February 4th to 10th is National Burn Awareness Week, and Daily Nurse is recognizing the specialized work of burn nurses. Burn nurses are known for their exceptional skills, commitment, and unwavering dedication to patient care. They work tirelessly to treat individuals who have been affected by burn injuries and to advocate for burn injury prevention within their communities.
Meet Emily Werthman, PhD (c), MSN, RN, CBRN, the Burn Program Manager at The Johns Hopkins Burn Center. She is also a member of the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) board of directors for the 2024-2025 term and shares her insights on burn nursing as a specialized nursing practice.
-What are your title and credentials at The Johns Hopkins Burn Center?
Burn Program Manager
PhD (c), MSN, RN, CBRN
-How long have you worked there?
13 years
-What do you enjoy most about your role as burn program manager?
I love the detective aspect of my job: finding a problem, discovering its root cause, and then developing a plan to fix it. I also work with an amazing interdisciplinary team that makes it exciting to come to work every day.
-Talk about how you ascended to that role.
I started as a BICU nurse and loved our burn program’s research and quality aspects. I knew that burn nursing was where I wanted to practice, but I also wanted to further my career options by pursuing an advanced degree. After about 10 years at the bedside, the burn program manager position became available while I was obtaining my MSN in nursing education. I was so happy to be able to combine my love of research, quality, and bedside burn nursing knowledge into this role. I am also incredibly fortunate to work for a health system that encourages and supports its nurses’ continuing education so I can continue with my PhD.
-What inspired you to become a burn nurse?
My mother died in a house fire shortly after my college graduation. Knowing that her nurses were with her, providing the best possible care, inspired me to do the same for all the families and patients we care for here at the Johns Hopkins Burn Center.
–What associations are you a member of, and how have they helped your career?
I am an American Burn Association (ABA) member, serving as the lead nurse planner. I volunteer with the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), serving as a CBRN Exam Construction Review Committee member, and have just been appointed to BCEN’s board of directors.
These roles have allowed me to work outside of my hospital system to impact the work of burn nurses nationally and internationally. My work with the ABA has allowed me to progress from member to committee member to lead nurse planner. Similarly, at BCEN, I started as an item writer and have continued to work within the organization to support its mission. Both organizations have provided opportunities for professional growth through networking and continuing education.
-What does a burn nurse do?
There is not a typical day in burn. We see patients at their worst on the first day they are injured, their best on the day they are discharged, and everything in between. Burn is unique because we know our patients and their families through one-on-one interactions during daily wound care sessions. A shift in the BICU or BWU will usually involve all your standard nursing interventions but with a healthy dose of specialized wound care, wound vac placement, dressing takedowns, and lots of psychosocial support for our patients and their families.
–Burn nurses are more than trauma care. Can you talk about the other types of care they provide patients?
Burn nurses genuinely care for the patient across the entire continuum from admission to discharge and then reconstruction procedures in the years following an injury. In addition to critical care, they provide outstanding psychosocial support to families and patients. Many burn nurses participate in prevention activities like outreach at local schools and partnerships with local firefighters.
-How do you become a burn nurse?
After graduating with a history degree, I returned to school to get my AS in nursing, eventually earning a BSN and MSN. I am currently preparing to defend my PhD dissertation, as well. I knew when I entered nursing school that burn nursing was my calling. I contacted the burn center for my senior honors project to arrange a guest lecture at my nursing school. I kept in touch with them after graduation so that they were aware of my interest in the burn center and to let them know when I applied for an open position there.
–Talk about the need for burn nursing and BCEN specialty certification.
I seek to effect change in the field of burn nursing as a subject matter expert, test question writer, and exam content review committee member for the CBRN exam. Specialty certification is an essential part of recognizing burn nurses’ unique work. As more hospitals move toward Magnet certification, standing with other certified nurses offers burn nurses the ability to demonstrate our commitment to quality care.
-What are the benefits of being a burn nurse?
Burn nursing is a challenging field. But it is just as rewarding as it is difficult. We see patients progress through their recovery, and through our work with the Burn Therapy Program, we continue to see them for years as they return to their lives.
–Talk about the reward of being a burn nurse.
The payoff is the outcome. When we see a patient with substantial burn injuries overcome their injuries and go on to live happy, successful lives, it makes all the long, hot days in a tub room worth it.
