Chester residents receives Gerontological Nursing Certification
CHESTER — Christine O’Toole of Chester is among 16 Elant nurses recently honored for attaining certification in gerontological nursing.
O’Toole earned certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association.
“We have such a specially trained, quality staff, which ultimately enhances the quality of the services we provide to our residents,” said Todd Whitney, Elant CEO. “We’re proud to have so many of our nurses achieve this certification status, as it further displays a commitment to excellence.”
To be eligible to sit for the certification exam, the ANCC requires the nurse to hold a current, active RN (registered nurse) license within a U.S. state or territory; have practiced an equivalent of two 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. Elant also offered an eight-hour Gerontological Nursing Refresher Class to prepare them for the exam and 100 percent of the nurses were successful in achieving a score that qualified for certification.
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.
“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.
According to the National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA), a 2013 Administration on Aging report says 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.
Elant is a comprehensive health care system that serves the needs of more than 3,500 individuals throughout the Hudson Valley region. The organization includes six campuses and employs more than 1,200 individuals. Elant provides a full continuum of care, including sub-acute care and rehabilitation services, skilled nursing care, assisted living, adult day care, retirement community living, home health care and a managed long term care plan. To learn more, call 800-501-3936.