National Park Medical Center celebrated Certified Nurses Day, March 19, by honoring its board-certified nurses. The following nurses are being recognized for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in patient care:

1. Bri Starr, CFRN
2. Kalyn Jones RN, CCM
3. Gwen Nutt RN, C-EFM, CCE, CLC
4. Sondra Hollis RN, CNOR
5. Paula Anz RN, CNOR
6. Sugar Ancheta RN, CNOR & CNAMB
7. Dustin Goad MBA, MSN, RN, CPPS & CMQ/OE
8. Elizabeth Mauldin RN, CPPS
9. Jackielou Olivo RN, CCRN
10. Jonah Jericho RN, CCRN
11. Brandon Perry RN, CCRN
12. Sarah Spears RN, CCRN
13. Nichole Reed MSN, RN, CPPS
14. Lisa Wallace DNP, RN, NE-BC, CPPS

Board certification of nurses plays an increasingly important role in the assurance of high standards of care for patients and their loved ones. Nursing, like health care in general, has become increasingly complex. While a registered nurse (RN) license provides entry to general nursing practice, the knowledge-intensive requirements of modern nursing require extensive education, as well as a strong personal commitment to excellence by the nurse.

National Park Medical Center encourages national board certification for all its nurses. Patients are encouraged to inquire whether there are certified nurses on staff when they visit a hospital or their primary care provider. There are many nursing certification specialties, such as medical-surgical, pediatric, pain management, cardiac vascular, oncology, hospice, case management, emergency nursing, critical care, and many others. Many nursing certification bodies exist to serve the full range of specialized nursing care offered in the contemporary health care system; national nurse-certifying bodies should be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) or the National Organization for Competence Assurance (NOCA).