Certified Nurses Day 2024

Sharon Hill, RN, CCRN

Clinical Nurse (CN) II

Medical Intensive Care Unit, Tower 5

Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)

“By earning my specialty certification, I strengthen the AACN professional body and exemplify my dedication to caring for our patients and their families.”

Megan McCaffrey, MSN, RN, CCRN, PHN

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Clinical Nurse II

Pediatric ICU

Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) – Pediatric

“I got my CCRN because I want to demonstrate my passion and commitment to peds critical care, and I want to prove my knowledge base and outline myself as a resource for our unit.”

Fiona Madigan, MSN, RN, CPAN, NPD-BC

Clinical Nurse Educator IV (CNIV)

Pre-Op/PACU (Pavilion, CSC, SDSC, UTSS)

Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) and Nursing Professional Development – Board Certification (NPD-BC)

“I am a recovery room RN and an educator. Both parts of my job are important to me - part of the journey of was becoming certified. I have had my CPAN – Certified PeriAnesethsia Nurse certification for 15 years and have always felt that attaining and maintaining it was an integral to celebrating my commitment to my patients and peers in the recovery room. After transitioning to the role of a unit-based educator, a role I love, I wanted to challenge myself to becoming certified in this aspect of my career too – NPD-BC – Nursing Professional Development. I find being certified fulfilling and challenging and wonderful!”

Kimiko Kojima Schutte BSN, RN, CNOR

Clinical Nurse Educator III

Perioperative Services

Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR)

“Being certified broadens my skill set and it is my professional commitment for better patient care. Also, it allows me to educate and endorse the highest clinical standards for patient safety to the Operating Room staff.”

Katie Verbick, BSN, RN, WCC

Clinical Nurse 2

Dermatology Clinic

Wound Care Certification (WCC)

“I first became wound care certified in the Burn ICU where I worked for 12 years. It was an opportunity for me to be a specialist in my field and grow what I was doing daily. I have since moved to outpatient in Dermatology. Having my wound care certification gives me additional credibility among my patients and medical team allowing me to provider better assessment and care for the wounds I care for.”

Judy L. Tsurutani, MSN, RN, PHN, CBN

CIII, Bariatric Nurse Coordinator (Resource Nurse)

Foregut Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program Surgery Clinic

Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN)

“By obtaining and maintaining my specialty certification it allows me to provide excellent care for my patients knowing I have achieved a recognized standard of knowledge and clinical expertise in the specialty of metabolic and bariatric surgery. It allows me to provide the specialty knowledge, resources and dedication for my patients, team members and clinic.”

?

Jasmine Heidari, MSN, RN, CDCES

Pronouns: She/her/hers

CNIII, Diabetes Care and Education RN

OB/GYN Clinic

Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)

“I’ve been passionate about diabetes since I was diagnosed at 19 with DMII and it was what inspired me to go into nursing. After some time at the bedside and experiencing issues related to my diabetes during my pregnancy, I chose to get my CDCES certification so that I could be an expert on the topic that affects so many lives. It's allowed me to work with a population near and dear to my heart: diabetic pregnant people!”

?

Monica Aguilar MSN, RN, NPD-BC?

CNIV, Professional Development Specialist

Center for Professional Practice of Nursing (CPPN)

Nursing Professional Development Certification – Board Certification (NPD-BC)

“Why I am specialty certified: To serve in my role at the highest level possible. To provide high-quality education to all learners.”

Misty Cahoon MSN, RN, NPD-BC

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Clinical Nurse 4, Professional Development Specialist

Center for Professional Practice of Nursing (CPPN)

Nursing Professional Development Certification – Board Certification (NPD-BC)

“As a nurse professional development specialist, I decided to obtain certification for many reasons. Firstly, I wanted to validate my knowledge in promoting a learning and professional advancement culture within our organization. On a larger scale, I wanted to acknowledge the significance of ongoing education in healthcare and how it can contribute to professional growth, be a catalyst for change, and ultimately lead to better patient care and outcomes.”

