On September 19, BCEN was pleased to announce our 2024 National Certification Champion Award – Healthcare System category winner:
ChristianaCare
Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware
What does being named a BCEN National Certification Champion mean to your organization and the communities you serve?
It is an honor to be selected from such a diverse community of professional organizations across the nation. Achieving this award is a testament to the dedication and support of our leadership team to promote and support our caregivers. Being named the BCEN National Certification Champion signifies a high level of achievement and recognition for our organization.
This achievement shows that ChristianaCare has demonstrated exceptional standards in providing care, adhering to best practices and making a positive impact on the communities we serve. This award validates the commitment to quality and excellence in care, which translates to improved health outcomes and overall well-being.
What sets nurses who have earned the CEN, CPEN, TCRN, CTRN, and/or CFRN apart in their daily practice and in their professional development trajectories?
Achieving the maintaining a BCEN advanced certification credential involves ongoing education and professional development. Certified nurses are committed to staying updated with the latest practices and evidence-based research. They have demonstrated advanced knowledge and skills specific to emergency nursing. This expertise allows them to handle complex and high-pressure situations more effectively and provide high-quality care in emergency settings.
What are the positive outcomes you are seeing and tracking as the number of BCEN-certified nurses increases?
Certified nurses often take on leadership roles and contribute to policy development, quality improvement initiatives and mentorship programs. Their expertise and certification can elevate the practice standards within healthcare organizations.
ChristianaCare has:
- Been three times Magnet designated.
- Implemented EBP for triage that has decreased door-to-provider times and boarding hours.
- Earned the 2024 Chest pain-MI registry Platinum Performance Award.
- Received the Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy and Target: Type 2 diabetes Honor Roll.
- Provided care through its Forensic Nurse Examiners to over 400 victims of sexual assault and domestic violence each year.
These positive outcomes reflect the value of investing in certification and underscore our commitment to delivering exceptional care to our community.
What do you most want other organizations to know about why and how to support nursing specialty certification?
Organizations that support and incentivize certification show that they value their staff’s professional growth. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, higher retention rates and a more engaged workforce. Organizations with a higher proportion of certified nurses are often viewed more favorably by patients, peers and accrediting bodies. This can enhance the organization’s reputation and attract top talent.
In nominating ChristianaCare for this award, VP of Emergency Services Janeen Rawlings, MBA, MSN, RN, wrote:
“ChristianaCare has 4 emergency departments as well as a ground and air transport team within the system. Two of the emergency departments have trauma designations and one is a freestanding emergency department. We take every opportunity to have conversations about obtaining certification … and 100% of nursing leaders (managers, assistant managers and VPs) in emergency services have obtained one or more certification.
Our success in increasing and sustaining our certifications is directly related to the unit-based councils and committees within the system. These opportunities both encourage and support our team members to seek out advanced certification as well as new ideas and upcoming best practice. The importance of our nurses and these teams in overall organizational outcomes for the communities we serve is palpable.
ChristianaCare believes that the patient should always be in the forefront of all things within our system. We are continually seeking new knowledge, asking questions and are open to new ideas and change. Because of the continued support of our leadership teams within the organization, our certified nurses have the ability to take an idea, develop a project and then put it into action.”
ChristianaCare Chief Nurse Executive Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC, said:
“ChristianaCare is honored to be named the BCEN National Certification Champion. This prestigious recognition speaks to the passion and dedication of our incredible nursing teams, guided by our values of love and excellence, who make the difference for patients during some of their worst moments, going above and beyond to deliver quality care.
It’s a privilege to be a part of a team that is committed to nursing excellence, practicing at the top of their license through specialty certification. This award represents the culmination of years of focused attention by nursing leadership to promote and facilitate ED nurse certification coupled with a highly motivated and passionate nursing staff who are dedicated to their patients as well as their professional development. We are so proud of our certified nurses and their commitment to lifelong learning.”
