NAON POSITION STATEMENT Orthopaedic Nursing Certifi cation Mary Jo Satusky dic nursing certifi cation as provided by the Orthopaedic Issue Nurses Certifi cation Board (ONCB). The American healthcare system continues to undergo Patients and their families benefi t from advances in profound and turbulent changes. Models of care are safety and quality and improved processes of care deliv- placing increased emphasis on quality, with resulting ered by certifi ed nurses. Consumers have more confi - fi nancial implications to facilities. “This evolution in dence in certifi ed nurses ( Fitzpatrick, 2017 ). healthcare provides an opportunity for all nurses to Certifi ed nurses enjoy enhanced professional credi- more fully realize their commitment to quality and bility, increased job satisfaction and marketability, safety in patient care” ( Stobinski, 2015 , p. 377). higher levels of transformational leadership, and higher Licensure examinations verify the readiness of entry- perception of both formal power and informal power level nurses; certifi cation examinations confi rm the ( Fitzpatrick, 2017 ; Martin et al., 2015 ). ability of expert nurses to provide evidence-based care Organizations realize benefi ts in reducing turnover at all levels of acuity in a specialized area of care ( Elwell, and costs, advancing safety and quality, improving re- 2017 ; Martin, Arenas-Montoya, & Barnett, 2015). cruitment and retention, and improving culture ( Martin Certifi cation may be viewed as a commitment to profes- et al., 2015 ). sional development and lifelong learning. A certifi ed nurse is a more meaningful contributor to safe and quality patient care and improved patient outcomes Background/Rationale ( Stobinski, 2015 ). Certifi cation, as defi ned by the American Board of Nursing “Certifi cations are time-limited and the maintenance Specialties (2016 ), is the formal recognition of the special- of certifi cation requires ongoing acquisition of both ized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by knowledge and experience in practice” ( Institute of the achievement of standards identifi ed by a nursing spe- Medicine, 2010, p. 197). The requirements to maintain cialty to promote optimal health outcomes. The Institute certifi cation are a key component in developing a per- of Medicine (2010) report, The Future of Nursing: Leading sonal plan for ongoing professional development. Change, Advancing Health , stated, “Nurses who receive Registered nurses (RNs) who hold a specialty nursing certifi cation, including those serving in all advanced prac- certifi cation reported a higher frequency of evidence- tice roles, provide added assurance to the public that they based practice behaviors, as well as a higher ability and have acquired the specialized professional development, desire for evidence-based practice behaviors. training, and competencies required to provide safe, qual- Characteristics of Magnet standards for designation re- ity care for specifi c patient populations” (p. 197). quire organizations to set and meet higher goals for for- The requirements to maintain certifi cation contribute mal education and nursing certifi cation ( Wilson, 2015 ). to ongoing professional development and continuing Percentages of RNs certifi ed by a nationally recognized competence. Ongoing professional development may be organization are included in the Characteristics of the key to patient safety and, ultimately, better patient Magnet ( American Nurses Credentialing Center, 2018 ). outcomes. Those nurse-sensitive outcomes may include a Musculoskeletal diseases are the most frequent reduction in total patient falls, selected hospital-acquired chronic health problem in the United States, causing infections, restraint use, and unit-acquired pressure ul- pain and disability ( National Institute of Arthritis and cers and decreased odds of mortality and failure to rescue Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 2017). Because so ( Boyle, 2017 ; Fitzpatrick, 2017 ; Martin et al., 2015 ). many Americans are affected in some way by diseases of The ONCB was founded by the National Association of bones, joints, muscles, and skin, it is critical that nurses Orthopaedic Nurses in 1986 in response to a request from caring for patients of all ages with musculoskeletal con- the membership of NAON for a certifi cation program to ditions be qualifi ed to provide quality specialty care. further establish orthopaedic nursing as a specialty and to recognize expertise in the fi eld. The ONC credential Position The National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses sup- Mary Jo Satusky, BSN, RN, ONC, Nurse Educator, National Association ports certifi cation because certifi cation adds value to of Orthopaedic Nurses, Chicago, IL. key stakeholders in healthcare today. The National The author has disclosed no confl icts of interest . Association of Orthopaedic Nurses supports orthopae- DOI: 10.1097/NOR.0000000000000588 © 2019 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses Orthopaedic Nursing • September/October 2019 • Volume 38 • Number 5 301 Copyright © 2019 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. indicates that an RN has attained basic orthopaedic certi- American Nurses Credentialing Center . ( 2018 ). fi cation. Advanced credentials (OCNS-C and ONP-C) in- Characteristics of Magnet ® . Retrieved from https://www. dicate a nurse has attained orthopaedic certifi cation as a nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/ clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. The ONC-A why-become-magnet/characteristics-of-magnet advanced portfolio certifi cation program is offered to Boyle , D. ( 2017 ). Nursing specialty certifi cation and patient outcomes: What we know in acute care hospitals and other nurses who have completed graduate education in future directions . Journal of the Association for nursing or an allied discipline (e.g., MPH, MNA). Vascular Access , 22 ( 3 ), 137 – 142 . The ONCB certifi cation programs are rigorous, and Elwell , S. ( 2017 ). Certifi cation matters. Journal of Trauma the certifi cations are sound, legally defensible meas- Nursing , 24 ( 6 ), 342 – 344 . ures of orthopaedic nursing knowledge. Orthopaedic Fitzpatrick , J. ( 2017 ). The value of nursing certifi cation: nursing certifi cation validates nurses’ attainment of Revisited and reinforced . Journal of the Association for stringent requirements for knowledge and recognizes Vascular Access , 22 ( 3 ), 131 – 134 . expertise in musculoskeletal health. Orthopaedic nurs- Institute of Medicine . ( 2010 ). The future of nursing: Leading ing certifi cation benefi ts patients and their families, change, advancing health . Retrieved from https://www. nurses, and employers across all settings where nurs- nap.edu/read/12956/chapter/1 Martin , L. , Arenas-Montoya , N. , & Barnett , T. ( 2015 ). ing care is provided for musculoskeletal conditions. All Impact of nurse certifi cation rates on patient satisfac- nurses who provide care to or support for patients with tion and outcomes: A literature review . The Journal of musculoskeletal conditions should seek to become cer- Continuing Education in Nursing , 46 ( 12 ), 549 – 554 . tifi ed by ONCB. NAON encourages employers to hire National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and orthopaedic certifi ed nurses, support employed nurses Skin Diseases . ( 2017 ). Mission . Retrieved from https:// in attaining and maintaining certifi cation, reward www.niams.nih.gov/about nurses who become certifi ed, and inform patients and Stobinski , J. ( 2015 ). Certifi cation and patient safety . AORN the public about the certifi cation status of their RNs. Journal , 101 ( 3 ), 374 – 378 . Wilson , M. ( 2015 ). Empowering nurses with evidence- REFERENCES based practice environments: Surveying Magnet, Pathway to Excellence, and non-Magnet facilities in American Board of Nursing Specialties . ( 2016 ). About us . one healthcare system . Worldviews on Evidence-Based Retrieved from http://www.nursingcertifi cation.org/ Nursing , 121 , 12 – 21 . about 302 Orthopaedic Nursing • September/October 2019 • Volume 38 • Number 5 © 2019 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses Copyright © 2019 by National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited..