The Evolving Role of Nursing
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Professional Nurse Certification
As medical specialties for doctors have grown and evolved, so too has specialty nursing practice. Today, due to the ever-evolving nursing profession, MeritCare is honored to have over 110 registered nurses who have achieved professional nursing certifications in areas ranging from ambulatory care to medical-surgical to pediatric and many more. Nursing continues to evolve and new certifications are being created and offered with each passing year.
Patients, staff and, of course, these certified nurses reap benefits on multiple levels when they pass these difficult certification exams. Passing one of these tests gives a nurse the recognition he or she deserves along with a sense of confidence in his or her abilities. It is evidence of a nurse's expertise in a specific area. Beverly Twedt, R.N. with a certification in ambulatory nursing, recommends certification and says, "It's the next step in getting better educated in the field you're working in." Twedt says becoming certified taught her about cultural issues, organizations she could join and the importance of studying.
Another benefit is that an increase in certified nurses leads to a higher quality of health care provided by MeritCare as a whole. And, patients and families are assured knowing that nurses with certifications have exceptional skills, experience and knowledge in a specific area of nursing.
In an effort to encourage nurses to become certified, MeritCare pays the fee for a nurse's initial certification exam thanks to money from MeritCare Foundation. MeritCare Learning Services also offers free preparation courses for nurses interested in taking exams. This fall, there will be a course for the medical-surgical certification exam.
MeritCare is proud to have so many certified nurses serving patients in all of the communities in the region. View a list of MeritCare's certified nurses 
.