CCI Blog

As the newest VA hospital in 19 years opened in May of 2013, there was no doubt that certified nurses would be highly involved in the activation process. Not only did certified nurses assist with design, equipment ordering, vendor collaboration, and departmental organization, but they collectively wrote 43 new Standard Operating Procedures for the facility. Fast forward five years later and VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS) is still highly encouraging and supportive of their certified nurses, allowing them to be recognized as a recipient of CCI's 2018 TrueNorth Award.

In the suburbs of Reading, PA there is a small borough in Berks County that is home to around 10,000 residents known as Wyomissing, PA. While this quaint town has plenty of charm, we are particularly interested because it is the location of the Reading Hospital SurgiCenter at Spring Ridge, one of two 2018 TrueNorth Award recipients. As a 2017 TrueNorth Award Honorable Mention, this facility was eager to continue toward excellence. Highly committed to supporting nurses through the process of certification, this returning applicant caught CCI's attention when they submitted an application even more impressive than the last. 

CCI's TrueNorth Award was created to recognize those organizations that use CNOR certification to guide their perioperative nursing staff to be lifelong learners, models of competent practice, and advocates for excellence and patient safety. Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital of Orlando Health does this well. A first-time applicant for the TrueNorth Award, Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital stood out and impressed judges with the ways they support and promote certification amongst their perioperative nurse staff. In fact, their 2018 TrueNorth Award application was so impressive, they were named this year's TrueNorth Award Runner Up and received a recent visit from CCI's CEO Dr. James Stobinski. Their commitment to perioperative certification has shown through in numerous ways.

Inspiring and determined nurse Renee Hilderbrand, RN, MSN, CNOR, RNFA, has been working in the perioperative field for over 35 years, making a definite impact along the way. Her passion for perioperative nursing eventually brought her to Northern California where she has assisted in the training of hundreds of perioperative nurses.

We recently had the privilege to visit one remarkable facility and host a CNOR Exam Prep Course for a group of exceptional and determined nurses. Part of Northern California's largest health network, Sutter Health, Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, is made up of multiple facilities including Ose Adams Medical Pavilion, Anderson Luchetti Women's & Children's Center, and Sutter Center for Psychiatry. While each of these facilities offers patient care in different areas, they all work together to serve the surrounding Sacramento community with compassion and excellence.

As you may have seen from one of CCI’s recent social posts, one of our CNOR Coaches has been promoted to Lieutenant Commander of the Nurse Corps, United States Navy. Not only has Josh Wymer, MSPM, MA, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM worked in the operating room for several years, but he is always eager to help others excel in the perioperative field as well. We are so proud to honor newly-appointed LCDR Wymer as an exceptional leader in the perioperative community, featuring him as this month’s Nurse Spotlight.

We are so honored to present John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek as this month’s Hospital Highlight. This impressive facility is recognized as one of the nation’s premier health care providers by several organizations including U.S. News & World Report. The 554-licensed bed hospital offers high quality care in many specialty areas including pediatrics, orthopedics, cardiac, neurosciences, rehabilitation, cancer, and more. John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek has been awarded many accolades because of the hard work of a dedicated staff, all serving a meaningful mission. The facility’s dedication to provide exceptional care is mirrored by the practices in place within which have lead to the recognition of outside organizations.

CCI has been very busy working with the Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) this  year to increase the number of certified perioperative nurses employed within their facilities. With this partnership, we have had the opportunity to present several CNOR Exam Prep Courses over the last year, one of which recently took place at The Medical Center of Aurora (main campus).

 When asking perioperative nurses what they love about the profession there are a few popular answers we have heard more than once. Two of the most common responses include the opportunities for specialty practice within the OR as well as being an advocate for the patient when they need it most. These two aspects, along with several others, first drew Christina Dempsey to the operating room more than 30 years ago.

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

In 2013, CCI developed the TrueNorth Award to recognize organizations that use CNOR certification as a “true north” to guide their perioperative nursing staff to be lifelong learners, models of competent practice, and advocates for patient safety excellence. This award is the among the highest honors bestowed upon a perioperative department, with prizes totaling $5,000. The TrueNorth Award includes five CNOR exam fee vouchers, funds for a facility celebratory reception, a commemorative recognition plaque, and more.

Interested in applying but not sure where to begin? To assist applicants, CCI has broken the process down into five simple steps.