Certified Nurses Day was held at Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) on March 19 to recognize more than half of the command's Navy Nurse Corps for their professional credibility, specialized achievement and dedication to patient-centered care and safety.

"Certified Nurses Day gives us the time to recognize all of our certified nurses. They have pushed their skill-set to the top of their chosen field. They have made a tremendous commitment to be the best they can every day," said Capt. Christopher Quarles, NHB commanding officer.

According to Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer McKinney of NHB's Main Operating Room (OR) and Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) nurse, there are 78 nurses at NHB out of 150 who have their certification in 35 specific nursing fields.

"Our percentage is 52 percent! The average is 20 percent on a hospital staff in the U.S. being certified. So we are more than double the national average," exclaimed McKinney, who helped organize the Certified Nurses Day event. "It makes me proud at how many Navy Nurse Corps members we have here who have achieved their certification. We have a number who also have more than one certification. We were going to honor Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Robinson of OB/GYN for having four certifications, but as usual, she's working."

According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Certified Nurses Day honors nurses worldwide who contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty. For example, a registered nurse license allows nurses to practice. Certification affirms advanced knowledge, skill, and practice to meet the challenges of modern nursing. Having more than half of NHB nurses with their certification is a standard that has impressed others.

"I'm very safe in saying that your percentages easily exceed the national figures as we know them. That is based on our knowledge of the industry," said Jim Stobinski, Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) director of credentialing and education. NHB was recognized by CCI just several days earlier with their 2015 Honorable Mention distinction for the True North Award, which recognizes those facilities whose True North principles guide their nursing staff to be lifelong learners, models of competent practice, and advocates for excellence.

One notable example of a certified nurse is Carolyn Kellogg, an adult registered nurse practitioner, who joined Naval Hospital Bremerton's Case Management team last year. She was recognized as holding the longest certification, along with maintaining and recertifying it since 1978. Last August Kellogg added another certification in case management.

"I had two years to accomplish it, but got ready to take the national certification test the first time. I was nervous because it wasn't the easiest and everyone else taking it seemed decades younger. But I had great mentoring from April Ritter, NHB Nurse case manager," Kellogg said.

Board certification of nurses plays an increasingly important role in the assurance of high standards of care for patients and their loved ones. Nursing, like health care in general has become increasingly complex. While a registered nurse license provides entry to general nursing practice, the knowledge-intensive requirements of modern nursing require extensive education, as well as a strong personal commitment to excellence by the nurse.

"Patient safety is always our number one goal. Achieving certification is a big deal because it means being the best, on the top of your game and set the standard to advocate for patient care and safety," said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Keith, of NHB Main OR and CNOR nurse.

The actual Certified Nurses Day date is also testimony to the enduring legacy of Margretta "Gretta" Madden Styles, Doctor of Education, Registered Nurse and Fellowship of American Academy Nursing (1903-2005). March 19 is Styles' birthday, and she became known as the 'Mother of Nurse Credentialing' and a visionary scholar who made an international impact on the nursing profession.

"Being a certified nurse signifies that someone has reached the pinnacle of their career and are now considered subject matter experts in improving patient outcomes and increasing patient safety,' added Lt. Travis Carr, also of NHB's Main OR and CNOR.

There are 28 certifications in specific nursing fields held by staff members at NHB, including Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult Registered Nurse Practitioner, Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse, Case Management, Critical Care Nurse, Electronic Fetal Monitoring, Emergency Room Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Gastroenterology Nurse, Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inpatient Obstetrics, Lactation Consultant, Lactation Educator, Legal Nurse Consultant, Maternal Newborn Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nurse, Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse, Nurse Midwife, Occupational Health Nurse Specialist, Operating Room Nurse, Pediatric Emergency Nurse, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Post Anesthesia Care Nursing, Professional in Healthcare Quality, Professional in Utilization Review, Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse.


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