CCRN Certification Leadership Development Plan for Nurses

Introduction

As Moneke (2014) notes, the CCRN certification "is a mark of excellence and a distinguishing accomplishment" (p. 77). It represents the knowledge that a nurse possesses and professionally applies to provide optimal care to patients. Giving patients both the reassurance and confidence they require when receiving critical treatment — and ensuring that one is fully qualified to provide the best possible care — is a top priority. Accordingly, the SMART goal addressed in this paper is to become a Critical Care Registered Nurse by obtaining CCRN certification.

SMART Goal Framework

Goal: To become CCRN certified and be in a position to provide optimal, quality, person-centered care to patients.

Measurable: This goal will be achieved first by obtaining the appropriate study materials for the exam and utilizing them to strengthen understanding of the core assessments. The plan is to study, practice, and ultimately schedule the exam once knowledge is sufficiently solid.

Achievable: Because there are several CCRN-certified nurses working on the same floor, the plan includes speaking with them about the process of taking the CCRN exam and asking them to describe their personal experiences with the test.

Relevant: The medical-surgical floor includes a step-down room with four beds, which has required involvement — even as a novice nurse — due to understaffing. The outcome was extremely successful and beneficial, as it provided a great deal of learning about this new setting and about personal abilities. The setting is similar to an ICU: patients are on cardiac monitors and require close monitoring by nursing staff. As a result of that success, it has become one of only four nurses on the floor called upon to work this room — the other three nurses have ten or more years of experience. Although only recently ACLS certified, the desire to work in critical care has existed since nursing school enrollment. Upon obtaining the requisite two years of practice providing care for acutely ill and critical patients, the plan is to apply directly to take the CCRN exam.

Time-bound: The timeframe goal is to be certified within three years — that is, no later than April 2019.

Plan of Action

The plan of action is centered on the following objectives:

Step One of this process has already been completed. Kent (2014) has written the Adult CCRN Certification Review for those interested in preparing for the exam and wanting to know precisely what it will consist of. "Welcome to the journey toward certification," writes Kent. "This book was written to help guide the reader on the pathway of the journey" (p. 1). Consisting of questions and answers as well as multiple-choice assessments, the book is a comprehensive exploration of what the CCRN applicant can expect. It also provides numerous hints, tips, and strategies for successfully completing the exam — for example: "Look for answers that facilitate the care of the patient. Facilitative words include nurture, aid, support, reinforce, encourage, and assist" (Kent, 2014, p. 7). This helpful resource was identified through Google Scholar, which is an excellent source for locating academic articles and books that offer a professional perspective on specific issues.

Step Two has also already been completed, as all the nurses on the floor have been consulted about their experiences with the CCRN. The plan, however, is to continue seeking out new perspectives throughout the year.

Step Three has also already been begun. Experience in critical care conditions has been gained on the floor that few other nurses can claim, and being among the four called upon to assist in step-down care represents meaningful progress toward this goal.

Step Four requires a great deal of preparation and depends considerably upon the previous three steps. Part of this preparation will include gathering material and research on why CCRN certification is increasingly important in the medical field, as this will provide encouragement and positive reinforcement to stay on track and ultimately succeed. Reading promotional material such as that by Moneke (2014) is very helpful for understanding the importance and value of pursuing CCRN certification and why organizations should promote it. Such reading will serve as a source of continual inspiration along the way.

Conclusion

By heeding the call of Moneke (2014) and following in the footsteps of the experienced nurses who have obtained CCRN certification, this plan embarks on a journey toward becoming the best critical care nurse possible. Through the SMART action plan, a clear and concise approach to obtaining certification has been developed — one that begins with acquiring the proper study materials and culminates in becoming a leader among fellow nurses, so that patients who come for critical care receive what they require. It is about filling the gaps in nursing staff, stepping up to accept professional challenges, and contributing meaningfully to a culture of excellence in critical care.

References

Conger, J. A. (1989). Leadership: The art of empowering others. Academy of Management Executive, 3(1), 17–25.

Davis, L., Taylor, H., & Reyes, H. (2014). Lifelong learning in nursing: A Delphi study. Nurse Education Today, 34(3), 441–445.

Kent, K. (2014). Adult CCRN certification review. Springer Publishing.

Moneke, N. (2014). Promoting CCRN certification at New York Presbyterian Hospital — Weill Cornell Medical Center. Critical Care Nurse, 34(2), 77–79.