At Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, what matters most to us is giving people the absolute best healthcare possible. One part of this is encouraging nurses to become nationally certified in their specialty, if they aren’t already. Gina Minert, Director of the Mom & Baby Unit at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, celebrates each nurse who becomes specialty certified in Maternal Newborn Nursing. “With certification, we’re bettering ourselves, our profession, and improving the lives of our patients,” she said. “Our goal is that all of our nurses will become certified.”
What does it mean when a nurse has a specialty certification?
Nurses often specialize in a specific area of care and, as such—after working in their specialty for two years—are eligible to take an exam administered by the National Certification Corporation (NCC) that demonstrates knowledge in that specialty area. Nurses are required to earn continuing education credits every three years by taking classes or attending conferences to maintain their certified status.
Why is this important for patients?
Taking the time to become certified within their specialty shows that a nurse is going above and beyond when it comes to maintaining a strong knowledge base and clinical foundation. This knowledge, in turn, helps to provide high-quality care to patients and their families. Certified nurses feel confident in delivering care based on the most up-to-date evidence and research.
“We’re raising the bar at P/SL, and we’re improving outcomes for patients,” Minert said. “We eagerly embrace the challenges of our profession and welcome new opportunities to grow and make a positive impact. When experienced nurses obtain certification, they increase their clinical knowledge, grow professionally and raise the standard of practice throughout the profession. Ultimately this improves the care they provide and ensures the best possible outcomes for our patients.”