CCI

The Seacrest Company, a leading consultant to certification boards, recently stated that, “Today’s workforce requires varied options to demonstrate expertise and attainment of job-related skills.” (2022). 

Nursing faces a significant challenge in the dissemination of new nursing knowledge. We have record numbers of nurses engaged in doctoral studies, but the vital findings from this research – essential new knowledge – does not consistently make its way to the point of care. Life events do happen and many dissertations are never widely disseminated. In 2012, I completed the required forms, paid my fees and placed my dissertation in the ProQuest database. With some work you can find my dissertation. Some researchers have figured this out as my work has been cited in seven other papers. I would venture that few perioperative nurses routinely search databases for new evidence. 

Valid competency assessment instruments have the potential to enhance professional development by identifying areas for improvement. Instruments do exist for the assessment of general nursing competency; the Nurse Competence Scale (NCS) developed by Meretoja being one salient example (2004). The NCS has been used with perioperative nurses but is not specific to the specialty. 

In this column, I would like to discuss a very exciting development for the CCI; the recent launch of our sixth credential – Nursing Professional Development Advanced – Board Certified (NPDA-BC).

Often in these columns I provide updates on the credentialing work done by the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) and our certifications. This month, I would like to share information about credentialing, but I will not be speaking to certifications held by perioperative nurses nor about new programs being developed by CCI. 

Volunteer work seems to be a small but important part of what we do as perioperative nurses.