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This month, we celebrate the achievements, resilience, and lasting impact of Black leaders in healthcare and beyond.
Their innovation, advocacy, and dedication continue to inspire excellence in patient care and professional practice. We honor their legacy — and recommit ourselves to fostering diversity, equity, and opportunity in our field.
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In this issue:
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If you missed NNCC’s Webinar, “What’s new for 2026: CDN & CNN Exam Updates with Q&A”, you can find the recorded session here: https://youtu.be/-Za7RjTsUrw.
Please note: current CNN and CDN certificants are not affected by this change.
Please share this information with anyone planning to take the CNN or CDN exam.
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Raising the Standard: My Journey Through Nephrology Certification
By Heather Everett, RN CDN
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 Sixteen years ago, I began working in a dialysis clinic as a patient care technician. At the time, I had no idea nephrology would become a lifelong career. I simply knew I wanted to care for people and be part of something meaningful.
It didn’t take long for dialysis to become more than just a job. Seeing the same patients multiple times each week allows you to truly know them — their families, their struggles, and their victories. You quickly realize how much they rely on you, not only for treatment, but for consistency and trust. That responsibility shaped me early on.
As a PCT, I was always asking questions and wanting to understand the “why” behind what we were doing. I didn’t want to simply complete tasks; I wanted to understand the science, safety measures, and how to prevent complications. I learned that strong fundamentals protect patients and build professional confidence.
When I decided to take the CCHT-A exam, it was because I believed in holding myself to a higher standard. Scoring the highest in the nation was unexpected, but it reinforced my deep commitment to this specialty. Being invited to serve as a Subject Matter Expert for the CCHT-A committee gave me insight into the integrity and thoughtfulness behind certification. I gained a profound respect for what certification truly represents.
After becoming an RN, I remained committed to growing within nephrology. I earned my CDN certification and later served as a Subject Matter Expert and Board Member on the CDN test committee. Participating in exam development has been especially meaningful. Taking a certification exam is one achievement — helping shape it to reflect real-world practice and patient safety is another.
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Over the years, I’ve progressed from technician to dialysis nurse to Clinical Manager. Each role has taught me valuable lessons about leadership, accountability, quality improvement, and mentorship. I’ve learned that culture matters. Standards matter. Certification plays a critical role in both.
Serving now as a Commissioner on the NNCC feels like a full-circle moment. I began my career looking up to certified professionals and aspiring to reach that level. Today, I have the privilege of helping uphold and strengthen those standards for those who follow.
Nephrology nursing has shaped me both professionally and personally. It has taught me resilience, humility, and the importance of showing up consistently. I am proud of the path I’ve taken and grateful to continue serving the specialty that has given me so much.
Thank you for sharing such an inspiring journey, Heather! Your story beautifully captures what makes nephrology so special — the relationships, the responsibility, and the dedication to doing things the right way.
From asking “why” as a technician to shaping national certification standards as a Commissioner, you truly demonstrate what lifelong learning and professional growth look like. Your commitment to excellence sets an example for technicians and nurses at every stage of their careers.
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What’s Your Story? Share it with NNCC!
Do you have a story about your career path and experiences as a nephrology/dialysis nurse, nephrology nurse practitioner, or dialysis technician? Whether it's a personal milestone, a professional breakthrough, or a moment that reminded you why you chose this field or why you took the next step to get certified, we’d love for you to share it.
Your journey could be the next to inspire others and be featured in the NNCC Electronic News!
Submit your story here. Let your voice be heard and your story celebrated!
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We asked this question to newly certified nephrology nurses, and this response stood out:
“This certification means a lot to me because it gives me more confidence regarding my practice. And I think it will motivate me more to provide quality and safe care to patients. And also this will allow me to be updated regarding HD, PD, and nephrology-related cases.”
This reflection captures exactly what certification is designed to represent — confidence, commitment to patient safety, and dedication to lifelong learning. When nurses pursue certification, they are not only validating their knowledge and expertise, but they are also reinforcing their commitment to delivering the highest standard of care.
Take the next step in your professional journey. Certification isn’t just a title—it’s a transformative step toward becoming the best version of yourself. Whether you’re just starting or have years of experience, becoming certified demonstrates your expertise and commitment to excellence in nephrology care.
At NNCC, we’re here to support you every step of the way, whether you are a nurse practitioner, RN, or dialysis technician —with resources, guidance, and recognition designed to help you succeed. Your knowledge, your passion, and your care already make a difference. Certification helps you elevate that even further. You’ve got what it takes—and NNCC is here to help you prove it. Learn more at www.nncc-exam.org/certification. Do you have questions about certification? Contact us!
