Nurse Certifications Strengthen Hospital Services

Peachtree, NC  –   Six nurses at Murphy Medical Center recently earned certification in medical specialties: Tammy Beasley and Karen Crubaugh in Certified Gastroenterology Certified Nursing (CGRN); Beth Brown and Cheri Pinner in Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) and Judy Land and Courtney Maney, Certified in Emergency Nursing (CEN) and Sexual Abuse Nurse Examiner (SANE). Each specialty certification recognizes advanced competency in the nurse’s areas of expertise.

Nursing Certification
Jenna Merrill, Vice President of Nursing Services, said certification demonstrates each nurse’s professional aspirations and desire to deliver the highest quality patient care. She believes that the nurses who pursue and earn specialty certification show a commitment to the profession which benefits the community. Twenty eight percent of Murphy Medical’s nursing staff hold professional certifications, higher than the national average which is about 15%.

“Although it is not easy to take the time for studying, review classes, and maintaining practice hours,” Merrill said, “Murphy Medical Center is passionate about promoting our nurses’ journey to excellence and supporting professional certification to validate nurses' skills, knowledge, and abilities.”

Endoscopy Department
Connie Ensley, Same Day Care Department Manager, said of Beasley and Crubaugh, “I am very proud of these nurses. They are the first two in our department to take and pass the (Gastroenterology/Endoscopy) exam.”

The CGRN designation is awarded by the American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses after having worked a specified number of hours in the field, obtaining verification of professional qualification by practitioners, and passing a comprehensive exam.

Ensley complimented  the nurses’ dedication to their profession by pointing out each has worked at Murphy Medical for 19 and 21 years, respectively, and each of them still believe it is important to keep up with advancing skills and information.

Beasley said that taking the test “validated my knowledge and experience. I am proud I passed the exam because it was not easy.”

Crubaugh believes studying for the test was a big learning experience. “It broadened our horizons about what we can do here at our facility.”

Surgical Department
Nurse Manager Linda Crowell oversees nurses in Murphy Medical’s Surgical Unit. She said that Brown and Pinner are the most recent Surgical Unit nurses to pass the international Certified Nursing in the Operating Room (CNOR) designation. They joined two previously certified nurses currently working in the OR, Manager Linda Crowell and Kathie Cornwell.

Pinner explained the specialty certification demonstrated her dedication to the nursing specialty. “Studying and taking the test was difficult, stressful and challenging. I took it (the test) on for personal satisfaction and to help patients feel comfortable that we strive for excellence, reflected in our education level and tested knowledge.”

Brown echoed Pinner’s sentiment. “The exam was more challenging for us because we were tested on areas of expertise that we don’t practice on a daily basis at Murphy Medical Center. We learned more studying for the test, which will mean better patient service in the Surgical Unit.”

Both Pinner and Brown are enrolled in nursing degree programs through Western Carolina University. Pinner is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing while Brown is undertaking the Masters Degree in Nursing, concentrated in earning her Family Nurse Practitioner title.

Emergency Department
Gail Crawford, Emergency Department Nurse Manager, is proud to announce the increase of Certified Emergency Nursing (CEN) at Murphy Medical Center by Land and Maney.  Additionally, both nurses earned certifications as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) by the Office for Victims of Crime. 

Crawford said these nurses provide advanced services to Emergency Department patients. She says the benefits of studying for the exam and obtaining the certification have led the nurses to refresh their current skill set and learn about new resources in treating patients.

Maney said in addition to validating her existing medical knowledge, “when studying for the exam, you learn about situations that aren’t seen here every day so you are more apt to deal with different conditions when the patients do show up with them.”

 “Our experience through the SANE training helps us help the victims,” Judy said. “By being on-site, we see the victims in more timely manner. Utilizing nurses trained in sexual assault allows us to offer more consistent and compassionate care to the victim through the entire process. Having worked with similar victims, we know the anguish they experience and can help them through this tough period and provide resources to help with after care.”

The SANE designation alleviates workload among the Emergency Department doctors and staff. Dr. Mark Walters said, “From an ER doctor’s perspective SANE nursing is a ‘Godsend’ because when you encounter a rape victim, you can’t hurry, you have to take time to deal with the sensitive issues the victim is enduring. To do a good job takes time and it takes the ER doctor out of circulation (for the rest of the waiting patients).”

Walters continued, “With Judy’s and Courtney’s training, it takes a load off of our shoulders to be effective for the overall care provided in the ER. We are certainly appreciative of their skills, knowledge, and compassion.”

Crawford believes, “these women have built morale amongst their peers, encouraging them to study for and pass the rigorous exam.” She said a number of nurses are now studying to become certified in emergency nursing.

Surgical Nurses: (l-r) Courtney Maney, RN, CEN, SANE and Judy Land, RN, CEN, SANE

Endoscopy Nurses: (l-r) Tammy Beasley, RN, CGRN and Karen Crubaugh, RN, CGRN

Emergency Nurses: (l-r) Beth Brown, RN, CNOR and Cheri Pinner, RN, CNOR