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CCI NEWS

CNOR RECERTIFICATION

Number Percentage

Contact Hours 3,870 91%

Exam 127 3%

Points 251 6%

Portfolio 2 < 1%

Total Recertifications 4250

CERTIFICATION RESULTS

Test Takers Pass Pass Rate

CNOR 1,982 1,449 73%

CRNFA 37 29 78%

RECERTIFICATION RESULTS

Total Eligible Recertified Rate

CNOR 6,439 4,250 66%

CRNFA 296 220 74%

CNOR REACTIVATION

Reactivation by Portfolio 10

BY THE NUMBERSJanuary 1st to July 20, 2013

The CCI Family Has Grown by One - New Credentialing Program for Perioperative CNSsCompetency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) recently announced the Clinical Nurse Specialist - Certified Perioperative (CNS-CP) credential. This specialty certification will validate the achievements of the master’s-prepared CNS in the perioperative setting. CCI hopes that this credentialing program will position perioperative CNSs for future...

CCI Certifies Nurses, but who certifies CCI?Our credentialing programs are accredited by two industry leaders - National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC). With accredited programs, CCI demonstrates compliance with the highest standards of practice in the professional certification and nursing communities.

So, you are a board certified nurse. What does that mean to you? When you introduce yourself to a frightened patient prior to surgery, do you say, “Good Morning, Mrs. Smith. My name is Joyce Cox, and I am a Board Certified Perioperative Registered Nurse. I will be part

of the team caring for you during your surgery.”...

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(continued...) I doubt that many of us introduce ourselves in that manner, but I believe we should. Why don’t we boast the fact that we are proud to be certified and have worked hard to obtain it? If I was the patient and heard that my nurse was “certified”, I would think

of adjectives such as expert, knowledgeable, skilled, competent, confident, credible, excellence, professional and lifelong learner. My mind would immediately be put at ease knowing I would be in the hands of a certified perioperative registered nurse.

Speaking of the value of certification, I have great news to share. Your CCI Board of Directors has listened to you. We are offering a CNS Perioperative Exam beginning in 2014. This is the result of much discussion and preparation over the past several years. The credential earned will be CNS-CP, or Clinical Nurse Specialist-Certified Perioperative, and will be renewable every five years. Stay tuned for more information as we launch this new exam.

Recently, our Board of Directors had the privilege of working with Nancy Axelrod, a noted non-profit governance expert. She shared with us seven measures of success to strengthen board dialogue and decision making. What I found most interesting is that CCI already uses most of these measures in our strategic decision-making. We understand the importance of a customer service culture, align our products and services with our mission, utilize data to drive strategy, share a unified purpose, have a CEO who facilitates visionary thinking, maintain a clear understanding of our core purpose, respond quickly when changes are needed and form alliances that relate to CCI’s mission and purpose. Nancy was impressed with how CCI’s staff and Board of Directors worked together at such a high level.

CCI has a strong leadership pipeline. Did you know that over 500 willingness-to-serve forms were received from CNORs and CRNFAs this year to assist CCI in pursuing our mission of lifelong learning? Your volunteerism speaks volumes of the caliber of certified perioperative registered nurses we are proud to represent. In spite of current and future health care challenges, CCI’s leadership team has crafted a solid strategic direction that will only enhance the value of the CNOR, CRNFA and CNS-CP credentials.

It is with great honor and pride that I serve as your Board President this year. Thank you and congratulations on your commitment to certification.

Joyce CoxMBA, MSN, CNP, OCN, CNOR, CRNFA

Phone 303.369.9566 or 888.257.2667 | Fax 303.695.84642170 South Parker Road, Suite 295 | Denver, CO 80231

www.cc-institute.org

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CNS-CP Article Continued from Page 1developments in advanced practice. The CNS-CP exam will not confer initial licensure as an APRN. This specialty certification is in addition to, not in place of, primary population-focused certification.

Stephen Patten, MSN, RN, CNS, CNOR, a past president of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and a long-standing advocate for perioperative advanced practice nursing, shares his thoughts on CNS specialty certification:

“I started working in the OR in 1980 and have changed into scrubs most days since. While I have had a variety of positions: staff nurse, director of a hospital-based tissue bank, perioperative CNS, nursing faculty, and now as Director of Nursing for an operative care division, I have always introduced myself as an OR nurse. The perioperative CNS certification is just one more way I can let people know that I am committed to perioperative nursing. I feel fortunate that I have been involved from the inception of this process.”

