Nursing Certification: More than Alphabet Soup

Podcast Transcript

Carol Pehotsky: 

When it comes to certification, a lot of us have more questions than answers. Why should I be certified? What if I don't know what type of nurse I want to be when I grow up? What's in it for me? You've got questions about certification. I'm joined today by Katelynn Milliken, because we have answers. 

Hi, and welcome to Nurse Essentials, a Cleveland Clinic podcast where we discuss all things nursing, from patient care, to advancing your career, to navigating tough on-the-job issues. We're so glad you're here. I'm your host, Carol Pehotsky, Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Surgical Services Nursing. 

Welcome back, everyone. Today we're gonna talk a little bit about nursing certification. Probably if you are certified, you've had your friends and your family react similarly to how mine do, with, just how many letters do you have to have after your name? Is the entire alphabet captured behind the last Pehotsky, and what's that all about? 

It actually took me a little while before I got my first certification. I'd been a nurse for about seven years before I took that leap. And it was something I saw other people doing. Initially, it was a, "Well, I don't know what type of nurse I want to be when I grow up," and so, it felt like a commitment I wasn't ready for. 

And then with going back to get my bachelor's degree and then my master's degree, it felt like just one more thing to do that I wasn't ready for. But I'm very proud that my first certification was a certified perianesthesia nurse certification that was the unit that I had spent most of my clinical time in, and was an educator in. And really, my leadership looked at me and said, "What the heck? Like, you're already teaching people to do this. Why don't you have the certification to prove it?" 

And so, for me, it was that "Oh, I can do this." And- and certainly there's lots of studying involved and all of that, but it really felt really fantastic to be able to have an outside organization say, "Yes, you know what you're talking about." 

And so, with that, and our topic of certification, I'm delighted to welcome Katelynn Milliken to the show today. Welcome. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Hello. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Katelynn is the Magnet Program Manager at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. And we're not gonna talk about Magnet so much today. Maybe a little bit. But we're really here to talk about certification. Tell us a little more about your certification journey, please. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, of course. So, my certification is in pediatric hematology and oncology nursing. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, wow. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Which is completely different than Magnet. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yeah. Oh, my goodness, yes. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Currently not related to my job role at all. I got introduced to certification, actually, when I worked in adult hematology and then oncology. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

I had just graduated from my associate's program and became an RN. Passed the dreaded NCLEX, of course. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And then I was working with these nurses that had extra letters behind their name and I thought, "Nobody's taught me about that." 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

"I don't know what those letters stand for." 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure, yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, I asked them, "What- what are those letters?" And they're like, "This is for certification." I'm like, "BLS? Like, basic life support certification." They're like, "Sure." "No, nursing certification." I was like, "Whoa, next goal." 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Awesome. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, so throughout my time in nursing, shortly after I started working in pediatric hematology and oncology nursing, there were only a couple nurses that were certified. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, wow. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, everyone that I talked to was certified, I said, "How do I get there?" 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Okay. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

"How do I certified?" I knew it was a goal that I wanted to have. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

All right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

There were only about three nurses on my unit that were certified, so I was very proud to achieve my certification. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely. So, what was that preparation like for you? How much time have you spent in peds? And yeah. It's always hard to find any time. How did you find the time to study and get ready for something like that? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, everybody decides or prepares for certification a little bit differently. It depends on how you like to learn and how you learn best. For me, nursing school was hard, but not in the way that I like to read books so, to think about having to read a book to prepare for certification scared me. So, what I did was, a group of my colleagues and I took a prep course that the organization offered. It was through Nurse Builders. And they did give us an exam book, which I eventually went back and read afterwards. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

That's not how that's supposed to go, is it? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Right. Yeah, but I did the review book afterwards, but, and I still have it, actually. I still go back and look at it. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

There you go. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

But also, just kind of talking to people that had taken the exam for the certification to see, you know, how much did they study? What did they use to prepare? 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Kinda that real-world preparation. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

For sure. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

For sure. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

And so, it's become a passion of yours now. So, tell us about that journey. You got that first certification. "Yes, I've done it." Then what happened? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, after I got my first certification, I was like, "Well, obviously, I have to go for another one." But things in life changed, and my career changed. I started teaching, and I started to study for the certified nurse educator for academic learning. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, fantastic, okay. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And then I decided, "Hey, teaching, I love, but I don't think it's gonna be my thing forever. I'm gonna start looking for other positions." So, then I moved into the Magnet role. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Okay. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, I never took that exam, and that's okay. I was studying for it, and I didn't take it. And then I've moved into this role, and I've studied for another exam now, the Nurse Executive Advanced board certification. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Ah, come on. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

I got you. Yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Oh, wonderful. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Well, we'll talk afterwards about study tips, yes. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Oh, wonderful. Yes. So, with Magnet specifically, which is my current role. It's one of the standards. Actually, it revolves around multiple standards and Magnet for certification because we know that certification has many benefits. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yeah, tell us a little bit more about that. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, absolutely. So, the benefits of certification are both personal and professional for you and for the organization you work for. So personally, it gave me a sense of achievement. Like, "Wow, I worked so hard for this certification. I'm essentially a specialist in this particular field." 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, I could tell people, especially when I was teaching, "Hey, I have a certification in this. Like, I have this extra level of knowledge." So other than the personal benefits of personal achievement, for the organization, it really signifies that you have a drive for patient care because we know based on research that certified nurse's provide higher quality of care. And surprisingly enough, patients actually know about certification. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

They're getting savvy to it for sure, yes. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yes, they're getting savvy about it. So, they know if you're certified based on your badge or whatever pins you have on. So, they know that the certified nurse has this, like, higher level of understanding for their disease, which I think is really important. 

So, knowing that and wanting to make the most impact in nursing, I am a part of nursing shared governance, and I work within a sub council to promote the benefits of certification, so that people are aware of why you should become certified. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And why you should continue and recertify if you're already certified, and what the benefits are. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely, and I think it's absolutely a sense of pride that somebody totally externally from your organization that says, "Yes, you are a specialist, and you've been validated through a national exam on that." But I think you're absolutely right about patients, you know, saying, "Well, what are those letters?" Or "What does that pin mean?" It's not Office Space with the bling on the on the lanyard. Really does mean something in terms of the care we can deliver, and it's, magnet doesn't do it just because. They're seeking that because it means excellent patient care. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Absolutely. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

So hopefully our audience is everyone from, we've heard from nursing students that are listening to this. To people who are sort of mid and late career. 

So, let's linger for a bit on that nursing student because you said it beautifully. You, "It's been a long time since I went to nursing school." I think there might have been a little mention, probably from one of my clinical instructors about, "Okay, once you get in there a couple years, this is what you should do next. You should go back for your BSN," because I too went to an associate's program, so I was really focused on that. And I think I had a pretty savvy clinical instructor who said, "And then you should get certified." 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

But that was probably the extent of it. So, yes, nursing students, there's more things to study for. But what would you say to that nursing student about, when is it the right time? When have I have enough experience to even try? And you and I both had that similar, "I don't know that I want to be this specialty when I grow up," so how do they make that decision about that first certification? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, it can be really difficult at first to think, "If I get this, you know, specific certification, I kind of need to stay in this field," and that's not really the case. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, when I actually have nursing students or what I tell people to tell nursing students is, it's not just a way for personal achievement, but also a way to learn more about the patients that you're caring for. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Once you've graduated, we all in nursing school get a range of topics that we learn about. But after nursing school, you go into a particular field of nursing, and there's all these things that you didn't learn about. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

For sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

For sure. And we all have to do continuing education units. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Regardless of our license. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Maintain that license, yep. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And that's one of the prerequisites, you could say, to become certified, is you have to have so many CEs to become certified in that area. So, it's actually a really great way to learn when you're a brand-new nurse, to seek out particular learning CEs in that particular field, so that you can learn more, to be a better nurse. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And that could go towards your certification. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yeah, and you think about, yeah, there's so much to learn. You couldn't possibly cover it in a BSN or even an ADN program. You get into a specialty, and again, as a plug for our nursing students, there is a Med-Surg certification. If you can think about the type of nurse specialty, there is probably a certification for it. There's what? Over 200, I think. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yes, there are so many. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

So, as you're developing yourself as that new nurse, you- you come into your first job, you're gonna have residency. You're gonna have a coach or a preceptor, but how do you really get into the nitty-gritty? There's only so much you can cover at the bedside, even. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Right. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

So, let's say somebody has test anxiety, though. As I learn more about certification, I see that there's programs out there that really try to help that nurse who's aspiring for certification. Can you share a little bit more about some of those programs with our audience, please? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, absolutely. So, I think a lot of nurses have a very similar personality type and none of us really like to take tests. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Maybe some people do, maybe. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

We're out there doing it, come on. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, and that's commonly one of the barriers I hear from people, "But I don't want to fail the exam." That's okay. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

If you fail the exam, it's fine. A lot of programs offered by many organizations allow you to take the exam more than once if you fail it. So, there's really no con to taking a certification exam. So, for example, I just actually found out that the ANCC, which is the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which has one of the certifications you talked about, the Med-Surg BC which is very common, because we have so many med-surg nurses, and they have a ton of other nursing certifications. They just came up with this practice exam, where you can actually pay a specific amount. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

It's not as much as the exam. To go to a Prometric testing center to yes, to actually experience it. So, for the people who have really bad test anxiety and think, "I don't know how I'm gonna do," and if you know this specific testing environment, you can actually go and practice. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, how about that? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And then of course, the results will tell you what you're doing well, and then what you're well at. So, you know what to study and what you already have down to. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Nice. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And there's all kinds of practice exams online too, if you don't want to go to a Prometric testing center. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And there are, like, flashcards that you can get from different places. Or just having, like, study groups with other nurses. Especially the ones that are already certified. There are new resources I see almost every month for certification. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

There are so many. I could only list a few, but there are so many I don't even know of all of them. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. Yeah, I think, when I think about the certifications I have, and interacting with the governing body that distributes those, one has a, some sort of a take-two programs, right? There are various names. Tests assure, and take two, and other things that are exactly that. So, if you're somebody who's listening thinking, "Okay." Go check out what that certification would be. Go to the website. Like you said, they've got practice exams. Sometimes even on the website, they'll have a question or two, just to sort of get your wheels turning. 

But a lot of these organizations have that strike two programs, and the American Board of Perianesthesia Nurse Certification is- is a board that I'm now on as a volunteer, and that's the board that administers CPAN and CAPA. At the very first board meeting I went to, they talked about all these nurses that pay just a little extra for that second chance. Almost none of them need it. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Wow. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

But it's a safety net that says, "This is okay. I can experience it once, and whether I do a practice exam," that's a pretty cool option too. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

"But even if I pay the full amount, there's another chance. It's gonna be okay." 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Definitely. There's typically no reprimanding if you don't get certified, so there are some jobs that require certification. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Typically, nursing leadership positions require you to have a certification to go into that position, and some others will say, "You need to obtain certification within one to two years." 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

However, for bedside nurses, it's just an added layer. So even if you were to never take the exam, or you were to take the exam and fail it and decide, "I never want to take the exam again," which I hope you would because I think you should continue to try to become certified. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Because I'm so passionate about it. It doesn't necessarily mean that anybody is going to look at you differently, or your boss is going to treat you differently. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, gosh, yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

You don't even have to I encourage you to tell people. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

But you don't have to, right. Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah. I encourage people to tell others when they're studying for a certification because just like I now when I said I'm studying for this, you're like, "Oh, I've got some tips for you." 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

If you don't mention it to your coworkers, then you can't necessarily get those tips from them. But you don't have to mention it to anybody. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

