Researchers examined rates of common surgical complications in patients in surgical intensive care units and surgical units and compared rates for units with certified and non-certified nurses. Specifically, they examined the following certifications: certified ambulatory perianesthesia nurse, certified nurse operating room, certified RN first assistant and certified postanesthesia nurse.
They found when surgical ICUs had a higher proportion of CPAN and CNOR/CRNFA nurses, there were fewer CLABSIs on the unit. Increasing the percentage of CNOR/CRNFA and CPAN nurses by 10 percent led to a 16 percent and 8 percent drop in CLABSIs, respectively.
Notably, however, the study also found when perioperative units have more CNOR/CRNFA nurses, there are higher rates of hospital-acquired and unit-acquired pressure ulcers.
“Specialty certification should be considered certainly within nursing, as well as within other healthcare sectors, as a mechanism to ensure the proper protocols are being followed, providing patients with the best care available and keeping associated costs as low as possible,” said James Stobinski, PhD, RN, one of the study’s authors and director of credentialing and education at the Competency & Credentialing Institute.
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