CCI Blog

Overview of CFPN

The Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse (CFPN) credential is the newest certification from CCI. It is designed to give perioperative nurses with less than 23 months in the operating room a firm foundation for career-long professional development success. Additionally, earning the CFPN certification puts early-career perioperative nurses on the fast track to earning either CNOR or CNAMB.

As the only accredited credentialing program for perioperative registered nurses, CCI's credentials are the gold standard. Earning a certification is a mark of distinction and a highly sought-after personal and professional accomplishment. Certified nurses are committed to providing the highest quality of care to their surgical patients.

It’s a common misconception that leaders do not need to pursue certification because leaders are often not considered “frontline staff” that provide direct patient care. However, certified nurse leaders do have a significant impact on patient care and outcomes.

Nurses notice leaders who are actively engaged in ensuring that the policies and procedures implemented in their facilities align with current best practices. In order to stay updated, leaders must continue to learn and serve as an example for their staff. If leaders are not modeling the importance of being certified, how can we expect frontline staff to see the value of certification?

Specialty nursing certification validates a nurse’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in a defined role and clinical area of practice. Nurses who pursue certification, and the organizations that support and encourage them, demonstrate a commitment to exceptional patient safety and a mastery of current standards in their field of practice.

CCI developed the TrueNorth Award in 2013 to recognize facilities that use certification as a “true north” to guide their perioperative nurses to be models of competent practice, advocates for patient safety excellence, and lifelong learners. To be considered for this high award of merit, facilities must submit an application detailing how their organization recognizes and rewards nurses who earn their certification, and the impact certification has on patients and staff. Applicants must also include letters of endorsement to support the efforts of their facility.

The Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB) certification was developed for perioperative nurses working in the ambulatory surgery setting seeking to improve and validate their professional competencies. CNAMB certification assesses the knowledge and skills of a perioperative nurse with a minimum of two years of clinical practice in the ambulatory surgery setting and confirms a certificant has met established eligibility standards of competence.

Professional development is an integral component of staying informed on new findings and best practices in a continuously changing field. By completing professional development activities, you can learn about current best practices and new findings within the perioperative field. These opportunities come in a variety of forms and are available to everyone. Here are some professional development opportunities for you to consider.

For everyone, but especially frontline workers, the holidays will look a little different in 2020. As a nurse, you may expect to work some holidays, but this year many find themselves without a choice due to understaffed facilities from COVID-19. Here are a few ideas for making the holidays a little merrier amid the chaos. 

The modern perioperative setting is continuously changing and evolving, requiring a conscious effort to maintain competency. By pursuing recertification, you demonstrate a continued dedication to perioperative excellence and a personal commitment to patient safety.

Recertification by professional activity points allows nurses to engage in various activities that will count towards the recertification of their credential. Many nurses are already performing activities at work that are worth points. If this is your first time utilizing points, we are confident that you will find professional activity points to be a flexible and convenient path to recertifying your CNOR credential.

The Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM) credential is one of a kind. CSSM is a perioperative management credential designed for perioperative managers, directors, and nurses who oversee personnel, a budget, a business unit, or a service line. Earning the CSSM is a mark of distinction and recognizes the significant role managers play in delivering safe patient care. If you’re in a perioperative management role, then the CSSM certification may be right for you!

Nurses embark on the journey to earn certification for numerous reasons. Achieving certification validates your knowledge and skills as a perioperative nurse, provides a sense of personal accomplishment, and can advance your career. Certification is an asset to the field of nursing and benefits the entire healthcare community - patients, nurses, managers, hospital administrators, and facilities all see value from perioperative certification.