May 7, 2010 — Certified nurses received special recognition at Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation hospital in Woodlawn during a celebration of Certified Nurses Day. Kernan is the largest provider of rehabilitation care in Maryland and is a part of the University of Maryland Medical System, an 11-hospital system located throughout Maryland.

The celebration was given by senior management at Kernan as a way to express gratitude and recognition, as well as the esteem that leadership holds for the nurses for their professionalism and leadership in achieving and maintaining national board certification in nursing specialties.

"Board certification is a key factor in the assurance of minimum standards of knowledge, skills and abilities in nursing specialty practice and contributes to better patient outcomes," said Valerie Summerlin, RN, MS, NEA-BC, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Kernan.  "National certification allows nurses to be recognized for competency in their specialty."

Approximately 33 percent of the nurses at Kernan hold a specialty certification.