Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach have earned the CNOR Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI). The CNOR Strong designation is given to hospitals/medical centers having at least 50 percent of its operating room nursing staff CNOR certified, and provides programs that reward and recognize its certified nurses. This is the first year CCI has awarded this elite status to hospitals nationwide.

The CNOR certification program is for perioperative nurses interested in improving and validating their knowledge and skills, and providing the highest quality care to their patients. Certification also recognizes a nurse’s commitment to professional development. It is an objective, measurable way of acknowledging the achievement of specialty knowledge beyond basic nursing preparation and RN licensure.

“We are honored to be recognized as CNOR Strong,” says Linda Hoff, vice president, adult medical-surgical units, wound care, perioperative services, Long Beach Memorial. “We are proud of our nurses for expanding their knowledge through CNOR certification and for the care they provide to our patients every day.”

Research shows that nurses who earn the CNOR credential have greater confidence in their clinical practice. Thus, a team of certified nurses who have mastered the standards of perioperative practice provides even more empowerment – further advancing a culture of professionalism and promoting improved patient outcomes. This strength in numbers is why CCI launched theCNOR Strong program; to recognize those hospitals committed to making a difference for its patients both inside and outside of the operating room.

Patient safety and positive surgical outcomes are of the utmost importance to a hospital, and supporting nurses as they exceed expectations to achieve their perioperative nursing certification shows Long Beach Memorial’s and Miller Children’s commitment to providing high quality care to patients.

Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach are a part of the MemorialCare Health System, a nationally recognized not-for-profit integrated delivery system with top ratings for quality and safety. Long Beach Memorial has been providing compassionate care with the latest state-of-the-art technology for more than 100 years and is the region’s first choice for comprehensive care in virtually every medical and surgical specialty. Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, with conditions ranging from common to complex, as well as maternity care for expectant mothers – all under one roof. Visit MemorialCare.org/LongBeach and MillerChildrens.org for more information.

Established in 1979, CCI provides the CNOR and CRNFA credentials to more than 34,000 registered nurses, making it one of the largest specialty nursing credentialing organizations and the leading certification body for perioperative nurses. The mission of CCI is to lead competency credentialing that promotes safe, quality patient care and that supports lifelong learning.

For more information about the Competency and Credentialing Institute, visit www.cc-institute.org.