On March 19, 2024, Kaiser Permanente Fresno celebrated the 2nd Annual Certified Nurses Day event. This event was organized by Telemetry Assistant Nurse Manager Xo Vang, MSN, RN, CCRN and Clinical Nurse Specialist Krystal Pombo, MSN, RN, CSN, AGCNS-BC in collaboration with a group of staff nurses that represented certified nurses from Critical Care Unit, Emergency Department, Maternal Child Health, Med-Surg, Operating Room, PACU, Pre-Op, and Telemetry (full list of names below). These certified nurses hosted interactive stations that were designed to be educational and a fun way to learn more about national certifications in their designated expertise.
“We are hosting this event to encourage our nurses to grow professionally,” Assistant Nurse Manager Xo Vang, Telemetry, said. “The data shows that certified nurses have better patient outcomes, improved patient safety, and increased job satisfaction.”
Certified Nurses Day recognizes nurses who achieve national board certification, and demonstrate a deep commitment to professionalism, excellence, safety, and service through achievement of nursing credentialing in their given specialty.
“We’re all passionate about our jobs,” Staff Nurse IV Stevey Pope-Allred, BSN, RN, Emergency Department, said. “Becoming certified shows that we’ve taken that extra step to solidify our commitment to nursing. It also helps you realize that you have this wealth of knowledge to help others.”
“Certification helps you demonstrate your competency and how well-rounded you are with your knowledge base,” Staff Nurse III Valerie Mundy, BSN, RN, CEN, Emergency Department, said. “It helps you be the best you can be.”
In 2022, a total of 98 nurses were identified as having a national certification. At the time of the event in 2024, 178 registered nurses were recognized, since the event an additional 19 nurses have been identified, 14 of which are new certifications, bringing the total to 197 and an overall increase of 101% from 2022.
Marion Alvarez, BSN, RN, CNOR
Jenna Armson, BSN, RN, CCRN
Marichelle Bustamante, BSN, RN, CCRN
Lester Edralin, BSN, RN, CPAN
Sonia Lourence, BSN, RN, PHM-C
Patricia Martinez, BSN, RN, RN-NIC, IBCLC
Valerie Mundy, BSN, RN, CEN
Stevey Pope, MSN, RN
Vela Powel, RN, CNOR
Rumel Rivera, BSN, RN, PCCN
Keris Schreiber, BSN, RN, CAPA
Daniel Topete, BSN, RN, CMSRN
Rizza Valerio, BSN, RN, PCCN
Denise Winslow, BSN, RN, IBCLC