EJGH First “CNOR Strong” Certified Facility in New Orleans Region

East Jefferson General Hospital is pleased to announce it has recently earned the CNOR® Strong designation from the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI). The CNOR Strong designation is given to facilities having at least 50% of its perioperative nursing staff CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room) certified, and provides programs that reward and recognize its certified nurses. This is the first year CCI has awarded this elite status to facilities nationwide.

EJGH is the first hospital in the New Orleans region to earn this distinction, going well above and beyond CCI’s 50% minimum, boasting 69% of its perioperative nurses as CNOR certified.

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’re very proud of everyone who achieved this mark and we want to celebrate and thank them,” said Melissa Lorio, RN, BSN, MBA, Senior Director of Perioperative/Surgical Services at EJGH. “It provides our physicians and patients with certified nurses who are able to deliver top-tier care in the operating room, providing the best and safest care possible.”

Research shows that nurses who earn the CNOR credential have greater confidence in their clinical practice. Therefore, 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 the CNOR Strong program; to recognize those facilities committed to making a difference for its patients both inside and outside of the OR.

Patient safety and positive surgical outcomes are of the utmost importance to a facility, and supporting nurses as they exceed expectations to achieve their perioperative nursing certification shows EJGH’s commitment to its core values.