Midland Health proudly recognizes all 258 board certified nurses on Certified Nurses Day – March 19th. .
Certified Nurses Day is an annual celebration held on March 19 that recognizes and honors the achievements and contributions of national board certified nurses. The recognition day was established by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to recognize the hard work and dedication of nurses who have achieved certification in their respective specialties. Certified Nurses Day honors nurses around the world who contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty.
Professional board certification is a voluntary designation earned by registered nurses who demonstrate an advanced level of competency, skill, and knowledge in their field of specialty. Certification demonstrates a nurse’s commitment to their profession and their continuing professional development, signifying that they have met the standards of knowledge and practice required by a government agency. The first specialty certification in nursing was established in the United States in 1945. Currently, there are nearly 200 specialty certification options for registered nurses.
Nursing certification is important for many reasons. Having certified nurses within organizations has been shown to improve the quality of patient care. The increase in the number of certified nurses also results in lower rates of infection, surgical complications, pressure ulcers, falls and mortality. Certification demonstrates value to healthcare stakeholders by decreasing nurse turnover and vacancy rates, increasing job satisfaction, and increasing patient satisfaction scores. Nurses report a sense of personal accomplishment and personal satisfaction with achieving their certification, ranking higher in self-confidence, competence, and empowerment.
Getting certified is not an easy task. It takes time to study and schedule the tests, with many certifications requiring years of professional practice before qualifying. There are costs associated with exam fees, travel, preparation for certification and professional membership, and maintaining your license. Finally, there is the anxiety and fear of failure that accompany the board exam. These exams are designed to be challenging and exceed the foundational exam used to obtain a registered nursing license.
Midland Health is dedicated to promoting certification and professional development. Our goal remains to remove barriers to certification and further education. Midland Health sponsors review classes and recently purchased the Nurse Builders program, offering online exam prep courses for 27 different exams. Our certified nurses also provide peer-to-peer training and mentoring for those working toward certification. Midland Health also offers financial incentives for certified nurses through our professional development ladder and reimbursement after taking the exam, not just for successful completion. In addition to covering the cost of the exam, we help reduce fears of failing by offering some exams free to employees with retake opportunities, such as the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board’s FailSafe Certification Program.
On this Certified Nurses Day, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of our Certified Nurses for the incredible work they do every day. Your dedication to excellence is an inspiration to all of us, and your contributions to our organization and to the nursing profession are immeasurable.
As Director of Nursing, 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. Your expertise and leadership are critical to our ability to provide safe, effective, and compassionate care to our patients and their families.
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doctor Kit Bredimus is the Director of Nursing/Vice President of Nursing at Midland Health