World’s first professional credential for burn care nurses to launch in 2023
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) has published the exam content online
A major milestone has been reached in the process of introducing the world’s first burn nursing specialty credential. The BCEN, which sets the benchmark for nursing speciality certification across emergency services, has published the detailed exam content outline for its new Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) certification program.
The CBRN is scheduled to begin in summer 2023, and now that the online content has been approved by the BCEN board of directors, experts in burn nursing are now developing items for the CBRN exam.
“What is noteworthy and exciting about the CBRN content outline is that the burn care community, the civilian and military healthcare communities, and even consumers can now see the scope and depth of the advanced burn nursing knowledge, skills and abilities – from prehospital and acute care, patient and family support, recovery and rehabilitation, and prevention and education – that will distinguish board certified burn nurses,” said BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker.
To earn the credential, Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) will have to pass a rigorous, standardized national exam.
The importance of burn nursing
Burn injuries are the fourth most common type of trauma and a global public health issue. Among the most devastating and complicated of injuries, they typically require nurse-intensive support throughout all phases of care. Therefore, expertise in burn care contributes significantly to optimal care and outcomes for patients.
In August 2020, burn nursing was formally recognized as a nursing specialty by the American Nurses Association, after years of advocacy by nurses and the American Burn Association (ABA).
Less than a year later, BCEN collaborated with the ABA on the initial development of a burn nursing specialty certification program.
Schumaker said: “Since summer 2021, BCEN’s credentialing experts and an elite cadre of the world’s leading burn nurses have moved the development of the CBRN forward diligently and thoroughly.
“Next year, burn nurses around the world will have the opportunity to demonstrate their advanced expertise and competencies across this complex and consequential specialty.”