Members of the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB) are pleased to announce Stephanie Barrett, MSN, RN, ONC®, was selected as a 2017 recipient of the Orthopaedic Nursing Certification Advocacy Award. Ms. Barrett is employed as Service Line Educator for the Center for Musculoskeletal Care at Yale-New Haven Hospital (New Haven, CT). In this role for 2 years, she has promoted orthopaedic nursing certification as an important measure of professional development. Ms. Barrett earned the ONC credential in 2015 to serve as a role model for her nurse colleagues. To support others in their quest for orthopaedic nursing certification, she applied for and received a grant from the hospital to host a review course. She also facilitated the hospital’s participation in ONCB’s Retest for Success program. Eighteen nurses have earned certification through participation in these two programs, with the number of certified orthopaedic nurses now at 30% of eligible RNs.
As part of the award application, Ms. Barrett noted, “I see how important it is for us as nurses to showcase our knowledge in our specialty areas. I want our patients to know that when they come to our hospital they are being care for by the highest quality orthopedic nurses.” After receiving notice of her award, she added, “Becoming certified is a way for our nurses to showcase the expert knowledge and skills they have and use to deliver high quality care to our orthopedic population.”
“Stephanie Barrett serves as an exceptional role model for orthopaedics and specialty nursing certification. It is our great pleasure to support her attendance at the Annual NAON Congress in May 2017, and to honor her passion for orthopaedic nursing certification,” said Kathy Bolme, RN, ONC®, President of ONCB.
###
Editors Note:
The Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB) offers the only certification examinations for registered nurses in orthopaedic practice in the United States. The mission of ONCB is to improve musculoskeletal health by providing orthopaedic nurses with certifications that promote their professional development and advance the practice of orthopaedic nursing. Currently, over 7000 registered nurses hold the board’s three credentials: Orthopaedic Nurse Certified (ONC®), Orthopaedic Clinical Nurse Specialist Certified (OCNS-C®), and Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner Certified (ONP-C®). A volunteer board of 11 members, including a consumer representative, provides strategic direction for orthopaedic nursing certification examination development and maintenance activities.
For further information about ONCB, visit www.oncb.org or email Dottie Roberts, EdD, MSN, MACI, RN, OCNS-C®, CMSRN, CNE, Executive Director, at oncb@oncb.org.