CCI Blog

From a very young age Nancy knew she was supposed to be a nurse. She remembers having a coloring book with pictures of different occupations on each page; specifically, Farmer Brown, Chef Tony and Nurse Nancy. She thought to herself, “Oh look…I am Nancy and it says here that I am supposed to be a nurse when I grow up.” It was this simple childhood logic that lead her on a great journey to become a successful and caring perioperative nurse (who knew she would eventually marry Chef Tony, as well)! Today, Nancy Cabianca RN, CNOR is an exceptional example of perioperative nursing leadership. A natural go getter, Nancy has successfully passed certification exams in both Canada and the US, continuing to widen the effect she has on the profession. There is no doubt she has made a significant impact at her current facility in her role as staff nurse at the Queens Medical Center, Same Day Surgery Operating Room in Oahu, HI. 

Amelia Earhart once said, "The most effective way to do it, is to do it." Tabitha Stutts Kinlaw, seems to agree. Since the day she stepped foot into the operating room, she has been a go-getter. A perioperative nurse for 25 years and certified as a CNOR since 1995, Tabitha has practiced as a staff nurse, orthopedic surgery coordinator, charge nurse, assistant director, and educator in the operating room. Tabitha continues her success as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist and the Primary Nurse Administrator of the Approved Provider Unit at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, NC--the same hospital she was born in.

According to a recent study by WalletHub, Florida is the best state for military retirees as it received high rankings in economic environment, quality of life, and health care. One of the VA health care facilities located in the sunshine state is James A. Haley Veteran's Hospital (JAHVH), this month's Hospital Highlight. A teaching hospital, this facility offers a wide range of services, is equipped with latest technology and participates in many educational and research opportunities. Supporting certification with the help of the facility's CNOR Coach, JAHVH is committed to encouraging their perioperative staff to advance through continued education and achieved competencies ensuring the highest quality of care is provided. 

From directing staff to managing scheduling and budgets-- and coordinating the day-to-day-- managers of the OR directly impacting patient safety. With so many important responsibilities, there is no doubt that surgical service managers have play a vital role in the OR. But how does one become identified as a well-rounded and effective manager? One way is through certification, or in other words, by becoming CSSM-certified.

We know how daunting it may be when preparing for any certification exam-- there is so much to review and it is impossible to know exactly what questions will be on the test. How will you know where to begin? Well look no further, because CCI is here to help. We have created a list of the top 5 must-have resources to help you prepare to take the CSSM Exam.

Certification is defined as the process of providing an individual with an official document attesting to a status or level of achievement. Certification is used in the perioperative profession so nurses may demonstrate their mastery of knowledge in surgical nursing, and their ability to apply this knowledge to their clinical practice. With a goal to create a culture of patient safety and extraordinary care, certification benefits the entire healthcare community from the patient to the nurse to the facility. A 2017 TrueNorth Honorable Mention and this month's Hospital Highlight, Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital, is highly aware of these benefits and in return works hard to motivate nurses to become certified within the facility. 

This month we are very pleased to honor recently appointed CCI board president, Julia (Julie) Thompson, PhD, RN, CNS, CIP, CNOR, CNS-CP. A perioperative nurse for over 30 years and certified as a CNOR since 1990, Dr. Thompson has practiced as a staff nurse, manager, assistant director, educator, Clinical Nurse Specialist, consultant, and researcher in surgical services. Julie attributes her successful career to a strong foundation in the nursing process, a passion for continued learning, and an enthusiasm for patient safety and advocacy. 

CCI’s Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM) credential is designed to improve and validate the managerial knowledge and skills of perioperative leaders to advance the performance of their surgical services departments. Preparing to take any certification exam can be an intimidating task, but an entirely new credential? Where do you even begin?! Well to make sure you start off on the right foot, CCI wants to give you a few tips on what NOT to do when preparing for the CSSM Exam.

Did you know you wanted to be a perioperative nurse even before you entered the profession? David Irby sure did. From his first exposure to perioperative nursing at the young age of 16 as a Junior Volunteer, he found himself intrigued.  A few short years later, David gained more exposure to the OR through clinical rotations at the University of Virginia, and knew he had found his calling. By his senior year, David was eager to participate in a month-long Practicum in the area he was most interested in, and spent a month with one of his mentors in thoracic surgery.

The Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM) certification is for perioperative leaders interested in advancing the performance of their surgical services department by improving and validating their managerial knowledge and skills. CCI developed the CSSM credential to recognize the important role managers have in directing staff, programs and budgets in delivering safe patient care. The purpose of the CSSM certification is to provide recognition for the important and distinct role of surgical services managers. But why should you choose the CSSM credential? Aside from it being the only certification for surgical service managers, we have created this list of important reasons why the CSSM credential may be just right for you.