–Talk about being 1 of 12 expert nurses selected by BCEN to serve on the Burn Nursing Role Delineation Study Advisory Committee.
No other specialty provides you with a level of interaction with patients and their families, all while providing life-saving critical care. The burn nurse is truly the best representation of a holistic nurse that I know—integrating critical care with psychosocial care, wound care, focused systems assessments/interventions, and all that comes with the care of surgical patients. Being selected to help define what a burn nurse does was an honor. And to be able to work with some of my role models in burn care (Gretchen Carrougher and Katie Hollowed, in particular) was so exciting. To think that we could work together with burn experts from all over the country to help on our path to certification was life-changing.
–How does the committee’s work serve as a roadmap for nurses who sit for the CBRN exam?
In our work, we helped define what the burn nurse does, which helped define the parameters of the CBRN exam.
-Do you have anything else to add for Burn Awareness Week?
This year’s theme is preventing flammable liquid injuries, so I encourage people to check out the resources available at ameriburn.org to ensure they are following all appropriate safety measures!
Two IU Health nurses, Jennifer Burchett and Holly Weaver, were recently recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for their compassionate, innovative spirits. Today, Daily Nurse proudly names nursing leaders Burchett and Weaver as our Nurses of the Week and celebrates their unwavering commitment to nursing.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was the Emergency Medical Trauma Center charge nurse.
Burchett’s leadership in active shooter training led to a 105% increase in team member safety awareness among her colleagues. She also introduced a new unit-level nurse mentoring program, emphasizing work-life balance, professional development, and the importance of community within the healthcare profession.
Weaver, an IU Health Jay Hospital nurse, earned the 2023 Pathway Nurse of the Year, Direct Care Nurse. As a maternal-infant navigator, Weaver’s genuine compassion for her patients led to creating a groundbreaking pilot program addressing food insecurity. Using her community connections, she established a food pantry within IU Health, providing crucial nutrition for those in need.
Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.
If you can’t attend, we’ve got you covered in advance as we sat down with Rebecca Graystone, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC, and the Senior Vice President, Accreditation & Organization Credentialing of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to discuss Magnet designation and what it means for healthcare organizations, hospitals, and nurses.
What follows is our interview, edited for length and clarity.
ANCC Vice President of the Magnet Recognition Program® and Pathway to Excellence® Program, Rebecca Graystone, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC
-Magnet is the highest recognition of nursing excellence and signifies better staffing and working conditions for nurses, but some nurses say it’s just a costly marketing tool. What’s your response to those making that comparison?
Magnet Recognition is steadfast proof of a hard-earned commitment to excellence in health care, with contented, valued, and inspired nurses at heart. Applicants seeking Magnet status are rigorously evaluated by expert nurse peers against evidence-based standards. Magnet is a voluntary credential earned by healthcare organizations seeking recognition for providing exceptional practice environments and patient care.
Magnet organizations are committed to nurturing the talents of dedicated nurses throughout their careers. The work environment and organizational opportunities for staff encourage them to excel in their profession and contribute to the improved performance of their organizations, which ultimately benefits patients and the healthcare field.
Nurses working in a Magnet-recognized organization grow stronger in bedside practices, evidence-based practices and research, and leadership skills. Only around 10% of organizations in the country currently have achieved Magnet status — it’s a standard of excellence that organizations choose to commit to, and nurses will find that commitment extends to them and their success as well.
-What does Magnet designation mean for hospitals and nurses working there? What are the benefits of working at a Magnet hospital?
For nurses and hospitals, a Magnet-recognized organization means many things. Most especially, it means the organization highly values registered nurses’ contributions to care. Across the healthcare continuum, Magnet nurses excel in leadership, professional practice, decision-making at all levels, and innovation through research and continual process improvements. The beneficiaries are patients and their families. Nurses report high satisfaction, engagement, respect, and acknowledgment for their contributions.
Magnet organizations invest in professional education and career growth that provide an environment where nurses practice with greater autonomy in a safe and supportive environment. Research from the Journal of Nursing Administration found that nurses working in Magnet organizations have lower rates of nurse burnout and increased rates of satisfaction.
