Tonya L. Page, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, LSSGB, FCCS-C
APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager

Dr. Tonya L. Page is supporting the team, serving as the APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager. She will be the primary point of contact for advanced practice faculty members and help facilitate the expansion of engagement with APRN students and faculty. 

Dr. Page brings over 21 years of experience as a healthcare leader, Advanced Practice Provider, and consultant. As an innovative, dynamic, and inspirational team member, she is eager to provide guidance to faculty and their students to promote educational success.  

Her area of expertise encompasses the creating and developing of APRN healthcare strategies that improve clinical excellence and utilization for academic healthcare systems, the integration of APRN teams’ impact on the future of American healthcare, and APRN burnout. 

We wish everyone much success in the current semester and future semesters to come. We hope that you find this newsletter both helpful and insightful. For additional faculty support, please visit the APRN Faculty page. 

ANCC APRN Certification Application Resources

Navigate the Certification Program of Interest and View the Following: 

• Description of the certification
• Current eligibility criteria
• Associated test content outline

Preparing for the Exam: 

• Consider the ANCC Readiness Test if you have test taking anxiety.
• Review the How to Prepare for your Certification Exam document.

Steps for Faculty to Complete the Validation of Education (VOE) Form:

• Watch the How to Fill Out the New (VOE) Form video.
• Download the VOE Form.
• When completing the form, be sure to complete all required sections, which are boxed in red.
• The "Sign Now" button will populate.
• Click on the button to sign as shown below, then save.

Stories of Inspiration from ANCC Certified Nurses

Meet Katelyn Bern who manages customer engagement through social media and at ANCC tradeshows. Her new initiative is storytelling to motivate both current and prospective ANCC certified nurses.

Katelyn Bern, MA
Outreach Engagement Manager & Tradeshow Liaison

Be sure to follow us on Facebook for important updates and to read these stories:  

Dr. Page's Corner:

Dealing with Burnout as a Future APRN

I applaud the students who have decided to take the next step their nursing careers by pursuing APRN education. The choice of advancing in your nursing profession is admirable. The concept of fostering patient-focused care is essential in APRN roles. My goal as the APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager is to promote this highly valued concept in preparation for life after graduation by providing you with the appropriate knowledge and guidance to help you when facing burnout in the workforce. Individual coping and prevention evaluation strategies are imperative. 

First, let's address what burnout really is. It is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Below are some common symptoms:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• Increased mental distance from one’s job
• Feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job
• Reduced professional efficacy

The universal phenomenon of burnout is not confined to a specific type of healthcare organization or role. 

Physicians, nurses, medical residents, and administrative staff all experience burnout, emphasizing its cross-occupational impact. Contributing factors may also vary based on cultural, organizational, and systemic differences. When considering the potential in compromising patient safety, healthcare provider burnout has tangible consequences for the patient's overall needs, including increased medical errors, reduced quality of care, and low patient satisfaction. Burnout contributes to high turnover rates, absenteeism, and decreased productivity, leading to economic implications for healthcare organizations. The costs associated with recruiting, training, and replacing burnt-out healthcare professionals are substantial.

Now, that we have a better understanding of what burnout is and its potential negative implications, let's look into coping and prevention strategies: 

Individual Coping Strategies: 

• Promote Work-Life Balance: Set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Remember to take breaks and prioritize hobbies.
• Practice Self-Care: Exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, focus on mental health, and connect with family, friends, and loved ones.
• Develop Effective Coping Mechanisms: Learn healthy ways to cope with stress, such as deep breathing exercises, journaling, or spending time in nature. Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse or workaholism.
• Set Realistic Goals and Expectations: Set achievable goals and celebrate your successes and accomplishments.
• Seek Help When Needed: Don't hesitate to seek professional help from a therapist or a counselor. 

Prevention Strategies: 

• Supportive organizational culture
• Adequate staffing
• Workload management
• Flexibility in scheduling 
• Employee assistance programs (EAPs)
• Training on stress management and resilience
• Recognition and appreciation
• Professional development
  opportunities
• Peer support programs
• Clear communication
  channels

Article by:
Tonya L. Page, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, LSSGB, FCCS-C
APRN Educational & Faculty Outreach Program Manager

I hope you found this information helpful and wish you the best of luck in your future academic and professional endeavors. Should you decide to pursue certification through ANCC, I strongly recommend visiting our Certification FAQs page and to also take advantage of the below promo codes: