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Supplemental Digital Content # 1
Operational Definitions Related to the Certification Project
Term
Definition/description of term based on organizational structure within this medical center
Leadership group
Group of nurses holding positions of leadership (i.e., Associate Director of Nursing, Nurse Managers, Assistant Nurse
Managers, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Educators); comprised of representatives from each inpatient clinical unit
and outpatient clinical department within the children’s hospital, which is housed within the medical center. This group
has authority over decisions within pediatric nursing.
Administration
Group of nurse executives (i.e., Chief Nursing Officer, Associate Directors of Nursing); comprised of representatives from
group
each clinical service (e.g., pediatrics, critical care, oncology) within the medical center. This group has authority over
decisions within nursing practice at the medical center.
Education group
Group of nurses holding positions related to nursing education (i.e., Director of Education, Nurse Educators, Clinical
Nurse Specialists); comprised of representatives from each clinical service (e.g., pediatrics, critical care, oncology) within
the medical center, as well as central education. This group has authority over recommendations about initial and
ongoing training of nursing employees within the medical center.
Research group
Group of employees holding positions within the clinical nursing research center (i.e., PhD-prepared Nursing Director,
Research Nurse, Administrator). This group serves as the central resource for nursing research and evidence-based
practice within nursing practice at the medical center.
Instructors
The two nurse educators who co-developed and co-taught the Pediatric Nurse Certification Review Course within the
medical center from 2011 until the time of this publication (also co-authors on this paper).
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Term
Definition/description of term based on organizational structure within this medical center
Stakeholders
Group of nurses who voluntarily provided input during focus groups/surveys/discussions surrounding certification among
pediatric nurses. Representatives from each inpatient clinical unit and outpatient department in the children’s hospital
included staff nurses (with and without certification) working at the bedside, as well as from the Leadership,
Administration, and Education groups.
Center for Nursing
Group of employees holding positions within the center for nursing professional development (i.e., Master’s-prepared
Professional
Nursing Director, Nurse Educators, and support staff). This group serves as the central resource for nursing professional
Development
development within the medical center, including recommendations regarding certification, career advancement system,
continuing nursing education (contact hour programs), and leader development.
Continuing Nursing
Variable group of individuals selected to participate in the planning of a continuing nursing education (contact hour)
Education Planning
activity offered by this medical center’s provider unit, which is accredited by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center.
Committee
The planning committee for the Pediatric Nurse Certification Review Course was led by a Nurse Planner (a Master’s
prepared nurse specializing in pediatric nursing) and included the course co-instructors. This group was responsible for
assessing the learners’ needs, identifying a knowledge gap, planning the educational activity based on adult learning
principles, and evaluating the achievement of the objectives.
Participants
Group of Registered Nurses who completed one of the certification review courses offered at this medical center between
2007 and 2013.