Texas Health Resources provides a standardized process for bonus payments and exam fee reimbursements for registered nurses who achieve a national nursing certification. Gisela Flores, B.S.N., RNC-OB, C-EFM, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, shares why she became a certified nurse:
What inspired you to become a nurse? I wanted to be able to help my community and educate women about their health.
When did you become certified? I became certified in inpatient obstetrics in 2015 and certified in external fetal monitoring in 2022.
Why did you decide to get certified? I decided to get my certifications to help build my resume and increase my knowledge of the field.
Why do you think it is important for nurses to pursue certification? Having a number of nurses who are certified on a unit helps the unit more efficiently treat patients. We are able to rely on other nurses to help us because we know they have the knowledge to do so. Plus, it makes the patients trust us more if we have the certifications and knowledge to back up patient care.
What else have you done to advance your professional development? I have done travel nursing to expand my knowledge of treating different populations, including an assignment in a remote Navajo community. In addition, I’ve completed charge nurse training and joined our unit-based council to support my professional development. I have also cross-trained as a scrub nurse in case of an emergency.
What else would you like to tell your colleagues? Never settle, because you get comfortable. There is so much power in education and knowledge. For financial reasons, it took me more than seven years to get my B.S.N. after my A.D.N. I did it slowly, and I’m a much more well-rounded nurse for it. And, even though I don’t need two certifications, they help me be a better nurse. You can never know too much.
