Nurse Executives see Value of Nursing Certification

July 15, 2011 - PRLog -- A recent survey of nurse executives attending the 44th Annual Conference of the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) in San Diego this past April, illustrated the value of nursing certification. The survey was conducted by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB®).

Certification of nurses is a key component in achieving the prestigious ANCC Magnet® designation. The survey revealed that although only 24% of the respondents were employed at hospitals with an ANCC Magnet® accreditation, 39% of the nurse executives reported that they required that the specialty nurses reporting to them be certified. The respondents cited the quality, knowledge and expertise of certified nurses as reasons for requiring certification. One executive responded succinctly, “They know their stuff!”

The nurse executives also ranked the most important healthcare outcomes that certified wound, ostomy, continence and foot care nurses provide:  

1.   Reducing or eliminating Healthcare Acquired Pressure Ulcers   
2.   Promoting evidence-based practice   
3.   Improving overall patient outcomes   
4.   Reducing or eliminating Catheter Acquired Urinary Tract Infections   

The WOCNCB conducts surveys related to nursing certification and the specialties of wound, ostomy, continence and foot care nursing practice several times each year.

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The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board is a professional organization dedicated to providing consumer safety and protection by offering credentialing in the areas of wound, ostomy, continence and foot care nursing to registered nurses who meet WOCNCB’s stringent qualifications and pass its certification examination. WOCNCB certified nurses provide quality care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare.

Today, nearly 6,500 WOCNCB certified nurses are practicing in the United States, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The WOCNCB’s wound, ostomy and continence certifications are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABNSC).

For more information, contact the WOCNCB at (888) 496-2622, e-mail marketingmanager@wocncb.org, or visit www.wocncb.org.