Certification: What does it mean?
Nationally, nurses’ value certification as it enhances personal accomplishment, provides personal satisfaction, demonstrates professional growth, validates specialized knowledge, enhances professional credibility and provides a professional challenge. Just to name a few values! UHS nurses have made it clear how they value certification. CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL CERTIFIED UHS NURSES AND HOW THEY VALUE CERIFICATION.
At UHS nurses throughout the organization have demonstrated this professional excellence and were recognized on National Certification Day on March 19th! The Recruitment, Recognition, Retention Council co-chaired by Robert Yancey and Amy Henz created a wonderful event during days and nights to express how appreciative we are of our Certified Nurses!
Nancy Ray, CNO was on hand for both events to express her gratitude and support for nurses who are certified along with encouragement for every nurse to become certified and demonstrate their specialized knowledge! Additionally every certified nurse received a letter of appreciation from George Hernandez, CEO and a special gift pen engraved “We are Proud of You!”
How are units creating cultures that encourage certification? Intermediate Progressive Care Unit Magnet Unit Council encourages staff to take every opportunity to earn recognition. They want all nurses to demonstrate their professional practice through Nursing Professional Clinical Advancement. The support has helped create determination and personal drive for 5 nurses to obtain their CCRN certification in the last year. Mariamma Shaju, Sherly Biju, Jai Philip, Allyamma Kuruvilla, Bessie Moonummackal, and Renimal Kochumon, have now brought the total of nationally certified nurses in IPCU to 29%.
To encourage certification, IPCU’s Magnet Council maintains a National Certified Recognition bulletin board mounted on our “Hall of Fame”. The board is filled with pictures of National Certified RNs, other staff who have obtained certification in the past and provides staff with review materials. We also celebrate successful certification achievements with a unit party! Now that review materials are provided by the hospital free and we are dedicated to honor National Certified Nurses, we believe that there will be an increased awareness and interest among UHS RNs to be nationally certified.
Thank you to RRR council and Amy Hensz for recognizing UHS Nationally Certified Nurses even at 1030 PM on March 19 to include the other half of UHS (nightshift).”We are UHS too!”


Another honor was when Charles received the 2008 Administrative Specialty Award of Critical Care Medicine for his abstract on “Improving Tight Glycemic Control With The Adjunct Use Of A Data Management Software Program” Click here to view the poster this poster. His most impressive experience was when he presented the implications of implementing tight glycemic control in ICUs to three governors’ healthcare policy advisory panels.
I am a RN in surgical services and recently went on vacation. When returning from vacation during the airplane boarding process the flight crew made an announcement for any medical personnel to come to the front of the plane immediately. I dropped my bags and rushed to the area to find a gentleman on the floor on the ramp a step before boarding the plane. Upon assessment the man had no respirations or circulation. I began CPR. Several minutes later I was joined by an off duty EMS staff member from the airport. We worked in tandem until an AED was available. We shocked the gentleman twice before he returned to a normal sinus rhythm. He was then taken by EMS to an area hospital. I was overjoyed at the end of the flight when the pilot came over the PA system to announce the gentleman had been taken to an area hospital and underwent a cardiac cauterization and was doing well!
Edgar Schein, an expert in organizational cultures advises if you want to be sensitive to culture, travel more! We can learn from different cultures about variation and develop cultural humility. A group from University Health System embraced these words of wisdom on November 13th when they traveled to Seton Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. Linda Vochatzer, MSN, RN Director Nursing Practice/Magnet facilitated an incredible visit for our group!