Meet some of our certified RNs

Laura, RN-BC, MSN, APRN-BC, CMSRN, WOCN, 5 East
Laura graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in 2001 with her BSN in nursing. She began her nursing career at Regions Hospital on the Surgical floor 5 East, stating she wanted to "work on a unit that focuses on holistic care". After one year of nursing practice she returned to the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire to obtain her Master's in Nursing with an Adult Nurse Practitioner focus.

After graduation in 2006, she chose to continue working on 5 East as a staff nurse. She first became a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse as she felt it would help validate her specialized knowledge of medical-surgical patients. "Being certified shows your patients you have an advanced level of clinical competence." Realizing that the majority of the patient population on 5 East was elderly, she then perused becoming Gerontology Certified. "I feel I gained respect from my colleagues after getting certified and serve as a resource person for my peers." Surgical patients require an advanced understanding of pain management and this was Laura's next mission, "The pain management exam was by far the most challenging and most rewarding to achieve." Laura has just recently accepted a position as a Pain Nurse Resource which requires pain management certification. Being a dedicated student Laura decided to go back to school yet again to train as a Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse, which are commonplace issues on 5 East and throughout the hospital. Laura states, "I felt I could serve my patients better by acquiring more knowledge on wound care, I will be sitting for these certification exams in the next two months." At Regions Hospital, certification in your specialized field is encouraged. "I believe certification advances the nursing profession and I have encouraged my co-workers to also become certified."


Lisa, RN, OCN, 8 East (oncology)
"I wanted to pursue my oncology certification because I really enjoy working with cancer patients, and the more I understand about their illnesses and the treatments they receive, the better nurse I can be. I also know that obtaining my OCN can only open more doors for me in the future. I am very proud of myself for obtaining this certification. I have become a resource for others, and I encourage my coworkers to work on getting their OCN."



Brittany, RN, PCCN, Cardiac Cath Lab
"I love learning and new challenges. The PCCN certification was an exciting challenge that allowed me to better myself and my practice. Everyone always asks what the initials PCCN stand for when I sign my credentials. It is an honor to tell them it means Progressive Care Certified Nurse. Most have never heard of it but the word is getting out there quickly."





Bonnie, RN, RNC, Labor and Delivery
Bonnie started at Regions as a new graduate nurse in 1972. She began her career in labor and delivery and remains there to this day. Bonnie obtained her initial certification in high-risk obstetrics in 1996, when she was the clinical nurse educator in maternal child health. "I felt obtaining my certification would add to my credibility as an educator," she said. In 1998, as a personal challenge to herself, Bonnie obtained her certification in electronic fetal monitoring. "I love fetal heart rate interpretation; this is how our second little patient communicates with us."