The Certified Burn Nursing Specialty is Coming This May

Nurses have no shortage of specialties to choose from once they earn their RN license. And new specialties are being developed as the nursing industry continues to evolve. A beta version of the world’s first certified burn nursing specialty program will open on May 10 to eligible nurses, and the full program will be made available in the fall. If you meet the criteria, you can be one of the first nurses in the world to earn a certified burn registered nurse credential (CBRN).

Some 450,000 Americans suffer from burn injuries every year, including 2,745 deaths from residential fires, according to the American Burn Association.

The CBRN specialty will give nurses the opportunity to learn about the latest emergency burn treatments and techniques. Janie Schumaker, CEO of the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, says time is of the essence when a burn patient comes into the ER or trauma center and that “having advanced knowledge and expertise, and having the confidence and the ability to make the right choices when it matters the most, is crucial” when it comes to treating burn patients.

Being CBRN certified can be an asset to nurses in the ER who deal with fire-related injuries.

“When their employer supports certification, it contributes to their job satisfaction and retention,” added Schumaker, who is also the immediate past president of the American Board of Nursing Specialties. “We fully expect CBRNs will quickly become recognized as burn care mentors and resources by their peers and teams.”

The specialty focuses on evidence-based, patient-centered care using standards developed by the American Burn Association, which are regularly updated based on the latest scientific guidelines.

Emily Werthman, MSN, RN, burn program coordinator at the Johns Hopkins Burn Center at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, said the “time has come” for the CBRN specialty now that so many ER centers are treating fire victims.

“As burn nursing involves so many aspects of nursing, from critical care to psychosocial support, recognizing the importance of the burn nurse’s work in this way is incredibly meaningful to our community of professionals,” Werthman told Becker’s Hospital Review.

To take the beta exam, nurses from the United States, Canada, and Australia will need to have an unrestricted RN or APRN license. Nurses from other countries will need to complete the Board of Certified Emergency Nursing’s international credentialing process to apply for the program. The BCEN also recommends having at least two years of experience as a burn nurse before taking the CBRN beta exam, but it’s not a requirement.

There are only 400 spots available for this version, and applications open on May 10.

“What is noteworthy and exciting about the CBRN content outline is that the burn care community 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,” Schumaker added.