There is a rigor and research-based element of working in a Magnet organization that attracts and produces top-tier nursing leadership and high patient satisfaction rates. For example, studies have found that Magnet organizations have decreased rates of patient falls and pressure ulcers and reduced mortality rates.
-Approximately 10% of U.S. hospitals achieve Magnet status, and 92% of hospitals achieving Magnet status are redesignated. Talk about how a hospital benefits from becoming a Magnet hospital.
By investing in nursing education and development, Magnet hospitals attract and retain the best nurses, which has a direct and positive effect on the standard of care and improved patient experience.
Magnet hospitals consistently provide the highest quality of care. Studies find that Magnet-recognized organizations experience increased patient satisfaction, decreased mortality rates, decreased falls, and improved patient safety and quality.
Magnet recognition also contributes to the stability and growth of hospitals in various ways, such as reducing RN agency rates, decreasing RN vacancy rates and turnover, and reducing staff injuries. There are positive financial impacts as well. When an organization is recognized as Magnet, they have an increased chance to establish endowments, enjoy a stronger bond rating, and have a competitive advantage in regional markets.
-Why wouldn’t a hospital maintain Magnet status?
Magnet recognition lasts for four years. Interestingly, we have seen our retention rate rise in recent years (from 90% on average to 92.1% in the last three years), and this was during the pandemic. So, this seems to indicate that organizations are using the Magnet culture and standards as their North Star, which helped to guide them and sustain them through the height of COVID-19.
-What happens if a hospital loses Magnet status?
Again, participation in Magnet is voluntary. Magnet organizations report anecdotally their desire to retain Magnet status. When this is not possible, reasons given include a change in leadership has shifted priorities, and the resources to support the infrastructure of excellence Magnet requires are redistributed toward other efforts. Most hospitals want to maintain Magnet status because it signals their commitment to nursing excellence.
-Talk about how the Magnet Recognition program spreads internationally and the top countries seeking accreditation.
Magnet Recognition is a rigorous credential and organization-based, peer-reviewed appraisal process. All standards are evidence-based and achievable no matter the size of the organization or location in the world. What Magnet Recognition achievement represents is a commitment by the organization to a culture of nursing excellence.
We currently have 612 Magnet facilities in total. The majority are in the U.S., but we have facilities in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and Brazil. There is a keen interest in Magnet internationally, and we have seen this through our increase in Magnet applications and conference registrations from across the globe for our ANCC National Magnet Conference® and Pathway to Excellence Conference.® There is a desire to learn from the best of the best and bring that knowledge home with them and share it.
We’ll be at the 2023 ANCC National Magnet Conference® October 12-14 at the at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. Stop by booth #918. We look forward to seeing you there!
As we mark the annual celebration and recognition of all that the Magnet model represents in healthcare here in the U.S. and around the world, it’s timely to pause to consider just what magnetism is and what makes this metaphor so apt in our 21st-century world.
The Science of Magnetism
Children are easily fascinated when playing with magnets. The developing brain of a child enthusiastically and curiously examines how different metals repel and attract one another, and no matter how magical it may seem, the forces in question are deeply based on science and physics.
Very simply put, electrons, neutrons, and other subatomic particles each carry either a positive or negative electrical charge, and their constant motion contributes to the creation of magnetic fields.
While the actual scientific force of magnetism cannot be held responsible for nurses being drawn to work at healthcare facilities holding the Magnet designation (just as Albert Einstein observed that gravity cannot be held responsible for people falling in love), there is undoubtedly a type of gravitational pull that causes certain nurses to prioritize working at Magnet facilities.
The science of magnetism is a known fact among physicists, scientists, and laypeople who can be bothered to understand how such a phenomenon works. Yet, the metaphor of magnetism in relation to hospitals and healthcare workplaces is another kind of phenomenon entirely.
The Power of Magnetism
If the physical force of magnetism is caused by the movement of positively or negatively charged subatomic particles, then it must figure that there are aspects of the Magnet model that serve as charged particles within a healthcare workplace that attracts talented and forward-looking nurses.
To explore our metaphor further, we can examine the Commission on Magnet’s new vision, which is meant to communicate the aspects of Magnet organizations that are seen as holding the most potential for changing patient outcomes and the face of healthcare in profound ways.
