Thanks to the participation of Olympic Medical Center operating room staff, Olympic Medical Center recently earned a 2019 CNOR Strong designation.

Five surgery nurses — Laurie Whicher, Heidi Mattern, Sarah Winfield, DeAnn Pype and Ellen Adams — attained their certification in perioperative nursing from the Competency and Credentialing Institute.

The CNOR Strong designation goes to operating rooms where 50 percent or greater of the registered nursing staff have attained their certification in perioperative nursing.

This certification program is for nurses interested in improving and validating their knowledge and skills, and providing the highest quality care for their patients.

Certification also recognizes a nurse’s commitment to professional development. It is an objective, measurable way of acknowledging the achievement of specialty knowledge beyond the standard nursing preparation and registered nurse licensure.

“This exemplifies a facility-wide commitment to nursing excellence and outstanding patient care,” said Lorraine Wall, RN/chief nursing officer and hospital chief operating officer.

Research shows that nurses who earn the CNOR credentials have greater confidence in their clinical practice, OMC representatives said. A team of certified nurses who have mastered the standards of perioperative practice are more empowered, further advancing a culture of professionalism and promoting improved patient outcomes, they said.

Three other surgery nurses are expected to complete the certification in the near future, OMC said in a press release last week.

For more information about the CNOR program, visit www.cc-institute.org/cnor.