certified nurses on March 19th in the Hospital Lobby to mark the occasion and pin our newly certified nurses.
Certified Nurses Day is an annual celebration held on March 19th that recognizes and honors the achievements and contributions of nationally board-certified nurses. The recognition day was established by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of nurses who have obtained certification in their respective specialties. Certified Nurses Day honors nurses worldwide who contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty.
Professional board certification is a voluntary designation earned by nurses who demonstrate an advanced level of competency, skill, and knowledge in their specialty field. Certification demonstrates a nurse's commitment to their profession and their ongoing professional development, signifying that they have met the knowledge and practice standards required by a governing body. As of today, there are almost 200 specialty certification options for nurses across a range of specialties.
Having certified nurses within organizations has been shown to improve the quality of patient care in lower infection rates, surgical complications, pressure ulcers, falls, and mortality. Certification demonstrates value to healthcare stakeholders by decreasing nursing turnover and vacancy rates, increased job satisfaction, and increased patient satisfaction scores. Nurses report a feeling of personal accomplishment and personal satisfaction with achieving their certification, rating higher in self-confidence, competence, and empowerment.
Having obtained several certifications over my career, I can attest that board certification is not an easy task. It takes time to study and schedule the tests, with many certifications requiring years of professional practice before becoming eligible. There are costs associated with exam fees, travel, certification preparation, and professional membership, in addition to maintaining your license. Lastly, there is the anxiety and fear of failure that comes with taking a board exam. These exams are designed to be challenging and exceed the fundamental exam used to obtain a registered nursing license.
Midland Health is dedicated to fostering certification and professional development. Our goal continues to be to remove the barriers to certification and advanced education. Midland Health sponsors review classes and has continues to invest in the Nurse Builders program, offering online exam preparation courses for 33 different exams. Midland Health also provides financial incentives to certified nurses through our Professional Development Ladder and reimbursement upon taking the exam, not just for successful completion. Along with covering the cost of the exam, we help reduce the fear of failure by offering some exams free of charge to employees with retake opportunities, such as the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board FailSafe Certification Program.
As the Chief Nursing Officer, I am proud to work alongside such a talented and committed group of certified nurses. Their dedication to lifelong learning, professional development, and evidence-based practice sets the standard for excellence in nursing. Their expertise and leadership are critical to our ability to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to our patients and their families.