UNC Health Lenoir celebrated Certified Nurses Day, March 19, by honoring its 33 board-certified nurses with a breakfast to recognize their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in patient care:

Michelle Aycock, RN, CCDS – Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist

Kimberly Best, BSN, RN, CPHQ – Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality

Robin Duuring, MSN, MHA, RN, CCRN-K, NPD-BC – Certified Critical Care Knowledge Professional (Pediatric) & Certified Nurse in Professional Development

Ashleigh Everett, BSN, RN, CPHQ – Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality

Lisa Farrior, RN, CDE – Certified Diabetes Educator

Brittany Ferrell, MSN, RN-BC – Certified Medical Surgical Nurse

Erica Fields, BSN, RN-BC – Certified Medical Surgical Nurse

Rachel Garris, BSN, RN-BC – Certified Medical Surgical Nurse

Lauren Ginn, BSN, RN, NPD-BC – Certified Nurse in Professional Development

Loretta Griffin, RN, OCN – Certified Oncology Nurse

John Hagen, BSN, RN, VA-BC – Vascular Access – Board Certified

Constance Hengel, BSN, RN, HNB-BC – Certified Holistic Nurse, Baccalaureate

Penny Hill, BSN, RN, CRRN – Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse

Suzie Hobgood, RN, CCDS – Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist

Elizabeth Hood, MS, BSN, CPHQ – Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality

Cheryl Jarman, BSN, RN, CHC – Certified in Health Care Compliance

Edelweiss Jaum, MSN, RN-BC – Certified Medical Surgical Nurse

Janna Kelly, BSN, RN, WTA-C – Certified Wound Treatment Associate

Kristi Koonce, BSN, RN, OCN – Certified Oncology Nurse

Cori LaBounty, RN, WTA-C – Certified Wound Treatment Associate

Jessica Long, BSN, RN, CEN – Certified Emergency Nurse

Leah Lovett, MSN, RN-BC – Certified Cardiovascular Nurse

Annette Outlaw, RN, CNOR – Certified Nurse, Operating Room

Donna Potter, RN, OCN – Certified Oncology Nurse

Katherine Potter, BSN, RN, CCRP – Certified Cardiac Rehab Professional

Natalie Smith, MSN, RN, NPD-BC – Certified Nurse in Professional Development

Keri Smithwick, BSN, RN-BC – Certified Medical Surgical Nurse

Mary Steele, RN, CRRN – Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse

Bonnet Tyndall, BSN, RN, CCDS – Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist

Kay Tyndall, BSN, RN, WTA-C – Certified Wound Treatment Associate

Noah White, BSN, RN, CCRN – Certified Critical Care Nurse

Peggy Williams, BSN, RN, CCRN – Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse

Liz Williams, BSN, RN-BC – Certified Medical Surgical Nurse

 

Board certification of nurses plays an increasingly important role in the assurance of high standards of care for patients and their loved ones. Nursing, like health care in general, has become increasingly complex. While a registered nurse (RN) license provides entry to general nursing practice, the knowledge-intensive requirements of modern nursing require extensive education, as well as a strong personal commitment to excellence by the nurse.  

UNC Health Lenoir encourages national board certification for all its nurses. Patients are encouraged to inquire whether there are certified nurses on staff when they visit a hospital or their primary care provider. There are many nursing certification specialties, such as medical-surgical, pediatric, pain management, cardiac vascular, oncology, hospice, case management, emergency nursing, critical care, and many others. Many nursing certification bodies exist to serve the full range of specialized nursing care offered in the contemporary healthcare system; national nurse-certifying bodies should be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) or the National Organization for Competence Assurance (NOCA). 

Please join UNC Health Lenoir and the nation’s national nursing certification organizations in honoring those hardworking, dedicated nurses for their professionalism and a job well done!