There was a time, not long ago, when the Blessing Hospital Progressive Care Unit (PCU) had one certified nurse.
PCU nurses earn Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) status. It validates a nurse’s knowledge regarding care of acutely ill adult patients and promotes continuing excellence in progressive care nursing. Requirements for the certification include at least 1,750 hours of practice as a registered nurse in the direct care of acutely ill patients over the previous 2 years before taking and passing a written examination.
To increase the ranks of PCCNs, department leaders asked the PCU Partnership Council to help raise awareness among the unit’s RNs of a free study course that was available to them. Ashley Kincaid, RN, was chairman of the council at the time.
“Our Partnership Council was hopeful of reaching a goal of increasing certified nurses on PCU by 10%,” Ashley said. “It’s a very in-depth class, but we had a lot of interest in it.”
“PCU nurses exceeded expectations,” she continued. “We started with one nurse certified and now have 11 certified.”
That’s a 1,000% increase.
Ashley says among the reasons for success in the growth of certifications on PCU is chemistry.
“We work well as a team and push each other. That’s one of the things I love about PCU,” she said. “We hold each other accountable for our individual practices and for being part of a team.
Certification is a source of pride and a demonstration of how important patient care is to us. We owe it to our patients to grow in our education.”
Certified nurses on PCU also hope to serve as role models for new nurses on PCU.
Ashley earned her certification as part of the first group that accessed the free study course.
In addition to access to the course, the health system reimburses nurses for the cost of the certification exam.
“Personally, it increases my confidence,” she said. “I know I have grown professionally in my three years at the bedside full time, but it is nice to have that confirmation on paper.”
Here is how Ashley prepared for the PCCN certification exam:
- Took the study course
- Spent about 15 minutes a night doing practice questions
- Understood what she didn’t know and focused her attention on those topics
- A week before the test, increased study time as much as possible
“Work hard and own your own practice. One of my clinical instructors taught me that, and it stuck with me,” she said. “It means do the right thing. Take care of your patients, yourself and your team, and do what it takes to accomplish that.”
PCU owns it.
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