Stasia Christensen, MSN, RN, BCNE

Nurse Manager

Family Medicine/Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Primary Care Glassrock

Board Certified Nurse Executive (BCNE)

“As my role changed from supporting patients to supporting staff, I wanted to learn more and test my understanding of that knowledge by becoming board certified. Ongoing education is important to me and I’m proud to work at an institution that encourages continual learning.”

Meredith Hansen MSN, AMB-BC, PH, RN

Clinical Nurse 3

Folsom GI

Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC)

“Being a Certified Nurse validates that I, as a professional RN have an expertise and a commitment to excelling my profession. This is a direct benefit to my patients, their families, and the institution I work for. I am proud to be a certified nurse and the positive impact it has on my practice.”

RODRIGO G ALMIROL JR, BSN, RN, CNN

Clinical Nurse 2

Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Specialties

Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN)

“Having my certification as Certified Nephrology Nurse highly magnifies my knowledge and experience, and its show's my dedication to my patients and colleagues.”

Tami Rae Emslie RN, BSN, CPN

Clinical Resource Nurse

UC Davis Pediatrics, Ticon II

Certified Pediatric Nephrology (CPN)

“I am a CNIII in Pediatric Ambulatory for the Pediatric Infectious Disease and Pediatric Nephrology specialty clinics. I received my Certified Pediatric Nurse certificate May 2023! I have been in pediatric ambulatory specialty since 2015 and have been wanting to be certified for a while now. I was waiting for UC Davis to offer the No Pass No Pay program for PNCB and submitted a justification letter to Diane Woods back in April of 2022. In October of that year, I was notified that it was approved, and the UC Davis was offering the no pass no pay program! I took advantage of this and was able to become CPN certified 6 months later. I wanted to have the CPN attached to my name because I have such a passion for my pediatric patients and have been working with them for 9 years now and feel I have a special knowledge in this area.”

Anna Volosenko, BSN, RN, CMSRN, AMB-BC

Clinical Nurse III

Care Transitions Management

Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) and Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC)

“I want to provide the best care for my patients be it in the inpatient or outpatient setting. I feel that becoming and maintaining certification shows dedication.”

Jenna Weeks, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM

Clinical Nurse 2

D3 University Birthing Suites

Registered Nurse Certified in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB) and Certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM)

“I am certified to highlight my commitment to the community’s pregnant and birthing population and to the importance of lifelong personal education.”

Chasity Whitmer, RNC-OB, AWHONN

Assistant Nurse Manager

University Birthing Center/Women’s Pavilion

Registered Nurse Certified in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB) and Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN) Instructor

“I became certified in OB because I have a passion for learning, growing, and training new nurses in obstetrics. I strive to provide up to date information to the nurses and physicians I work with daily. This has strengthened my relationship with my team and provides a support system to the patients on the units.”

Nadia M. Carrasco MS, RNC-OB, C-EFM

Assistant Nurse Manager/Professional Development Specialist

University Birthing Center/ Women's Pavilion

Registered Nurse Certified in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB) and Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN) Instructor

“I became certified in OB and electronic fetal monitoring because I am passionate about lifelong learning, individual growth, and assisting in training and growing our new nurses in obstetrics. Being certified in my field shows my dedication to my patient population and my dedication to utilizing the most updated evidence in my practice.”

Julia Tak BSN, RN, CPEN

Clinical Nurse Educator IV

Pediatric Emergency Department

Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN)

“Pediatric Emergency Nursing is so different from working in an Adult ER, and I wanted to showcase my specialty knowledge! While I was studying for my CPEN exam I recognized symptoms of a rare condition in one of my patients and aided in the early diagnosis of the child. It's reasons like this why certification is so important.”

Merrilee Catanzaro, MSN, RN, MICN, CEN

Clinical Nurse Educator IV

Emergency Department

Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

“After being an ED nurse for over 15 years, I wanted to expand my knowledge base in emergency nursing. As an ED educator I feel it is important to have and maintain these specialty certifications.”

