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AACN News—May 2008—Certification

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Vol. 25, No. 5, MAY 2008

CCRN Wall of Honor at University Medical Center, Las Vegas

By Grace Samson, RN, BSN, CCRN, PCCN

In recognition of the value of certification, the Coronary Care Unit/Cardiovascular Unit of University Medical Center in Las Vegas has created a “Culture of Certification” that promotes and supports certified nursing practice. The CCU/CVCU certified nurses initiated the hospital’s first-ever CCRN Wall of Honor in November 2007 to proudly display the names of certified nurses in the unit. To date, we have 12 CCRN-certified nurses who acknowledge and support the value of certification.

Nursing certification has several benefits for patients, families, employers and nurses themselves. It validates the knowledge of nursing for critically ill patients, promotes excellence in the critical care nursing profession, and helps achieve and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base. In addition to providing the nurses with a sense of professional pride and achievement, certification reinforces the special knowledge and experience required for critical care nursing.

The CCRN Wall of Honor recognizes these nurses and motivates more nurses to obtain CCRN certification. Our nurses, along with the support of our director, Joy Guideng; manager, Jane Ringor; and Shared Governance Chair Nenita Rattanopas, are striving every day to maintain a culture of exceptional care in our unit. The recognition of the certified nurses on the Wall of Honor is symbolic of our commitment to excellence and public protection through nursing certification. This is also a major step toward supporting our hospital’s attempt to become a Magnet hospital in the future.

CCRN Practice Analysis Task Force

The CCRN Practice Analysis Task Force (PATF) has assembled to design the 2008 CCRN Study of Practice, which will be disseminated to a select sample of CCRNs and non-certified critical care nurses. The national study will provide the basis for refreshing our CCRN Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal test plans. If you are among those who receive the link to complete the study, please take a few moments to respond. Your feedback is very important to us.


Practice Analysis Task Force members are (from left) Deborah Lester, Victoria Winter, Jama Jaderquist, Ann McRae, Carol Amis, Cathie Manning, Larry Fabrey, Larissa Hutchins, Carol Hartigan, Vickee Ramik, Kelli Lockhart and Karen Harvey. (Not pictured: Damon Cottrell.)



The Heart of the Piedmont Chapter (N.C.) strives to create a culture of certification. For the past several years, the chapter has recognized its certified nurses with an annual dinner. On Feb. 7, the chapter treated them to a gourmet four-course dinner at Guilford Community College's Koury Hospitality Career Center. Guests were given healing stones in the shape of a heart to remind them of the path to excellence.

NTI 2009 Call for Abstracts

Planning to submit an abstract for NTI 2009 in New Orleans? The call for abstracts is now open. Deadline to apply is June 1, 2008. For more information, visit www.aacn.org > Education > NTI Education and Speaker Information > NTI 2009 Call for Abstracts Submission Page.

New PCCN Print Practice Exam Available




Practice PCCN Exam Questions is a new print product available for purchase from the AACN Online Bookstore. The booklet contains 120 practice items for the progressive care certification exam (PCCN). The price is $12 for members and $14 for nonmembers. (Product # 200405)

A special thank you to the following nurses who helped develop the Practice PCCN Exam Questions:

Kathleen M. Barta, RN, MSN, MHA, CCRN, PCCN-CMC, RN-BC
Roberta Kaplow, PhD, RN, CCNS, CCRN
Judi Hensley, RN, BS, BSN, PCCN
Kristie Manjarrez, RN, BS, BSN, PCCN
Jeannette Meyer, RN, APRN, MS, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, PCCN, APN
Ellen R. Peller, RN, BS, BSN, PCCN
Susan Lees Ramsey, RN, MS, MSN, PCCN

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