Coffee Regional Medical Center is proud to recognize Brook Griffin, BSN, RN, CEN, an Emergency Department nurse at CRMC, for recently completing both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and earning the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) credential.
Brook’s accomplishments represent a significant investment in professional education and emergency nursing expertise. Her CEN certification is particularly meaningful as Coffee Regional continues its participation in the Kids Alliance for Better Care (KidsABC), a collaboration involving Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Mercer University School of Medicine and the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center focused on strengthening pediatric emergency care in rural communities. Participating KidsABC hospitals are required to have at least one nurse champion who holds either CEN or CPEN certification.
The Certified Emergency Nurse credential is a nationally recognized specialty certification for registered nurses who demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in emergency nursing. It is awarded by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), an organization dedicated to advancing specialty certification for emergency, trauma, transport and burn nurses. BCEN describes the CEN as a foundational specialty certification for registered nurses working in emergency care.
Unlike a certificate awarded for completing an educational course, the CEN is a professional board certification earned by meeting eligibility requirements and successfully passing a comprehensive specialty examination. Certification demonstrates knowledge and expertise across the emergency nursing specialty and requires ongoing maintenance to remain current.
To be eligible to sit for the CEN examination, a nurse must hold a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license. BCEN recommends that candidates have at least two years of experience in their specialty area before taking the examination, although two years of experience is not a formal requirement for eligibility.
Earning the CEN credential requires more than completing a class or training program. Candidates must prepare for and successfully complete a rigorous, nationally developed examination administered through secure testing procedures.
The examination is developed through a rigorous process that includes emergency nursing subject-matter experts, role delineation studies and review of examination items. The exam is administered by computer at PSI testing centers or through secure live remote proctoring.
For Brook, earning the CEN represents both a professional achievement and a commitment to continually strengthening the care she provides to patients in Coffee Regional’s Emergency Department.
“Completing my BSN and earning my CEN have both been important goals in my nursing career,” said Griffin. “I am proud to continue learning and growing as an emergency nurse and to be able to use that knowledge to better serve our patients and our community.”
Coffee Regional Medical Center is committed to supporting its clinical team in pursuing advanced education, specialty certification and professional development. Investments in nursing education and expertise help strengthen the hospital’s ability to provide high-quality emergency care to patients of all ages, close to home.
Coffee Regional’s Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing emergency care to patients throughout Coffee County and surrounding communities. As a KidsABC participant, the hospital continues to strengthen its pediatric emergency capabilities through specialized education, training, equipment and evidence-based protocols.
Congratulations to Brook Griffin, BSN, RN, CEN, on this outstanding achievement and her continued commitment to excellence in emergency nursing.