Agnieszka Grasela, BSN, RN, IBCLC

International Board of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC)

“I got IBCLC certification because I desired to learn and know more about the Lactation than what is required. I want to be able to help my patients and my colleagues' patients to the best of my ability as Labor and Delivery nurse.”

Alex DePew MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, MICN

Professional Development Assistant Nurse Manager

Emergency Department

Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN), and Mobile Intensive Care Nurse (MICN)

“Having a specialty certification is important to me as I believe it demonstrates my commitment to our patients, our community, our profession, and my personal growth and development as a nurse and to my role as an educator. By maintaining my certifications, I am held accountable to continuing my education and knowledge of evidence-based practice related to the specialties of emergency and trauma nursing.”

Mandy Chahal, BSN, MSN, CCRN, PHN?

Clinical Nurse II

Pediatric ICU

Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) – Pediatric

“I got my CCRN to exemplify my dedication to providing high-quality care for critically ill pediatric patients. Also, as a Sac AACN board member, I want to encourage all my fellow nurses to get their specialty certification just like me!”

Marni Farr, MSN, RN, CEN

Clinical Nurse (CN) III

Emergency Department

Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

“I got my CEN to demonstrate my commitment to emergency medicine and the diverse population of patients we take care of in our emergency department. As an ED RN at our Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center, burn, stroke, and cardiac specialties, your knowledge base encompasses a broad range of diseases and treatments. As a CNIII, I am a resource in our department and having my CEN exemplifies my dedication to emergency medicine, my co-workers, patients, and their families.”

Mary Beth Penfold, BSN, RNC-OB

Clinical Nurse III & Wellness Ambassador

D3 University Birthing Suites

Registered Nurse Certified in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB)

"As a relief charge nurse and unit resource, I wanted to strengthen my ability to give current, evidenced-based education to patients and staff alike."

Amycar Thammavongsa, RN, BSN, CPAN

CN2

Same Day Surgery Center

Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN)

Reasons why I chose to become certified and/or have maintained your certification are as “a refresher for better care of patients and employment incentives.”

Megan N. Ober, MS, BSN, RN, OCN

Pronouns: she/her/they/them

CNIII, Supportive Oncology Nurse Case Manager

Cancer Center

Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)

“I am proud to be an oncology nurse and feel very fortunate to work with such incredible patients. Personally, having my OCN certification symbolizes my commitment to the patients, their families and the oncology nursing profession. It represents my extensive and ever-growing knowledge base and evokes a sense of pride in my proficiency and the quality of care I provide.”

Sultanna Iden, BSN, RN, CDCES

CN III, Pediatric Diabetes Nurse Educator

Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic

Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)

“Diabetes is my passion. I love taking care of children with diabetes and their families on their journey from initial fear and sadness at time of diagnosis to acceptance and understanding of living with this chronic disease. My goal every day is to make someone laugh or smile and realize that we are here to help them on their life journey of living with diabetes.”

Alicia Castaneda RN, CMSRN

CNII

T3, Women's Pavilion

Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)

“The first 7 years of my career was spent primarily taking care of the medical surgical population. After those 7 years, I moved to T3 where we care for Obstetrics and post-partum specialties. Our unit is diverse as we also care for the medical surgical population and it's important to me to be a resource for our patients and staff.?My (CMSRN) certification shows my commitment to our diverse patient population and to our unit.”

Amanda Wilson, RN

Clinical Nurse II

Emergency Department

Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

“Obtaining my CEN empowered me to excel in patient care and contributes to a safer, more efficient Emergency Department.”

Maxima A. Balais

CN II

Radiology department?

Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) and Certified Radiology Nurse (CRN)

“Being certified in Critical Care and Radiology keeps me up to date with the current evidence-based practice thus enhancing my knowledge, skills and competence in delivering quality patient care.”