If you want to keep it private and not tell anyone, that's okay too. So that might help people's test anxiety as well. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure, it's a very personal thing. But I think you're absolutely right that nurses don't love taking tests, but especially if they've been there, and they've done that, they can't help themselves but offer, it just comes spilling out of our mouths, right? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Of course, yes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Like, "Oh, I had this question. It was terrible." Or "Watch out for that one." And the likelihood of that individual getting the same question I did is almost zero. But it just is a natural output of, people are excited for you. They want to support you. And yeah, I have had colleagues that have said, "I may or may not. I'm not telling you. I will only tell you I'm certified once I get that passing." 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

They won't tell you. And that's okay too. It's absolutely fine, and I'm glad you called that out, is that certainly for advance practice roles, you do have to be certified to start that new role. But when it comes to BSN-level type roles, most don't require it, or there's usually a window of time. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Absolutely. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

So, then we've talked about the personal benefits. We know that there's organizations, though that also provide benefits for that. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Can you share a little bit about what some hospitals do around that? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, absolutely. So, for example, the Cleveland Clinic has a pay incentive. It's hourly, and then other organizations typically lump it into something like a professional ladder or a clinical ladder bonus that you would get for being certified. Most organizations that recognize certified nurses do recognize Certified Nurse's Day which is on March 19th every year. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yes, thank you. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Of course, and everybody celebrates that a little bit differently. And a lot of organizations do pay upfront for your exam or reimburse you for the exam. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Because the exams can be somewhat of a financial burden. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

They're typically, what I have seen, at least, between three to 500 dollars. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Which isn't exactly just money that you carry around in your pocket. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

But sometimes if you're a part of a professional nursing organization, they actually give you discounts. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yes. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, if you are a part of an organization that does not provide financial backing to obtain a certification, typically, different organizations will, or they will have sales, or, like, 25 percent off. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, yeah, that's a good point. Yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Around Certified Nurse's Day, I've seen it, or Nurse's Week. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Or if your specialty nursing organization has a week. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Like, it's Periop Week or it's Perianesthesia Nurse Week. A lot of times there'll be a discount during those weeks. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Right. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

That's a great call-out. And you know, obviously, there's lots to be proud of. And when I travel around and talk to different people, sometimes what they're looking for is, "Tell me what your organization does financially because maybe then I can be part of that difference, to advocate for something like that through shared governance model." 

And even if there's a financial component. You know, do they have a clinical ladder? Are they celebrating Certified Nurses Day? So, if you're listening to us from an organization that doesn't have a financial piece, I think we'd both challenge you to go for it anyway because of all the great benefits it brings to you and to your patients. But also talk to your colleagues outside your hospital, and, and what can you do to advocate for certified nurses? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Absolutely. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

So, let's switch gears a little bit to talk about the nurse who is certified. Hurray, you did it. Great job. Now we're about two, three years in. It's time to recertify. Maybe they've switched specialties. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Or they're thinking about the CE expense. So, what would you say to that nurse, who's, "Should I recertify or not?" 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, I would say, if you're already certified, and you can recertify because you're staying in that specialty, then I definitely think that you should. Most organizations, like I said, have some sort of financial backing for it to pay for your recertification or reimburse you for it. This is actually something that I'm going through personally right now. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Okay. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Because when I obtained the CPHON, CPHON. Certified peds Hem-onc nurse, it was January of 2020. December of 2024. And I have not worked in peds hem-onc now for a year and a half. And kind of one of the lovely things about certification is it requires you to continue your knowledge within that specialty. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Or you lose it. So, with a degree, you have that degree forever. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yes. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

You don't lose that degree. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yep. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Certification, you can lose. And that sounds a little daunting, but it's not as daunting as it sounds. So, I was kind of going through this kind of personal crisis where I have this certification, and I'm no longer in this field, but I'm still so passionate about it. 