The inaugural exam launches March 17 - April 16, 2014 at testing centers nationwide. In addition, CCI will host an exclusive testing opportunity at the 61st Annual AORN Surgical Conference and Expo in Chicago, IL on Monday, March 31, 2014. CCI is thrilled to bring together the perioperative CNS community for this landmark initiative. Mark your calendars.

Individuals interested in taking the exam are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements and fill out the interest form. To facilitate preparation, CCI has provided the CNS-CP Task and Knowledge Statements along with a Study Bibliography.

To encourage the participation of all CNSs, CCI is offering a greatly discounted price of $125 for the

inaugural CNS-CP exam.



Going Back to School? Academic Credits Can Be Used to Recertify Your CredentialCCI realizes many of you are back in school continuing your education. Part of our mission as an organization is to support lifelong learning, and we reward your efforts by providing another way for your education to work for you. With the Points Recertification Method, you may use academic credits to recertify your credential. Find out more on our website or call 888-257-2667.

H

EY RECERTS! Check this out!

MARCHMARCH

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THEPINNACLEOF YOURCAREER

If you are due to recertify in 2013 and

have not yet applied and paid, you must do so

by December 31, 2013 in order to keep your

credential active.

VISIT www.cc-institute.org

and log in to your account to recertify today. Every nurse

certified with CCI has an account. If you have trouble logging in, call

888-257-2667.

If you are certified, you already have an online account with CCI. To access your account and maintain your contact hours in your profile, simply:

1. Login to your account by visiting www.cc-institute.org and clicking the orange “login” button in the upper right side of the screen. If you don’t know your login name and password, call 888-257-2667 for assistance.

2. Update your profile, and don’t forget to enter your AORN ID if you are a member. 3. From the main menu, click “Add/Review” contact hours.4. AORN members will be able to import their AORN hours inside this area.

Please note: If you are not due to recertify this year, you will not be able to see the link to recertify online. The link only appears during the year your credential is due. For example, those due in 2014 will see the link starting January 1, 2014.

Save the Date: Surgical Services Management Certificate Program Returns to 2014 Surgical Conference & Expo

Make Recertification Easier by Maintaining Your Contact Hours in Your CCI Account

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Recertify in 2013?



If you missed your chance to attend the sold out Surgical Services Management Programs at 2013 Congress and at CCI and AORN Headquarters last June, put in your request now to attend the 2014 program at the AORN Surgical Conference & Expo in Chicago, IL, on March 28 and 29. The well-received, day and a half workshop features industry experts presenting six sessions full of invaluable content on how to effectively manage and lead a surgical services department. Participants will earn 25 contact hours upon successful completion.

100% of the course participants at Congress 2013 said they would recommend this program to a colleague.

Don’t miss out on this important opportunity for growth and development as a nurse leader. Check out the

CCI website for more details.

100%

Do you ever feel like you are practicing in a vacuum? Scan the QR code or visit

www.facebook.com/CNORnurses to connect to other CNOR nurses across the country on the CNOR Nurses Facebook page. There you can

join with other perioperative nurses who share the same day-to-day stresses and successes as you.



2014 TrueNorth Award Applications Now Open

CCI established the TrueNorth Award as a means to recognize those facilities whose “true north” guides their nursing staff to be lifelong learners, models of competent practice, and advocates for perioperative nursing excellence.

The Award nationally recognizes an organization that advocates for and promotes perioperative nursing certification. CCI believes that specialty nursing certification ultimately leads to quality patient care, as registered nurses are required to validate their specialized knowledge and skills through the rigorous CNOR certification exam process.

The Award, which will be presented onsite at the winner’s facility, includes a celebratory reception, commemorative plaque, and five CNOR recertification vouchers.

The application deadline is December 1, 2013. The winner will be announced in January 2014. For further information and an application, please visit www.cc-institute.org/CNOR/TrueNorth-Award.

Award for CNOR Certification ExcellenceTrueNorth

“The TrueNorth Award renewed our perioperative nurses’ dedication to competency as they enthusiastically strive to promote patient safety along with improved patient outcomes through CNOR certification.” - Mary Mahabee-Betts, MSN, RN, CNOR | Abington Memorial Hospital

Connect with other certified nurses across the country



As a certified leader in your workforce, your colleagues look to you for support and guidance. Here is how you can help them become certified and do the right thing for their patients.

