Upon reading in May/June edition of the Process that both Pennslyvania and Missouri had legislation pending or in place that would prohibit the use of the term certification or registration, I was appalled. Included in the article was that "over the past three years, there has been a concerted effort on the state level across the country to either eliminate licenses for certain professions, create state-run certification programs, or disallow the use of the term "registered" or "certified" ". Certification in sterile processing has always been an uphill battle with the hospital associations and other nursing associations. Whether it be a false narrative of cost or pecking order, it has been a challenge. AORN created a position statement for a perioperative nursing certification in 2016 that reads:
POSITION STATEMENT AORN believes that
the practice of perioperative nursing requires specialized knowledge and skills that contributes to optimal patient outcomes.
obtaining perioperative nursing specialty certification from accredited credential providers is one important step to assuring patients, colleagues, and the public at large that they are receiving the highest quality perioperative nursing care.
employers should support RNs in their certification and recertification activities, encourage the display of the certified RN's credentials, and market the professional accomplishments of certified RNs to the public.
Certification in sterile processing provides the same benefits as the perioperative nursing certification, assuring high-quality care. Sterile processing as well requires a specialized skill set. The certified technicians in sterile processing should be able to market their professional accomplishments, too!
At Evolved Sterile Processing, our consultants have a greater focus on sterile processing. With our decades of experience, we will help you develop better processes and educational resources for your staff.
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