Inova Loudoun Hospital Pediatric Emergency Nurses Earn New Certification

Loudoun Nurses Among the First in the U.S. to Earn Special Designation

Leesburg, VA – (February 2, 2009) — Inova Loudoun Hospital is pleased to announce that four Pediatric Emergency Department nurses, Victoria Bamsey, Barbara DeCardona, Gina Harrison and Jacqualyn Sine, have earned the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) designation. This is a newly created national certification from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).

The ENA and PNCB worked together to develop an exam for this subspecialty of emergency nursing. Only 200 applications were accepted from nurses across the United States to sit for the first beta examination. The CPEN credential is valid for four years.

Children are often referred to as “small adults,” but they have very unique anatomy, physiology and illnesses that making caring for them a challenge. Depending on the age and developmental stage of each child, a nurse must quickly recognize and tailor their care accordingly. The pediatric nurse must also include and provide extra support for their caregivers.

This recent accomplishment by the nurses who work in the hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Department exemplifies their dedication and commitment to providing excellent care to their pediatric patients. Inova Loudoun Hospital has a dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department and sees more than 14,000 patients each year.

Inova Loudoun Hospital, serving Loudoun County for nearly 100 years, is part of the Inova Health System; a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.