• Share with them why you became certified, and why you feel it is important.

• Mentor them while they are studying. If they have a question or concern, work with them to find the correct answer.

• Celebrate with them and the rest of the team when they pass the exam.

• Encourage them to help another eligible nurse become certified. Remember, there is strength in numbers!

GROW YOUR CULTURE OF SAFETY: PASS IT ON.

And we’ll celebrate, too! The following facilities have been awarded CNOR Strong status as they have:

1. At least 50% of their eligible OR nursing staff is CNOR certified.

2. Provided a means to reward and recognize nurses who become CNOR certified and recertified.

Alabama• Children’s of Alabama

Arizona• Paradise Valley Hospital

California• Dameron Hospital Association• David Grant Medical Center• John Muir Health• John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus

• Mission Hospital• Mission Hospital Laguna Beach• Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton• Northern Inyo Hospital• Providence Tarzana Medical Center• St.Jude Medical Center Plaza Surgery Center

• St.Joseph Hospital• St.Jude Medical Center• UCSD Medical Center• University of California San Diego Medical Center

Colorado• Medical Center of the Rockies

Connecticut• Rockville General Hospital• Stamford Hospital

Delaware• Bayhealth Medical Center-Kent Campus

• Roxana Cannon Arsht Surgicenter (Christiana Care Health System)

Florida• Baypines VAMC• HealthPark Medical Center• Mease Countryside Hospital• Medical Center of Trinity• Parkside Surgery Center• Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Georgia• Emory Johns Creek• Floyd Outpatient Surgery Center• St.Joseph/Candler Hospital

Iowa• Van Diest Medical Center

Idaho• St.Luke’s Boise Medical Center

Illinois• Advocate Trinity Hospital• Memorial Hospital• Rush-Copley Hospital• Skokie Hospital

Indiana• St.Joseph Regional Medical Center Plymouth Campus

• St.Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital Orthopedic Surgery Center

Kansas• Community Memorial Healthcare

Massachusetts• Baystate Orthopedic Surgery Center• Berkshire Medical Center• Heywood Hospital

Maine• Down East Community Hospital• MidCoast Hospital• VA Maine Healthcare

Michigan• Allegan General Hospital• Crittenton Hospital Medical Center

Minnesota • Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare

Montana• Bozeman Deaconess Hospital• Kalispell Regional Medical Center

North Carolina• Angel Medical Center• Charles George VAMC• Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center• Watauga Medical Center

New Hampshire• St.Joseph Hospital

New Jersey• East Orange General Hospital• Hackensack UMC• Jersey Shore University Medical Center Amdur Ambulatory Surgery Center

• Monmouth Medical Center• Morristown Medical Center• St.Peter’s University Hospital• Somerset Medical Center• South Jersey Healthcare - Elmer• South Jersey Healthcare - RMC• University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro

• VA New Jersey Healthcare System

Nevada• Sahara Surgery Center• Sierra Surgery Hospital

New York• Crouse Hospital• Highland Hospital• Huntington Hospital• University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital

Ohio• Shriner’s Hospital for Children Cincinnati

• Southern Ohio Medical Center• The Cleveland Clinic Foundation• Wright Patterson Medical Center

Oregon• OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

• South Coast Surgery Center

Pennsylvania• Cancer Treatment Centers of America Eastern Region

• Holy Spirit Hospital• Paoli Hospital

Rhode Island• Providence VAMC

South Carolina• Bon Secours St.Francis Hospital• Moncrief Army Community Hospital

Tennessee • Haywood Park Community Hospital• St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Texas• Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas• Ben Taub General Hospital• Golden Plains Community Hospital• Memorial Hermann The Woodlands• Methodist Mansfield Medical Center• Methodist Richardson Medical Center• Methodist West Houston Hospital• Surgical Services Houston Northwest Medical Center

• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville

• University Health System• UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Vermont• North Country Hospital

Washington• Evergreen Health• Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center• Multicare Health System, Allenmore Hospital

• Providence St.Peter Hospital• Trask Surgery Center• VAMC Spokane• Wenatchee Valley Hospital

Meet Your CCI 2013 Board of Director Candidates

An important certificant role is to elect the professionals who will serve on the CCI Board of Directors. The leaders you elect will serve a three-year term, and have the very important task of steering the overall course of the organization. Starting October 1, 2013, certificants

can vote on the CCI website for one of the three nurse candidates to fill upcoming Board positions. In addition, you can approve the public member nomination.

