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DOI
https://doi.org/10.63853/IIQZ7719
Description
INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP
Background: Children’s Health Plano campus has faced challenges in supporting nurses preparing for the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) exam, with limited resources available for study and preparation. To encourage certification, a certification champion was identified to provide leadership and guidance. However, it soon became evident that additional support was needed, as many nurses were unsure how to obtain a test voucher and reported low confidence levels regarding exam success. In fact, 75% of nurses initially rated themselves as neutral to not confident in their ability to pass the CPEN exam, highlighting a significant gap in preparedness and the need for structured educational and motivational strategies to improve certification outcomes. In December 2024 45.5% of the total 102 nurses within the Emergency Department were certified. A unit goal was made in January 2025 to have five nurses become certified with the changes made.
Implementation: A list of nurses interested in pursuing their Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) certification was obtained to identify participants. On certification day, an information table with a sign-up sheet for study review sessions was provided, generating strong engagement. A dedicated Microsoft Teams channel was created to foster communication and collaboration. Structured study sessions were held, with educational materials developed and presented by two experienced Registered Nurses (RN). A total of 11 nurses attended the first two review sessions. To sustain momentum, follow-up emails were distributed at 30 and 90 days post-session to encourage continued preparation and address barriers. Nurses who successfully achieved certification were recognized and celebrated, reinforcing a culture of professional growth and accomplishment.
Evaluation: In the first seven months, nine nurses achieved CPEN certification on their first attempt, with five attending an organized review session. All participants identified their certification champion and learned how to obtain a test voucher, reducing barriers to success. Nurses reported increased confidence, rating themselves as confident or very confident in triage, assessment, system-focused emergencies, special considerations, multi-system considerations, and professional issues. Growing demand led to two additional study sessions to support more nurses pursuing certification. These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of structured review sessions, leadership support, and peer collaboration. By July, 52.4% of 97 nurses in the Emergency Department were CPEN certified, demonstrating meaningful progress toward professional excellence.
Publication Date
11-24-2025
Disciplines
Pediatric Nursing
Recommended Citation
Flusche, Shelby and Muller, Johanna, "Planting Seeds of Success: Cultivating CPEN Certification in Pediatric Emergency Nursing" (2025). 2025. 37.
https://scholarlycollection.childrens.com/nursing-anf2025/37
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
