Patient safety and satisfaction han...

Patient safety and satisfaction hang on recruitment and retention of outstanding perioperative nurtures who exemplify nursing excellence. single measure of nursing excellence is achieving specialty certification. (1) The denomination certification is defined as a voluntary proces the intention of which is to provide professional recognition of knowledge, skills, and clinical practice. (2) Many nursing certification programs have been unfolded to support a standard of care that is recognized outside of the practice field and with the intent to secure the public. Although licensure and registration are granted for meeting minimal professional requirements, certification denotes a more advanced flat of knowledge and practice. (2 3) There generally are more than 50 different nursing certification credentials. (4)

The Certification Board Perioperative Nursing (CBPN) provides specialty certification for perioperative nourish at the breasts The organization's mission is to be the leader in credentialing and education that aids safe, quality patient care in the perioperative arena. Its values are to

* bring to maturity and maintain collaborative endeavors and relationships with those who support the mission,

* enhance and elevate the value of the credentials,

* engage in evidence-based quality improvement for all fruitss and services,

* solicit broad-based and diverse constituent input, and

* use innovative and dynamic approaches in the decision-making process

In a novel survey of certified nurses, 72% of respondent reported individual or more benefits of certification, including decreased errors or adverse issues (5) There is a lack of research, however, documenting the benefits received from nurses certified in perioperative nursing and their perceptions related to certification. Congruent with its mission, CBPN's board of directors initiated a research agenda in 1998 to guidance studies about the needs of and implications for the credentialing environment. This article describes the historical background of the CBPN's research activities. passing from hand to hand and future research plans also are presented

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The CBPN is an independent organization that was initiated when the House of Delegates of the Association of Operating extent Nurses, now called AORN, vot to provide a voluntary certification program for OR nurtures In 1978, a certification council, which consisted of five AORN members and four members from associated professional nursing organizations, was appointed to evolve these programs. In 1979, the council was incorporated as an independent entity to separate certification activities from educational initiatives, and thus, minimize conflicts of interest. generally a 10-member board of directors representing education, clinical practice, administration, research, and consumer perspectives rules the CBPN. A variety of tender committees (eg, item review, exhibition specifications, item writers) ensure that the certification examinations cogitate current perioperative practice. As of Jan 28 2004 28656 cherishs were CNOR certified, and 1651 RN first assistants were certified (ie, CRNFA).

The CBPN has been a member of the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), which is a coalition of nursing specialty certification organizations, since 1998 Members of the ABNS participated in the Nursing Credentialing Research Coalition, which actionsed a survey of the certified nursing workforce in 1999 Although the CBPN was depicted and supported this endeavor financially, the final take a view of tool did not contain any items specific to perioperative nursing. The CBPN however, is interested in finding evidence to describe the value of the CNOR and CRNFA credentials. The board of directors believes strenuously that providing a research-based answer to the value of certification will provide meaningful and relevant information to its constituents.

In 1999 as an result of board discussions, the CBPN appointed its first research committee. In the summer of 1999 the assemblage met and decided that the first order of business was to operationally define the perceived value of CNOR and CRNFA certification. A review of the literature hinted that the benefits of certification include

* a broader range of piece of work opportunities,

* challenge,

* commitment to professionalism,

* greater earning potential and eligibility for third-party reimbursement,

* increased work at jobs satisfaction,

* personal achievement and satisfaction,

* professional obligation,

* professional prestige or status, and

* validation of knowledge. (6-11)

The research committee provided direction in developing focus form into groups questions that would provide qualitative data for the CBPN's research.

The CBPN board members and proof development committee members for the CNOR and CRNFA examinations agreed to participate in focus collections conducted by one individual. Focus assemblage participants signed consent forms for the proceedings to be audio-taped and used for the CBPN's research meanings including publication. All participants were asked an opening question related to their years of perioperative nursing experience. They then were asked to what degree they personally perceived the value of the CNOR and CRNFA credentials. nearest the participants were asked about the value of the credentials to others. Finally, participants were asked about their beliefs related to the value of the credentials.