What does continued competency mean to you? Continued competency in perioperative nurses is essential to improved patient outcomes at the local, state, and national level but also around the globe. Obtaining CNOR certification heightens the awareness of standards of practice and patient safety, which is an absolute in perioperative nursing. We (perioperative nurses) are only as good as our weakest link, so we need to nurture and strengthen the nurses that require the assistance and the result will ultimately help our patients have improved outcomes and improve patient safety.

Why do you wish to serve as the public member on the Board of Directors? CCI is a thriving organization with a great leadership team and a compelling vision. I am excited about having an opportunity to contribute my skills, expertise, and perspective to support CCI’s continued success and progress toward the vision. Serving on CCI’s board also enables my continued growth as an individual and a business professional. I can be of service to the healthcare community and also gain experiences in my immediate field (learning, non-profit, certification).

Why did you originally seek certification and why do you maintain it?I originally sought certification because I strive to be a life-long learner. I had decided that there was no way to progress professionally as a surgical nurse without certification. Since I worked as a first assistant, I decided that CRNFA was the ultimate goal. I maintain my certifications because they represent excellence in operating room nursing and first assisting. Attaining my CNOR/CRNFA demonstrates to my patients, managers, and surgeons that I have attained the gold standard in perioperative nursing certification.

Visit the CCI website to read more statements from these candidates and cast your vote.

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Why did you originally seek certification and why do you maintain it?For 25 years, I worked in long term care and rehabilitation and became certified in that area of nursing. At the age of 45, I decided to try my hand at perioperative nursing. I originally sought to become certified in perioperative nursing because that seemed to be the best way to learn as much as possible about the field since it was one in which I had no expertise. I have maintained certification as CNOR and later CRNFA because for me it demonstrates a commitment to excellence to my patients, my colleagues and my facility.



Current 2013-2014 CCI Board of Directors

OfficersPresident: Joyce Cox, MBA, MSN, CNP, CNOR, CRNFA, OCNFairfield Medical Center, Lancaster, OH

Public Member & Secretary/Treasurer: Michael Villaire, MSLMInstitute for Healthcare Advancement, La Habra, CA

Debra Dunn, MBA, MSN, RN, CNOREast Orange General Hospital, East Orange, NJ

Pamela D. Gorgone, MS, RN, CNOR, CPNBoston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Marie Paulson, MS, BSN, RN, CNORKaiser Permanente, Walnut, CA

Frances Skupski, MBA, BSN, CNORRandolph Hospital, Asheboro, NC

Julia (Julie) Thompson, PhD, RN, CNS, CIP, CNORHarris Health System, Houston, TX

Ted Walker, MSN, RN, A-CNS, BC, CNOR, CPPSAir Force Medical Operations Agency, San Antonio, TX

Karen White-Edwards, MBA, BSN, RN, CNORMcLaren Macomb Hospital, Mount Clemens, MI

Directors

Earn a Certificate of Mastery and 11.3 Contact Hours with the Surgical Services Educator Certificate ProgramAre you interested in being an educator who is known for improving the knowledge and skills of the workforce at your facility? CCI has an opportunity for you to take the next step in your career by earning your Certificate of Mastery as a Surgical Services Educator.

This program is unique in that it is based on a national job analysis and is designed to train the up-and-coming educator to be effective in the role. Visit CCI’s Bookstore at www.cc-institute.org for more information about this well-received program.

While certification is a mechanism for acknowledging and promoting professional competence, it also emphasizes a commitment to consumer protection. Recognizing that specialty certification serves the general public in addition to the nursing profession and the specialty, CCI maintains a commitment to having at least one public member on its Board of Directors. This public member, who is neither a nurse, nor currently works in health care, makes sure the patient’s voice is heard at the board table. Public input broadens the perspective of the certifying organization and helps focus attention on consumer concerns as they relate to quality, cost effectiveness and access to care. The public member assures genuine public input into certification policies and decisions.

