1. careers
2. nursing

11
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015
Committed to Excellence: Several Elant Nurses
Attain Gerontological Nursing Certification
LOCATIONS:
Elant at GOSHEN
46 Harriman Drive
Goshen, NY 10921
Elant at MEADOW HILL
172 Meadow Hill Road
Newburgh, NY 12550
GLEN ARDEN
A Continuing Care Retirement
Community
214 Harriman Drive
Goshen, NY 10924
Elant at FISHKILL
22 Robert Kasin Way
Beacon, NY 12508
Elant at WAPPINGERS FALLS
37 Mesier Avenue
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Sixteen Elant nurses were honored for attaining certification in
gerontological nursing, which will further enhance the level of care
provided to residents, at a celebratory luncheon held at the Elant at
Fishkill campus on March 9.
The certification, given through the American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses
Association, recognizes the importance of continuing nursing
education and skill-based competency programs. This specialty
certification is a standard of excellence in the nursing profession and
provides nurses with a sense of confidence and achievement – both
personally and professionally.
Twelve of the sixteen Elant Registered Nurses who attained
ANCC certification in gerontological nursing
To be eligible to sit for the certification exam, the ANCC requires
the nurse to hold a current, active RN license within a U.S. state
or territory; have practiced an equivalent of 2 years, full time as a
registered nurse; have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice
in the specialty area of gerontological nursing within the last three
years; and have completed 30 hours of continuing education in
gerontological nursing within the last three years.
To assist the nurses with their continuing education credits, Elant
provided access to RN.com, an online educational website which
offers ANCC accredited RN educational courses. In addition, Elant
offered an eight-hour Geronotological Nursing Refresher Class
to prepare the nurses to sit for the certification exam. 100% of the
nurses who sat for the exam were successful in achieving a score
that qualified for certification.
SERVICES:
• Sub-Acute Care and
Rehabilitation Services
• Nursing Home Care
• Elant Medical Practice
• Assisted Living
• Adult Day Programs
• Retirement Community
Living
Elant registered nurses Johana Gonzalez, Yani Morales, and
Amelia Worley enjoying the celebratory luncheon held March 9.
The newly credentialed nurses are: Donna Adams; Brigitte
Barber; Donna Browne-Atkins; Samantha Dawson; Deborah Elliott;
Diane Flower; Johana Gonzalez; Wendelyn Marmon; Lyn Matthews;
Debra McDuffie; Christine O’Toole; Dianne Pauselius; Stacey Ricci;
Nicoleta Stratica; Amanda Thompson and Amelia Worley.
Elant CEO Todd Whitney thanked the nurses for their tenacious
work to attain certification.
“We have such a specially trained, quality staff, which ultimately
enhances the quality of the services we provide to our residents,”
said Whitney. “We’re proud to have so many of our nurses achieve
this certification status, as it further displays a commitment to
excellence.”
The ANCC Certification Program enables nurses to demonstrate
their specialty expertise and validate their knowledge to patients,
residents, families and employers through targeted exams that
incorporate the latest nursing practice standards.
“With less than 1 percent of the nation’s registered nurses
certified in gerontological nursing, the need for strengthening the
current and future nursing workforce to deliver excellent care to
older adults is imperative,” said National Gerontological Nursing
Association (NGNA) President Mary Rita Hurley.
Certification is a process by which a non-governmental agency
validates, according to the ANCC, based upon predetermined
standards, an individual nurse’s qualifications for practice in a defined
functional or clinical area of nursing.
Most certification programs are created, sponsored or affiliated
with professional associations and trade organizations interested
in raising standards, earned through an assessment process and, in
general, must be renewed periodically and require ongoing continuing
education.
Nicoleta Stratica and Donna Brown-Atkins, two of the 16
Elant registered nurses who attained gerontological nursing
certification
“Elant’s staff is among the first in the region to have this
credentialing,” said Christine O’Toole, Elant vice president of clinical
operations and executive director. “This certification exhibits their
vast knowledge.”
Elant’s philosophy on education mirrors the ANCC.
“We both recognize the importance of continuing high-quality
nursing education, evidence-based practice and skills-based
competency programs,” said Theresa Loughney, RN-BC, BSN,
MS, Elant’s clinical educator. “We emphasize nursing excellence
and quality patient outcomes, while providing safe, positive work
environments.”
Both O’Toole and Loughney agreed the entire Elant community
benefits when its nurses achieve such credentialing.
“Patients, residents and their families gain peace of mind
knowing that the nurses who are caring for them or their loved one
have a strong knowledge base, acknowledge current evidence-based
practice and have demonstrated skills in gerontological nursing,”
added Loughney.
Nurses also agree with that thinking.
“I’ve worked in the field since 1999, and this certification helps
me to better understand our residents,” said Nicoleta Stratica, RN
of Wappingers Falls. “It’s a great credential and accomplishment.”
The NGNA position paper, “Essential Gerontological Nursing
Education in Registered Nursing and Continuing Education
Programs,” cited a 2013 Administration on Aging report saying
Americans over age 65 make up 13.7 percent of the population,
or one in every seven people, with anticipated growth that will be
historically unprecedented.
“With this aging trend comes an obligation for nurses to
understand factors impacting physical, social, psychological and
spiritual well�being in older adults, along with complex care needs,”
the report said. “This includes specific information about normal
physiological age�related changes, chronic illnesses along with the
demands of self�management placed on older adults and their care
providers, and disabilities that often occur in later years of life, as well
as strategies for promoting health, well�being and quality of life.”
That’s why Donna Browne-Atkins, RN of Hyde Park feels
credentialing will help her in her holistic approach to patient care.
“From admission to discharge, this credentialing supports the
care plan process,” said Browne-Atkins, who has worked in the field
since 1984. “I’ve seen a lot of baby boomers become gerontological
patients now. There’s a growing need for gerontology nurses. It’s a
true specialty. Certification confirms that.”
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