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AACN joins hospitals and healthcare organizations in recognizing certified nurses for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in the care of patients and families as part of Certified Nurses Day , Sunday, March 19.

As healthcare becomes increasingly complex and challenging, nursing certification has become an essential mark of excellence. Specialty certification reaffirms nurses’ commitment to using the best evidence to provide care for patients and families. Achieving certification demonstrates to patients, employers, and the healthcare team that a nurse’s knowledge reflects national standards and a strong personal commitment to patient safety.

In honor of the national celebration of certified nurses, we chatted with Elizabeth Scruth, PhD, MPH, RN, CCRN-K, CCNS, FCCM, FCNS, CPHQ, 2022-2024 chair of the board of directors of AACN Certification Corporation, the credentialing arm of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the executive director for clinical quality programs, data analytics and tele-critical care at Kaiser Permanente NCL about her career in critical care nursing and why she chose to get certified.

Tell us about your journey to becoming a nurse.

I started as an RN in the outback of Australia in a town called Kalgoorlie where mentorship and resources in the hospital were limited. I graduated from a hospital diploma program in Western Australia and spent many years as an RN before I went back for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

Why did you decide to become certified? 

The experience of working in critical care for many years with a diverse group of patients gave me the confidence to explore certification. From that humble start, I started exploring certification to further advance my knowledge and practice. Upon certification, I felt like I had given myself a gift. I value that gift and wear the credentials with pride. Certification demonstrates to everyone that I have that specialized body of knowledge and practice in critical care and that at the center is patient safety.

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Nurses are held in high regard by the public, and it is important for all nurses to be able to speak to Certification and what it means to the RN and the patient and family in their care. Certification elevates the nursing profession and demonstrates to all that nurses are committed to their area of practice and patient safety. 

How are you making a difference in the community where you work?

My current role within Kaiser Permanente also involves serving the communities in which we live. I am part of the local AACN Chapter and regularly engage with critical care nurses in Tele-Critical Care (remote ICU monitoring), where all RNs are certified with CCRN. I am actively involved in community work as part of my commitment to the mission and vision of Kaiser Permanente, including members and the public asking about what certification is all about. 

What do you like best about your nursing career?

From my early beginning as a graduate nurse in Kalgoorlie – Western Australia, I have been fortunate to have been offered many opportunities to grow professionally. My career has been over two continents, and I have learned so much. The people I have met and the nurses I have worked alongside have encouraged me to seek further education and certifications. The best part of nursing is mentoring others and building capacity for the future. We highly need educated and certified RNs now and in the future. Anything less is unacceptable.

Please talk about your commitment to patient safety.

Patient safety is woven into every aspect of nursing and is part of standard care. As both a critical care certified RN and a quality professional, I am excited to see that patient safety is at the forefront of all quality and safety initiatives, and both patients and families are involved in the design of new paradigms of care. RNs are the gatekeepers for patient safety and spend the most time with the patient providing a 360-degree view of the care plan needed to ensure safety is at the center of care. 

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Do you have any wisdom to share with other nurses considering getting certified?

To nurses considering certification, my advice is simple: GO FOR IT! You can do it. You have the knowledge – and then wear the credentials with pride! Speak up about your certification and be proud of your accomplishments. Encourage those around you to become certified too.

Renee Hewitt
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