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JOB ANALYSIS



2013 Selected Committee Members

Shalon Allen Beaumont, TXHeather Burrell Olean, NYJanelle Dunn Fort Harrison, MTMarites Hill Birmingham, ALDarlene Murdock Houston, TXElizabeth Pincus New York, NYApril Sappe Dayton, OH

Melissa Butler Syracuse, NYJacki Delo Fredericksburg, VAKaren Knapp Marshall, MIRebecca Lisi Fort Gordon, GAAntoinette Manning Baltimore, MDJulie Mills Shawnee, KSKary O'Connor Casa Grande, AZBeverly Primeau Concord, NHMelissa Rozakis Allen, TXJoanna Smith Towson, MDJoanne Wentzell Voorhees, NJ

Maria Arcilla Houston, TXKimberly Bell Dallas, TXFaye Bergeron Bakersfield, CARobbin Bixler Tucson, AZJames (Jay) Bower Morgantown, WVGregory Clark North Las Vegas, NVHeather Evers Glenview, ILAntonio Fisher Bethesda, MDDennis Glover Jacksonville, FLMary Hillanbrand Bethesda, MDKaren Justin-Tanner Pensacola, FLRoyLynn Keener Tualatin, ORElizabeth Lucas Bronxville, NYKristine Mastrodonato Rochester, NYRegina Montero Scottsdale, AZKatherine Ornazian Pontiac, MIMia Pollis Augusta, MERina Redrup Evertt, WAIvy So San Francisco, CALo Ann Vande Leest Traverse City, MI

Pamela Calimer Pomona, NJJune Chester Macon, GADonna Howerton Reno, NVJean Franks Houston, TXCarrie Swartzbaugh Denton, TXRobert Henderson Lexington, KYRochelle Howard Reno, NVCharles Ludwig Nashville, TNDebra Mevert Carbondale, ILTeresa Velez Daytona Beach, FL

George Allen Brooklyn, NYElizabeth Austin Palo Alto, CAJoseph Bauri Houston, TXKelly Berg Omaha, NEBrenda Edwin Houston, TXDonna Freed Pottstown, PAErin Hutchison Vancouver, WAPatricia Moody Jasper, GASuzanne Motley Concord, NCKathy Neuman Lake in the Hills, IL

CNOR Job AnalysisCNOR Item Writer

CRNFA Item/Test Form Review

CNOR Item/Test Form Review

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Committee Assignments as of 9/9/13

Patricia Vassell, MBA, RN, CCRN, CNOR, rehabilitated the workforce composition at Indiana University Hospital (IUH). When she was hired,

the facility faced a shortage of perioperative nurses and, moreover, had to fill the positions with traveling nurses, which proved costly in many ways. During the time she

worked as the Administrative Director of Perioperative Services at IUH, she was able to engineer a complete turn-around by working with local schools of nursing and hiring student nurses to work as unlicensed assistive personnel in the OR, thus backfilling nurses for positions in the OR upon graduation. Here is how she accomplished the improvements.

1. You have effectively created a pipeline to sustain your OR workforce needs by hiring students from local colleges. Can you explain how the process works? Positions are posted by HR, and nursing students who have completed one semester of nursing clinical are eligible to apply. The positions do not apply to IU Nursing school students only; they are open to any nursing student at a local college.

2. Can you give us some of the background on how you came to develop this program? About 5 years ago the hospital had an extensive shortage of nurses in the OR. Retention of new grads was unsuccessful, so the Patient Care Internship (PCI) Program was put in place to provide student nurses exposure to the OR and familiarize them with the OR environment, prior to hiring them into an RN position.

3. What challenges did you face as you began to sell this plan to hospital leadership and how did you justify the implementation? The retention of new nurses who were hired into the OR was very low. Implementing a program such as this was seen as a cost saving measure with great promise, and so it was very well received by the hospital leadership and did not need much selling.

4. How did you recruit nurses to the program? Most of our recruitment occurred through word of mouth from students who were hired into the program. They in turn recruited their classmates and friends to apply.

5. What orientation did you provide to the student nurses? The students were hired approximately 1-2 years prior to graduation. They were oriented as unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in the OR and allowed to perform tasks that were appropriate for UAP. Their orientation was competency based and included didactic as well as simulated training. The didactic consists of a defined curriculum and AORN resources and videos. Close to completion of the nursing program the UAPs complete the Periop 101 coursework.

