By Anne Kochevar and Lisa Rosenfield
In 1992, the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) and the AORN Foundation began an alliance focused on patient safety in the perioperative profession. The affiliation between these two nonprofit organizations reflects an inherent connection between the mission of each. CCI promotes continuous professional development which drives safe, quality patient carei, while the AORN Foundation is dedicated to supporting nurses who make surgery safe.ii Additionally, both organizations promote continuous learning in nursing education to support perioperative nursing – not only for current perioperative nurses but also for future generations of perioperative nurses.
The result of this collaboration was the development of a program dedicated to supporting education and professional development for perioperative nurses through certification grants. These grants can be utilized to pay exam fees for eligible recipients in pursuit of certification of three CCI credentials: Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR), Certified Surgical Services Manager (CSSM) and Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB).
This grant cycle operates on an annual basis and each cycle awards 120 certification grants to eligible recipients. All grant applications are blind-reviewed and scored by the AORN Scholarship Committee. The selection of recipients is based on professional alignment, financial need, and accurate completion of the application.
Grants are non-transferable and non-refundable and must be used by December 31 of the year during which they are conferred. Grant applications for the 2024 cycle will open in mid-December 2023 and will close in February 2024. Grant recipients will be announced in March 2024.
CCI and the AORN Foundation are proud of the philanthropic partnership they have built in allowing the organizations to collaboratively empower perioperative nurses in advancing patient and workplace safety, while also pursuing their career goals. Both organizations look forward to future collaborations to advance this partnership.
ii https://www.aorn.org/Foundation/
Sources
- Anne Kochevar is the development specialist for the AORN Foundation. In her role, she cultivates and stewards relationships with established volunteers, contributors as well as new prospects to advance the impact of the Foundation’s programs and mission.
– Lisa Rosenfield, MA, works in the arena of special projects and partnerships at the Competency and Credentialing Institute. Her scope of work includes designing, implementing, and managing organizational-wide initiatives and signature programs.
https://www.aorn.org/Foundation/
Sources
– Anne Kochevar is the development specialist for the AORN Foundation. In her role, she cultivates and stewards relationships with established volunteers, contributors as well as new prospects to advance the impact of the Foundation’s programs and mission.
– Lisa Rosenfield, MA, works in the arena of special projects and partnerships at the Competency and Credentialing Institute. Her scope of work includes designing, implementing, and managing organizational-wide initiatives and signature programs.
