CCI Blog

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. 

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.

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.

Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward earning your credential by recognizing the importance of certification and deciding to begin exam preparation. Now is the time to study and make sure you adequately prepare. Here are a few tips to help as you start this process.

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.

In a profession where your focus lies on taking care of others, it can be challenging to find the time and energy to take care of yourself. Self-care is doing an activity to improve your health, whether it's mentally or physically. Making the time for self-care is incredibly important and can significantly improve your overall health. Here are a few ideas to try out!

CCI believes that registered nurses who have attained certification, and facilities that support the certification goals of their nurses, show commitment to upholding the highest standards in patient care. The TrueNorth Award was created by CCI to recognize facilities that have used certification as a guide for their perioperative nursing staff. Please join us in congratulating Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for their achievement in being named the 2020 TrueNorth runner-up.

Staying well informed on new findings and best practices is an essential component to remaining safe and healthy during a pandemic. This is especially true for those working on the frontlines. There are endless resources available concerning COVID-19, but not all are credible. We have compiled a list of reputable resources that are beneficial for nurses as they navigate the changing landscape of healthcare during COVID-19.