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CS61
Engage And Transform: Supporting Critical Care Certification
By: D. Lovasik, & K. Potersnak; UPMC Presbyterian; Pittsburgh, PA
For further information, please contact: lovasikdj@upmc.edu
Purpose: At UPMC Presbyterian, the flagship hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, we support nurses who are seeking their national critical care nursing certification and believe certified nurses demonstrate pride in their work and validate their own competency in critical care.
Description: UPMC has a sustained and sincere commitment to nurses who choose to certify in their specialty. Certification has been incorporated into our Clinical Advancement Program (CAP) as a prerequisite for advancement to the Senior Professional Staff Nurse position. In addition to creating a “culture of certification”, we support the nursing staff through education and preparation as well as financial incentives. This includes providing free certification classes, assistance with study groups, facilitation of scheduling for test preparation, and re-imbursement for successful completion of certification. We recognize newly-certified nurses through a “congratulation” letter, the gift of a certification pin, unit-based celebrations and proudly announce their accomplishment in our nursing newsletter. Our certified nurses are celebrated through unit-based displays including plaques, galleries of certification awards and “Walls of Fame” that include photos of the certified nurses. Nurses’ Week is a unique time to celebrate nursing and the names of all of our certified nurses are prominently displayed. In addition, we provide an abundance of free continuing education materials and programs to assist with certification requirements.
Evaluation/Outcomes: In 1999, there were 40 CCRNs in our hospital. Through our efforts, we have increased our CCRNs to 112 and added 4 PCCNs over a 6-year period. These nurses take great pride in their accomplishments and mentor/foster others to attain their certification. Certification fosters a culture of professionalism and dedication, and we are proud to work with these nurses on a daily basis.
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