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Spark friendly competition to increase certification rates

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, February 21, 2006

When it comes to increasing staff nurse participation in certification opportunities, monetary incentives are an obvious option. However, as an alternative to offering money, you might consider the strategy in place at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, NJ. To stimulate some friendly competition, the nursing department posts the name, unit, picture, and certification type of nurses who are newly certified onto a "nursing celebration board" near the cafeteria. "We constantly remind staff that certification is a recognition of a higher level of competency and excellence," says Marge Fellenbaum, RN, BSN, director of professional practice at the hospital. She adds that they use this same method to credit nurses who achieve a higher degree (e.g. BSN-to-MSN). In addition to this type of recognition, leaders post the number of certified nurses per unit on the nursing department's Web site, and the organization offers onsite prep classes for some of the more common certifications.

Source: The best practice above is printed with permission from Marge Fellenbaum, RN, BSN, director of professional practice, Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, NJ.

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