Flight Nurse receives BCEN’s 2019 Distinguished CFRN Award

The US’s Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) 2019 Distinguished Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CRFN) Award recipient has been announced as Carlos Tavarez, quadruple board-certified flight nurse/paramedic of Orlando Health Regional Medical Center (ORMC) Orlando Health Air Care Team.

The award recognises a board-certified flight nurse who exemplifies excellence in their area of expertise and demonstrates achievement in supporting, promoting and advocating for board certification of flight nurses. In addition to the CFRN, Tavarez holds the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) and Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) credentials. He received the award at the 27th annual Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference (CCTMC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

BCEN Executive Director Janie Schumaker emphasised that advanced expertise is crucial when delivering patient care in the air. She said: “Nurse leaders like Carlos Tavarez enhance flight nursing and demonstrate the impact of board certification on nurse and patient outcomes through their own practice and by ensuring their nurse colleagues achieve and maintain that same high level of competency. BCEN is proud to honour such an exceptional educator, mentor and change agent.”

Commenting on the accolade, Tavarez said: “Winning the BCEN Distinguished CFRN Award is a great achievement in my nursing career. I am honoured and very humbled. As a flight nurse, the CFRN validates essential knowledge and core concepts, and board certification is important for both professional and personal growth.”

The Albuquerque CCTMC also saw Steve Whitfield presented with the Tim Hynes Award on the same day – the 16 April.