The Commission’s vision includes:
The forces of transformational leadership
Structural empowerment
Exemplary professional practice
New knowledge, innovation, and improvement.
Empirical quality result.
Let’s briefly examine each.
Transformational leadership: This model component wants leaders “no longer just to solve problems, fix broken systems, and empower staff, but to actually transform the organizations to meet the future.”
Most nurses want to be led by visionary leaders who have everyone’s best interests in mind, not to mention leaders who can create new approaches to processes that are broken or past their prime. It’s been said many times that employees most often quit jobs and leave organizations because of leadership issues. Thus, nurse retention (organizational magnetism) must begin with inspired leadership.
Structural empowerment: This component provides “an innovative environment where strong professional practice flourishes and where the mission, vision, and values come to life to achieve the outcomes believed to be important for the organization.” Strategic plans, policies, and other aspects of the organization must magnetize and empower nurses and other staff to achieve their best.
Exemplary professional practice: Most nurses want this for themselves, focusing on evidence-based practice, high-level communication skills, multidisciplinary collaboration, and ongoing development of skills and knowledge. Magnetic indeed.
New knowledge, innovation, and improvements: The Commission states, “Our current systems and practices need to be redesigned and redefined if we are to be successful in the future. This Component includes new models of care, application of existing evidence, new evidence, and visible contributions to the science of nursing.” We all know that nursing and healthcare cannot stand still and rest on yesterday’s accomplishments and knowledge. If we are not moving forward, stagnation results and our patients and communities deserve much more. We must magnetize forward movement and forward thinking.
Empirical quality results: Quantitative and qualitative measures are essential when assessing outcomes, and since nursing is a science-based discipline, empirical evidence is crucial. Measuring and sharing the outcomes of our actions is a path to recording and categorizing our accomplishments and assessing the practices that got us there.
These and other aspects of the Magnet model serve as metaphorical forces of magnetism that draw certain nurses to organizations that practice in such a manner. These charged particles of practice, innovation, and empowerment will attract nurses interested in practicing at the top of their license while working for institutions that value innovation, creative thinking, and exemplary professionalism.
Magnifying the Good
The Magnet model is an example of a positively charged force that draws to it those naturally attracted to that force. The pillars of the Magnet model serve as particles that draw to them nurses of like mind, like a magnet that causes certain substances to cling to it.
Substandard workplaces that undervalue nurses and treat them like cannon fodder repel nurses, pushing them away when they can no longer tolerate a workplace opposite of what the Magnet model represents. Some healthcare workplaces need to do more to ensure they achieve the best possible patient outcomes with happy, satisfied, and highly valued staff. These institutions shoot for the lowest common denominator; the results speak for themselves.
Let’s focus on magnetizing and empowering that which makes nursing and healthcare shine. And for those drawn to the Magnet model, there’s much to learn along this growth, innovation, and positivity continuum.
Are you looking for your next career opportunity at a Magnet hospital? Check out our Magnet showcase. Then, your next job can be waiting for you!
We’ll be at the 2023 ANCC National Magnet Conference® October 12-14 at the at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. Stop by booth #918. We look forward to seeing you there!
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center and its outpatient clinics, Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital, Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute, and Atrium Health Mercy have again achieved Magnet redesignation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program. National Magnet status is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice and distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence.
“Magnet recognition is a tremendous honor not just for the nurses at Carolinas Medical Center, but for all nurses across Atrium Health,” says Mary Beth Kingston, executive vice president and chief nursing officer for Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health is a part. “Our repeated achievement of this designation highlights the continued pursuit of nursing excellence and delivering the best care for our patients and our community.”
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Program distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. There are currently just over 600 Magnet-designated facilities in the nation. Carolinas Medical Center is one of 12 designated hospitals across Advocate Health. Once designated Magnet, hospitals must apply for redesignation every few years. With each application for ANCC Magnet designation or redesignation comes an extensive appraisal of a hospital’s nursing services, clinical outcomes, and patient care. It includes research as well as interviews with nurses, patients and families. With each application, the standards for nursing excellence become more rigorous.
“The bar for what qualifies as nursing excellence is always rising,” says Robert Rose, vice president and chief nurse executive of Atrium Health’s central area, which includes the Charlotte metropolitan area. “At Atrium Health, our nurses are proud to be pushing those standards even higher. We are continuing to innovate and lead the future of nursing practice from virtual technology to groundbreaking research. In short, Atrium Health nurses are changing the way we care for patients – for the better and for all.”
