Central Maine Healthcare joined the rest of the medical world this week in recognizing its certified nurses.
March 19 was Certified Nurses Day which is an occasion to publicly acknowledge nurses who earn and maintain the highest credentials in their specialty and contribute to better patient outcomes through their advanced certifications.
“I wanted to get certified to be a role model for my department and to lead by example,” said Amander Wotten, MSN, RN, CEN, an Emergency Department nurse leader at Bridgton Hospital, which is part of Central Maine Healthcare. “Certifications are a great way to show the community we are the very best at what we do and are constantly committed to learning more. As a leader, it builds credibility with your team and connects you to many resources that can benefit colleagues and patients alike.”
“Being certified is about intentionally gaining the knowledge and skills to provide evidence-based care to our patients,” said Gisele Castonguay, RN, CWOCN. Gisele is a registered nurse who is certified in wound, ostomy and continence. “It has allowed me to earn the acceptance and respect of those who refer patients to me,” she said.
According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), nursing certification covers a wide range of specialties, such as medical-surgical, pediatric, pain management, cardiac vascular, oncology, hospice, case management, emergency nursing, critical care and many others.
The significance of certified nurses has been especially profound in recent years, as they have been at the forefront of the global healthcare response, providing vital care during the COVID-19 pandemic.