6. How many nurses have completed the PCI Program and what is your retention rate of the students? Approximately 40 nurses have completed the PCI program. The retention rate for the new nurses in the OR is very high, and turnover within the 1st year of hire for the new nurse is less than 1%.

7. How do you measure success for the PCI program? The success of the program is measured by demonstrated competencies of the nurses in the OR as they function independently as well as staff retention beyond the first three years.

8. What has been the greatest positive outcome since the onset of your program? The greatest outcome has been the provision of safe care and the ability of the department to have adequate staffing without the use of outside labor. Another benefit is being able to provide consistency in staffing among the surgical services.

9. What lessons learned can other perioperative nurse leaders take from your work in bringing nurses into the operating room? New nurses can enter into the operating room and be successful when there is understanding about their needs and a plan is devised as to how to meet their learning needs.

Recruiting Perioperative Nurses IUH Internship Program Meets Staffing Challenges Head On



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Next LeveL

AORN PeRiOPeRAtive CNS-CP CeRtifiCAtiON exAm PreP Course for eligible PeRiOPeRAtive RNs

Go for your CNS-CP CredeNtial

Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements as defined by the Competency and Credentialing Institute; Education, Licensure, CNor certification status, and Experience. The AORN Perioperative CNS Certification Exam Preparation Course is strictly a certificate course to be used as a review for the CNS-CP exam.

Visit aorN.org/CNS-CPCourse

AorN HEAdquArtErsJaNuary 17-18, 2014 dENvEr, Co

GEt tHErE wItH

aorN

CoursE INCLudEs: 2-day eduCatioNal CoaChiNG ANd iNteraCtiVe webiNarS

- 2013 Prep for Cert Survey

CCI Provides Useful Study Tools to Streamline Nurse’s Test Preparation

“CCI’s test preparation products are highly regarded among first-time test takers.”NOW AVAILABLE IN THE CCI BOOKSTORE www.cc-institute.org

This in turn has lead to additional clinical leadership and scholarship roles taken on by the RNFAs at this small community hospital.

By Nancy Hall, Director of Surgical Services Phoenixville Hospital, Phoenixville, PAThe RNFA position in the operating room suite of Phoenixville Hospital located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. The acceptance of the expanded nursing function by surgeons is due to the increased skill and responsibility assumed by RNFAs.

Historically, surgeons at the 150 bed non-teaching hospital used their partners as first assistants, if they had one, and billed for the services. Not only was this practice lucrative for the surgeons, but it also ensured competent assistants. If the surgeon was a sole practitioner, they still often used a fellow sole practitioner, even if they were from a different specialty.

In the 1980’s, RNFAs started appearing in operating rooms more frequently. But, they were not always greeted with open arms by the doctors who were accustomed to using their partners as assistants, as this would mean decreased income and questionable competency. However, slowly lone practitioners began utilizing the RNFA services offered by the hospital, as they were at no expense to them and provided trained professionals.

The physicians honed the skills of the RNFAs in different techniques of surgery including suturing, tissue manipulation/dissection, and hemostasis, to name a few. What started out in Phoenixville Hospital in 1993 as a program with three RNFAs has evolved 20 years later into 13 RNFAs and an RNFA/CRNP. Surgeons at the facility now expect a trained and experienced RNFA to be available

for them for any case from an appendectomy to an aortic aneurysm, and they are.

Phoenixville’s RNFAs also function as the specialty coordinators for general, OB/GYN, urology, ENT/plastics, vascular, orthopedics, neuro, robotic, and open heart surgeries. They assure the competency of each staff member on their team, update preference cards, maintain inventory of specialty supplies, function as the resource person in that area, coordinate case turnover, and round on their

patients. Each of the RNFAs can scrub and circulate in every area. These increased responsibilities reflect the proficiency and expertise in the

nursing domains of clinical knowledge as well as leadership skills that RNFAs bring to Phoenixville.

The RNFA program at Phoenixville allows for flexible, reliable staffing at a huge cost savings to the hospital. RNFAs are built-in leaders who offer a consistency to the standard of care that a rotating intern or resident never could. For this community hospital’s operating room, the role of the RNFA is invaluable and continuously meets the expanding needs of the OR, surgeons, patients, and the hospital.