Achieving specialty nursing certification is a mark of distinction. It demonstrates to you, your patients and families, your colleagues, and your organization that you have the additional knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide high-quality, safe care. Certification goes beyond the basic level of nursing knowledge that is required for licensure. Certified nurses go the extra mile to ensure they have the advanced expertise to provide specialized nursing care for their patients. The personal journey to certification is just that, a journey with a lifelong commitment to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based care and dedication to patient safety.
Importance of Certification
The National Academy of Medicine’s consensus study: “The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity,” states that creating an expectation and culture of lifelong learning is essential for improving care and population health. Certification validates nurses’ mastery of skills, knowledge, and abilities and promotes ongoing learning and practice requirements through certification renewal. According to data collected by the American Board of Nursing Specialties, in 2020, there were over 1 million specialty-certified nurses in the U.S. and Canada. These certifications were granted by 44 certifying organizations, including AACN Certification Corporation. Approximately 134,000 nurses hold AACN Certification Corporation credentials for acute and critical care specialtynursing and APRN care in neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations.
Value to the Individual Nurse
By becoming a certified nurse, you join a group of deeply committed nurses who demonstrate their dedication to lifelong learning and professional development. You may position yourself for additional recognition and advancement with employers when you achieve certification. The validation of your knowledge and a sense of personal achievement is a bonus. Certification helps deepen your expertise in your area of specialty nursing practice not only at the time of the initial exam and throughout your career via continuing education, the increased availability of clinical resources, and networking with other certified nurses. Nurses who are certified are more confident in the care they provide.
Value to Patients and Families
Patients and families recognize the value of being cared for by a nurse with specialty certification. According to the Gallup poll, nurses have been the most trusted profession for 21 consecutive years. Earning certification demonstrates increased knowledge and competence that amplifies patient trust in nursing care. Further, certification improves patient outcomes by decreasing complications and improving the patient’s experience (2021).
Certification goes beyond the basic level of nursing knowledge that is required for licensure. Certified nurses go the extra mile to ensure they have the advanced expertise to provide specialized nursing care for their patients.
Value to the Organization
Many organizations, especially those pursuing or maintaining their recognition for nursing excellence (e.g., Beacon, Magnet, Pathways to Excellence), build an environment of professionalism and a culture of nurse retention by recognizing the value of certification. These organizations try to hire nurses with specialty certifications or expect them to achieve specific certifications to validate their competency to help ensure high-quality, safe patient care. These organizations also develop multilevel structures to establish resources and support for nurses seeking and maintaining specialty certification. Certified nurses are role models for non-certified nurses and other healthcare professionals, inspiring continual improvement in care delivery for the entire interdisciplinary team.
Resources for the Certification Journey
While certification is a personal journey, many resources are available to achieve certification success. After deciding to pursue certification, your next decision is selecting the appropriate certification to recognize your specialty area of practice. When exploring the many options, you should review the descriptions, eligibility, and test plans for each exam and the certifying organization’s resources for continued learning and practice. An organization’s mission, vision, and values should align with your specialty nursing practice. Some certifying bodies offer additional resources, such as ambassadors and organization discounts, that can provide personal networking and financial benefits on your certification journey.
Preparation for Certification
Once you’ve selected the certification you want, the next step is preparing for the certification exam. Many certifying bodies or other exam preparation vendors offer resources for exam preparation. Check on the exam preparation resources when choosing the right certification for you. The test plan is probably one of the most important resources to prepare for an exam. Test plans provide a detailed content outline of the type of questions on the exam and a bibliography of the references used to develop the exam. Another recommended resource as you prepare for an exam is practice questions, practice questions, and more practice questions! Look for practice exam offers from your certification organization or other vendors.
Pursuing Certification
If you are a certified nurse or a nurse on your certification journey, thank you for your deep commitment to your professional growth and for all you do to keep patients and families safe. If you have never thought about certification, please consider this a personal invitation to explore what specialty nursing certification can do for you, your patients, and your organization. If you have your certification, please pay it forward and mentor someone else to become certified. And please let us know about your journey at [email protected]
