VCU Health System Celebrates 2011 Certified Nurses Day

By Carrie Atherton

The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is celebrating Certified Nurses Day by honoring its board certified nurses on March 18.

Certified Nurses Day was created to annually recognize and honor board certified nurses and their contributions to the advancement of nursing professionalism and to higher standards and better outcomes in patient health.

The VCU Health System has more than 750 board certified nurses, who will be recognized for their professionalism, leadership and commitment to excellence in patient care.
Nationally, little more than 20 percent of nurses hold a specialty certification. At the VCUHS, Central Virginia’s first health system to earn Magnet designation, more than 44 percent of its nurses are certified.

These nurses hold certification in more than 80 nursing specialties such as medical-surgical, pediatric, pain management, cardiovascular, oncology and emergency nursing.

After meeting defined eligibility criteria, a certification candidate achieves a nationally recognized credential through the successful completion of a rigorous examination. Board certification of nurses plays an increasingly important role in the assurance of high standards of care for patients and their loved ones.

For more information, visit http://www.certifiednursesday.org.