Nurses at Longmont United Hospital were surprised Friday morning with recognition from the hospital acknowledging the work, time and effort that goes into obtaining and maintaining their certifications.
The hat tip to nurses was in honor of Certified Nurses Day, which celebrates nurses who earn and maintain the highest credentials in their specialty on what was the birthday of nursing certification pioneer Margretta "Gretta" Madden, according to the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Every year, LUH marks the day with recognition of its 78 certified nurses for their specialized knowledge, skills, and experience that help promote optimal outcomes for patients in their care, said Mary Hillard, vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer at LUH.
“Certification recognizes clinical knowledge, experience and clinical judgment within a nursing specialty,” she said. “Certification shows that nursing is a profession that cares about safety, quality, and excellence of health care delivery.”
Friday morning, all senior nursing leaders at LUH went to the hospital to congratulate night and day shift staff and provided all of the certified nurses in the building with signed certificates and succulents, according to Jason Holland, clinical nurse manager at LUH.
“This is the first time we’ve done (succulents). It is something that continues to grow and be nurtured, the same as it happens with the certification with continued education,” he said, adding the hospital used to give out roses on the day.
Obtaining a nursing license in Colorado does not require continuing education so certifications can help ensure nurses stay up to date, Holland said.
“Licensure is so broad it doesn't give you any differentiation for a very specific practice,” he said, adding nursing specialties can vary widely and knowledge is not always transferable across areas such as critical care, orthopedics, oncology, infusion and others. “Certification serves as a pathway to continued education to stay current in the area of practice.”
LUH and Centura Health encourage nurses to pursue certification through various incentives, which include a pay differential of $1.25 per hour as long as certification remains valid, and support to help nurses get certified, Holland said.
The LUH Foundation funds programs that pay for certification examinations, which can range from $350 to $450, as well as a focused study program that sponsors 40 to 80 hours of study for nurses.
“(We) support outstanding care at Longmont United Hospital,” said Cynthia Noble, director of the LUH Foundation. “Our support not only includes scholarship, educational and capital support but also celebrating the amazing team of caregivers we have at Longmont United Hospital. Recognizing achievement in all fields is vital to the continued excellence the hospital provides to the community — we are always proud to support that.”
A fair amount of research in the critical care setting shows that nurses who obtain a bachelor’s level of education and also are certified have a positive impact on patient safety and outcomes, according to Holland.
A 2019 study found that as specialty certification increased in a Florida hospital, shunt surgical site infections and operating room acquired pressure injuries significantly decreased, while nurse engagement and work environment outcomes increased.
Patients and families also have shown a preference and appreciation for being cared for by certified nurses with about 3 in 4 Americans preferring hospitals that employ nurses with specialty certification, according to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
Hillard said, “certified nurses are proud of their achievement and are role models for nurses and other health care professionals. … I would encourage anyone to seek certification in their field to demonstrate they have the competence, knowledge, and skills to excel in their profession.”
