I would like to thank Sue Kunz for her years of service to PSNCB. She served for a number of years on the board, starting as a director in 1996 and ending as president in 2009. During the time that the second edition of the Core Curriculum was no longer available and the publication of the third edition, Sue was determined to assist members in their attempts to prepare for the certification examination. She set up a "loaner" program so that members could borrow a Core Curriculum from a member who already had his or her CPSN. She also spent hours on the phone encouraging and advising members to take the examination. Her mantra was "know your strengths and study your weaknesses." She would also remind members that this was an examination that tested all aspects of plastic surgery, not just "their" particular area or style of practice.
As a board, we had some trying times over the past few years. But we forged ahead under Sue's direction and came out as a stronger board, with determination to hold strong to the standards set forth 20 years ago when our board was established. We also had reasons for celebration; in 2007, the third edition of the Core Curriculum was published and our members now had a comprehensive resource to use for studying for the certification examination. In October 2009, we celebrated our 20th anniversary.
We are ever grateful to Allergan Academy for its continual support of our members in their educational endeavors. Each year, Allergan Academy offers scholarships for the certification examination. If you plan to take the examination, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Obtain an application for a scholarship, fill it out, send it in, and take the examination.
What is ahead for PSNCB? The board is looking at the possibility of an aesthetic certification. By the time you read this, the survey will be completed and we will respond according to the desires of the membership. If an aesthetic certification is desired, we will need to assign a task force to develop an examination. Another area to focus on is the long-term goal of certification by ABNS. This is still at least a few years off, however, a goal we would like to keep in our sights.
I look forward to working with the board as the incoming president of PSNCB.
Sincerely
Darlene Jumpp, BSN, CNOR, RNFA, CPSN
PSNCB President