It is no secret that the medical field is ever-changing, and the need for nurses to stay current on best practices is vital for the patient experience. It’s one thing for nurses to earn their degree or become certified after countless hours of studying, but it becomes an entirely different challenge for them to maintain their education and get recertified. Especially when they are already working a full-time job.
Vicki Maisonneuve, director, Nursing Center of Excellence and Magnet® at Parkview Health, is a passionate advocate for helping nurses continue their education in order to fulfill Parkview’s mission of excellent care, every person, every day. She explains that certification is shown to increase the patient experience, decrease patient mortality, and raise the bar for nursing while increasing co-worker knowledge.
Last fall, Vicki reached out to the Parkview Foundation in hopes of pursuing course and certification training for Parkview nurses in partnership with the nursing education organization, Zander Perioperative Education, LLC.
With generous donations through the Foundation, 34 nurses had the opportunity to attend the Certified Nurse Emergency (CNE) Room virtual course last fall. Donor dollars extended even further and allowed 35 Operating Room (OR) nurses to attend the two-day Certified Nurses Operating Room (CNOR) virtual course onsite at Parkview Health in February 2019. Both the CNE and the CNOR certification programs are opportunities for Parkview nurses to improve and validate their knowledge, skills and provide the highest quality care to their patients.
Since Parkview earned the nation’s top honor for nursing excellence through Magnet® recognition in 2017, continuing nursing education has become a constant goal. The community plays a vital role in these efforts. Vicki expressed that, “The support through the Foundation continues to provide degree advancement and continuing education, which fits very nicely with Parkview Health’s mission of well-being and community wellness.”
Patient care is always a priority, but in order to meet the needs of patients, nursing education is crucial. Each facility is allotted a certain number of seats for attendees and the nurses are chosen on a first come, first served basis.
The courses were taught in South Carolina, but thanks to donors, nurses had the capability to stream live into instructor-led classes. The virtual classes allowed more nurses to attend and also gave them the option to be present in the comfort of their own home or in a Parkview facility as a group.
“Certification gives you confidence to know you are at the top of the game,” Vicki said. “The opportunity for advancement is a great example of how Parkview and donors really support not only co-workers, but also the community — which is who really benefits from these courses.”
The advancements in nursing education are an ongoing necessity. To help us meet the ever-rising bar of excellence for our patient experience, visit ParkviewFoundations.org.