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We extend our congratulations to Advocate Trinity Hospital’s Rosa Campos for receiving one of this year’s Quality Improvement Awards for her project titled “Know Your Catheters"
The Challenge:
The inspiration for this project arose from my transition from bedside nursing into a specialty role in the hemodialysis department. As a bedside nurse, I had limited exposure to dialysis catheters and did not fully understand the differences between hemodialysis venous and arterial ports and the trialysis pigtail port. Through experience, I realized this knowledge gap was not unique to me.
Many bedside nurses experience confusion in distinguishing between hemodialysis catheter ports and standard central line lumens. Unfortunately, this has led to permcath ports being used inappropriately as central lines for continuous infusions. Recently, two safety events were reported involving similar incidents, highlighting a concerning and recurring patient safety issue.
The Innovation:
This initiative was implemented through a structured, multi-step approach focused on education, standardization, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Step One: Staff Education and Policy Reinforcement. The first step involved educating nursing staff on central venous catheter care by reinforcing existing hospital policy and ensuring it was easily accessible at the point of care. Emphasis was placed on proper catheter identification, appropriate port usage, and infection prevention standards.
Step Two: Visual Standardization Through Supply Chain Collaboration. Collaboration with the supply chain department allowed for a practical, visual solution to reduce port confusion. Red Curos caps were introduced in the hemodialysis department for dialysis ports only, while bedside nurses were provided green Curos caps specifically for the purple pigtail port on trialysis catheters. This color differentiation created a clear visual cue to distinguish dialysis ports from central line lumens, reducing the risk of inappropriate use.
Step Three: Compliance Monitoring Through Weekly Audits. Partnering with the Rapid Response Team, I conducted weekly audits to monitor adherence to central line policy. Audits focused on central line dressing integrity, dating compliance, and overall catheter maintenance practices. This allowed for real-time feedback and reinforcement of best practices.
Step Four: Development and Presentation of Educational Materials. Educational materials outlining catheter identification, policy standards, and infection prevention strategies were developed and presented to the Patient Safety Council to raise organizational awareness and support.
Step Five: Interdisciplinary Physician Engagement. The educational content was reviewed with Infectious Disease and Nephrology physicians to ensure clinical accuracy and alignment with evidence-based standards. Ongoing updates were provided to inform them of project progress and outcomes.
Project Aim:
This project aims to address that gap in knowledge by educating nursing staff on proper catheter identification and use, reinforcing hospital policy, and promoting evidence-based practice. The ultimate goal is to prevent central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and improve safety for one of our most vulnerable patient populations.
Conclusion:
The direct outcomes of the project have positively affected our patient demographic. The educational material has been introduced for nursing staff and management to refer to. The rapid response team has collaborated with the dialysis department in auditing central lines, and the warehouse department has invested in materials that better suit the hemodialysis department. The results of all these interventions have resulted in zero central line associated bloodstream infections reported in 2025.
Moving forward, optimizing policy and expanding staff training will remain central to future initiatives to further support both clinicians and patients.
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FEBRUARY QUESTION! Here is another question of the month! “NNCC’s Question of the Month” helps you test your knowledge. This month, we pose this question for the nephrology nurse practitioners (CNN-NP): "Which of the following types of medication is most likely to cause peripheral edema and may require modification of therapy?"
Take the quiz to see the list of options, choose the correct answer, and find the rationale and reference information.
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 Thank you to the CNN and CDN Test Committee members who worked tirelessly this past weekend to revise the CNN/CDN certification examinations based on the latest job analysis survey. Their dedication to maintaining the integrity, relevance, and excellence of our certification programs does not go unnoticed. We are truly grateful for their expertise, time, and commitment to advancing nephrology nursing practice. |
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NNCC’s Water for Dialysis Program, What’s in your Water? is a learning activity provided by NNCC to help participants obtain knowledge and competency concerning water treatment for dialysis. Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
• Identify the components of the dialysis water system including their purposes, monitoring requirements, and patient safety considerations.
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• Explain how water-related clinical problems occur, are identified, and can be prevented.
• Discuss the elements of the CMS water survey that ensure compliance with safety.
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Great News: Upon completion, a certificate will be provided awarding a four-contact hour credit to be used towards NNCC certification or recertification continuing education requirements.
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NNCC will be exhibiting at the following conference this Spring. We hope to see you there!
Kansas City, MO
February 25 – March 1, 2026
Las Vegas, NV
March 11 – 13, 2026
New Orleans, LA
April 25 – 28, 2026
New Orleans, LA
May 7 - 10, 2026
Las Vegas, NV
June 23 - 27, 2026
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CNN®, CDN®, CNN-NP®, CCHT®, and CCHT-A® are registered certification marks of the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC®).
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Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission
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