Just one year after introducing the world’s first burn nursing specialty certification, the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN)

proudly reports that nearly 500 nurses in both civilian and military settings have achieved the Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) credential.

Burn injuries are among the most devastating and complex medical challenges, and research highlights the importance of specialized burn care expertise in ensuring high-quality treatment and optimal patient outcomes. To attain the CBRN certification, registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) must successfully navigate a rigorous examination that evaluates their advanced clinical and professional knowledge across all phases of burn care. This includes prehospital and initial management, acute and critical care, rehabilitation, aftercare, patient and family support, education, and injury prevention.

“Burn nurses play a vital role in caring for burn survivors, providing physical and psychosocial support,” said Emily Werthman, PhD, RN, CBRN, Burn Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins Burn Center and BCEN board member. “Burn nurses are unique for their ability to combine medical acumen with learned skills to assist survivors in psychological recovery, and the CBRN provides a visible way for burn nurses to demonstrate their excellence.”

The compassion and dedication demonstrated by nurses who earn the CBRN reflect their patients’ extraordinary resilience and courage. “The compassion and level of commitment exemplified by nurses who earn the CBRN mirror the extraordinary courage and resilience of patients with burn injuries,” said BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, ICE-CCP, CENP, CPHQ, FABC.

As the CBRN program celebrates its first anniversary, BCEN has made significant strides:

– Accreditation Goals: With sufficient data now available, BCEN is pursuing accreditation for the CBRN certification program from the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC), which has already accredited BCEN’s five other specialty certifications.

– Exam Discounts: BCEN offers a discount on the CBRN certification exam throughout October. This offer can be combined with discounts available to American Burn Association (ABA) members and U.S. military service members, veterans, and reservists.

– Continuing Education: BCEN provides various continuing education (CE) courses and free CE webinars focused on burn care topics, with additional courses currently in development. A practice exam for the CBRN is also available on the award-winning BCEN Learn online platform.

– Research Updates: The organization has updated its research-backed series, “Commitment to Excellence,” featuring the backgrounder titled “Burn Nursing Excellence: The Certified Burn Registered Nurse.”

The CBRN program was developed in collaboration with the ABA and burn nursing experts. The initial certification exam was created in June 2021, and it was officially launched worldwide on October 17, 2023.

With the introduction of the CBRN certification, BCEN is elevating the standards of burn care and empowering the dedicated nurses who provide critical support to burn injury survivors. For more information and to track the milestones of the CBRN program, please visit the BCEN website.

The post Elevating Burn Care: BCEN Advances Burn Specialty Care with CBRN Certification  first appeared on Daily Nurse.