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P057
Innovative Strategies for Achieving Ambulatory Care Nurse Specialist Certification
Purpose: Implement innovative leadership initiatives to promote a platform for nursing staff collaboration and supportive education environment to increase certification preparation and achievement.
Description: High certification rates can represent skilled registered nurses' commitment to nursing professionalism. Research has shown that certified nurses are associated with better patient outcomes and a higher sense of nursing empowerment. “Limitations to obtaining certification include costs, weak interest, poor access to resources, and stressors.” Our institutional data showed that from 2019 to 2021, » 108 certified ambulatory care nurses with » 255 ambulatory care nurses not certified. Addressing the certified nurse gap can lead to improved patient outcomes, job satisfaction, retention, and increased nurse empowerment. The desired state is to increase the knowledge base of ambulatory care nurses for preparation and achievement of certification. Anticipating 10% or more increase after implementation of strategies to improve certification rate.
Planning included writing a $5,000 grant approved to purchase study resources to make accessible for nurses to check-out (3-6 months) before taking certification exam. A 2-day certification review course on October 14-15, 2021 (11 contact hours offered). Due to the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021- 2022, strategies were modified to comply with social distancing guidelines. e.g., the certification review course in-person event required limited in-person attendees. (37 attendees participated virtually via WebEx). The leadership team recognize certified nurses via congratulatory email blast, $1000 reimbursement, CNO letter of recognition, special gift boxes prepared that included CNO letter of recognition, tea, condiments, cup, napkin, spoon, and certified nurse badge that were specially delivered by ambulatory care clinical resource nurses during National Certified Nurses Month (March 2021-2023).
Evaluation/outcome: Despite the challenges, nurses remained motivated to continue to study, become certified, and celebrate the accomplishments of their peers. Due to the implementation of informational, celebratory, and supportive strategies, by December 2021, the certified nurse rate (42%) increased by 10%. Currently, 52% of ambulatory care nurses have achieved certification. During August 2022, a SurveyMonkey was sent to nurses: 82% of nurses reported interest in obtaining certification and 78% reported interest in attending on-campus certification review course. Per data collection feedback, the leadership team offered the 2nd annual certification review course on September 7- 8, 2023. 46 nurses were in attendance; 4 nurses achieved certification and 10 nurses have committed to take the certification exam by December 2023. As of November 1, 2023, data is still ongoing.
Description: High certification rates can represent skilled registered nurses' commitment to nursing professionalism. Research has shown that certified nurses are associated with better patient outcomes and a higher sense of nursing empowerment. “Limitations to obtaining certification include costs, weak interest, poor access to resources, and stressors.” Our institutional data showed that from 2019 to 2021, » 108 certified ambulatory care nurses with » 255 ambulatory care nurses not certified. Addressing the certified nurse gap can lead to improved patient outcomes, job satisfaction, retention, and increased nurse empowerment. The desired state is to increase the knowledge base of ambulatory care nurses for preparation and achievement of certification. Anticipating 10% or more increase after implementation of strategies to improve certification rate.
Planning included writing a $5,000 grant approved to purchase study resources to make accessible for nurses to check-out (3-6 months) before taking certification exam. A 2-day certification review course on October 14-15, 2021 (11 contact hours offered). Due to the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021- 2022, strategies were modified to comply with social distancing guidelines. e.g., the certification review course in-person event required limited in-person attendees. (37 attendees participated virtually via WebEx). The leadership team recognize certified nurses via congratulatory email blast, $1000 reimbursement, CNO letter of recognition, special gift boxes prepared that included CNO letter of recognition, tea, condiments, cup, napkin, spoon, and certified nurse badge that were specially delivered by ambulatory care clinical resource nurses during National Certified Nurses Month (March 2021-2023).
Evaluation/outcome: Despite the challenges, nurses remained motivated to continue to study, become certified, and celebrate the accomplishments of their peers. Due to the implementation of informational, celebratory, and supportive strategies, by December 2021, the certified nurse rate (42%) increased by 10%. Currently, 52% of ambulatory care nurses have achieved certification. During August 2022, a SurveyMonkey was sent to nurses: 82% of nurses reported interest in obtaining certification and 78% reported interest in attending on-campus certification review course. Per data collection feedback, the leadership team offered the 2nd annual certification review course on September 7- 8, 2023. 46 nurses were in attendance; 4 nurses achieved certification and 10 nurses have committed to take the certification exam by December 2023. As of November 1, 2023, data is still ongoing.
Learning Objective
- After completing this learning activity, the participant will be able to assess innovations being used by other professionals in the specialty and evaluate the potential of implementing the improvements into practice.
Speaker
Rita Mack, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
Specialties
General
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