How One Community Hospital Grew Its RNFA Program

Dr. Sally Strzelecki, the Chief Nursing Officer at Phoenixville Hospital states that “both the hospital and surgical staff value this role so we encourage our surgical RN staff to continue to set this as a goal for their own practice. If a staff nurse is interested, the hospital, through its tuition reimbursement program, enables staff to participate in the certification programs and our medical staff continues to be available as mentors during their clinical rotations. This enables us to continue to have a pool of RNFAs available.”



GROWINGTRENDContinued Competency Integrates with State Board of Nursing Licensure Requirements Virginia is the most recent state with Georgia up next.

CCI’s certification programs require nurses to continuously assess and address competency levels through continuing education to maintain the credentials. This idea of continued competency is becoming increasingly important to state boards of nursing.

Currently eleven (11) states allow nurses to renew their RN license by showing verification that they hold the CNOR or CRNFA credential. More importantly, the trend is growing. Arkansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming all accept specialty nursing certification as a continuing competency requirement for renewal of an active nursing license. CCI’s rigorous exam development process assures that perioperative nurses are tested on the knowledge required to practice in their specialty. CCI is committed to promoting lifelong learning and validating knowledge and skills as required elements in the provision of safe patient care.

Effective August 1, 2013, Virginia became the newest state to require nurses seeking to renew an active nursing license to provide evidence of continued competency. At the start of the proposal process, the AORN Government Affairs department submitted comments to the Virginia Board of Nursing, asking for the CNOR and CRNFA credentials to be included in the definition of an acceptable “national certifying organization” and this request was granted.

Georgia is the next state slated to approve a similar licensure renewal requirement in 2016. AORN Government Affairs will monitor the process and plans to send a letter to ensure perioperative nurses with the CNOR and CRNFA certifications are represented in the final regulations.

If you would like to work with your state board of nursing to have certification meet licensure renewal requirements, email us at [email protected] and we will send you a letter you may use to support your efforts.



CCI Offers Contact HoursTopics available through the CCI Bookstore Include:• CNOR Exam Preparation• First Assisting• Management• Staff Development• Orientation• Surgery• Competency Assessment

Exam Prep TipsNeed test taking tips for the CNOR exam? Look no further.• After a case, query your colleagues.

Speak with them about the steps taken to care for the patient. What would you have done differently if there was an unexpected turn of events? What was done successfully?

• Try to gain exposure to cases you typically are not assigned. Having a well-rounded practice is helpful.

• Don’t memorize information. Instead, try to think critically about the situations presented in test questions.

• Utilize the free resources located on the CCI website, such as the Study Plan, free webinars, and learning needs assessment.

CNORs & CRNFAs On Film!

Certified Nurses Are EverywhereCCI is supporting a public awareness campaign called Certified Nurses Are Everywhere, which will convey the importance of nursing certification to the public. A photo shoot for the campaign took place in August, and some of our Chicago area CNOR/CRNFA nurses were able to take part in the filming. CCI is proud to be part of an effort to educate the public on how imperative your roles are for your patients to receive quality care. Look for the PSA announcements on cable and local affiliate channels as well as transit billboard ads in your area starting early October.

A Gift from CCI Maintaining your credential requires you to continue to grow as a lifelong learner through ongoing education. This ongoing commitment to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills and judgment with the attitudes, values and beliefs enables you to practice safely, effectively and ethically in your role as a perioperative nurse.

Scan this QR code with your smartphone’s reader to receive your 1.8 free contact hour offering from CCI. Please accept this as a small gesture of our thanks for your support of continuing education and certification. Upon successful completion, the contact hour will be automatically entered into your account if you are a CNOR or CRNFA.

2170 South Parker Road, Suite 295Denver, CO 80231

CERTIFICATION

Obtaining and maintaining your CNOR or CRNFA credential says something about you.

SPEAKSVOLUMESIt speaks to your patients, as specialty nursing certification is

THE standardby which the public recognizes quality nursing care.

It says to your colleagues that you have

mastered the knowledge and skillsin your specialty, thus making you a leader in the OR suite.

It tells your employer that you are committed to your profession and continued competency. Certification says that you are an ever-growing, continuously competent perioperative nurse that practices at the highest level.

THE BOTTOM LINE

here - competency & credentialing institute

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