title: Grass roots initiation of a national certification initiative: peer-to-peer motivation.
abstract: Despite multiple organizational incentives, the neonatal ICU (NICU) in an urban teaching hospital remained below the national average for certified nurses. A peer-to-peer program was developed to motivate, support, and encourage participants throughout the process of obtaining a national specialty certification. A detailed promotion campaign, certification packet, and process map were developed and implemented. At completion of this first-year initiative, the program yielded a 38% increase in certified unit nurses. The organization's unit total is now 59% of eligible certified neonatal nurses, well above the national average.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. carie.linder@integris-health.com
authors.forename: Carie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Linder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000193:education*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009825:Oklahoma; D010379:Peer Group; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D014146:Training Support / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States