It's not a part of my job anymore. So, I actually talked to my boss about it, and I said, "I'm gonna lose this certification. I'm no longer gonna have a certification. I'm- I'm studying for others, but this is, like, really emotional for me. What should I do?" 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure, yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And she said, you know, "Katelynn, we all go through that." Typically, you know, some people might stay in the same specialty for their entire career but not everybody does that. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And that's okay. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And just because you lose that certification because it's expired, and you can't renew it. That doesn't mean you can't look for other certifications. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And it's just, you know, a piece of my nursing history. So, I've started to come to terms with the fact that I'm probably not gonna be able to renew this certification that I hold so much value to, but I will hold a lot of value with the next certification I obtain. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

So, for the nurses that are going through that, you know, they should not feel about necessarily moving a specialty, or you don't have to stay in a specialty because you have a certification there. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

You don't have to do that. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Well, and I think what I offered to you as well, that I've noticed in the various certifications I have is that organizations are thinking a little differently about what it takes to be recertified. So, one of my certifications, for example, is about advancing perianesthesia nursing. So, what does that mean? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Right. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

And so basically, now that I'm seeing it from the board's side, really, that says, you know, if I'm not actively taking care of PACU patients, am I leading, am I educating? Am I advocating? What am I doing that still lives those values? And so, leading that area, it's a little easier to draw that line. But even as people, if somebody were from my area to go to Magnet, a Magnet Program coordinator, they could certainly still argue that "I'm still advancing. I'm working with the PACU to help them get certified, et cetera." 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Right. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

And I don't know about the certification you have, but a couple of them that I have, what I've really appreciate over the past several years is they're changing how you get recertified. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

So, it isn't just X number of practice hours and X number of CEUs, it's, are you precepting? Are you presenting? Are you writing articles? Are you contributing back to the certification? In both of mine, you can get certification hours, so to speak, you can recertify hours by helping write exam questions. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Right. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Or reviewing further tests. So, there's ways that you can still recertify without having that completely straight line between what I do, the certification I have. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Yeah, absolutely. That's one thing that I had considered, was, what can do to maintain the certification outside of my current role? Because where I work now, we don't have peds hem-onc so, I can't even touch it at work, so. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Yeah. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

It's- it's completely off the grid, I guess I should say, from my current role. So, I think that, you know, just like you said, the organizations are looking at many different ways to maintain your certification in particular fields. Like you mentioned with, e- even with research or in leadership and those different things. So, you don't necessarily have to be caring for that patient population by administering medications to them. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Right. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Or physically assessing them to maintain that certification. There are many ways to maintain it. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Absolutely. And like you said, you know, just as we all go through different phases of life, different phases of nursing, it's okay to say goodbye to one phase and welcome a new one, and congratulations on your new certification journey, I should say as you walk in a different path. So, we'll wrap up the certification discussion by, let's say, a nurse of any tenure, right? I'm fresh out of nursing school. I am mid to late career. Says, "I don't know if this is worth it." So, what would your sales pitch be to that nurse? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Oh, wow. I think it depends on what the nurse values most and how well I know the nurse. But I think the biggest benefit to becoming certified or why I would say to others to get certified would really be the personal sense of achievement. 

More than anything else. "I've worked hard for this. I have studied for this. I sat down and took the exam. This shows myself and others that I know what I'm doing. I know my job." It's an extra layer of meaning to yourself personally and professionally and in your job. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Beautifully said. So now we're gonna wrap up that piece and transition to the speed round. So, this is where the audience gets to learn a little bit more about you. You spent a long day, you've worked. You've studied for your certification exam and it's time to unwind. What's your go-to? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Oh, my go-to at home would definitely be having a delicious meal, either cooked by me or my boyfriend. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, nice. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And definitely sitting down and watching something. Right now, we're watching, rewatching, I should say, Harry Potter. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, nice. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

With our four cats. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Where are you at so far? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Oh, we are in sixth. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, oh, okay. So, what happens after you get through the seventh? You're gonna have to find a new show. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

There's actually eight movies, yeah, so. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Oh, that's right, I'm sorry. Yes, that's right. Apology, Potter-philes. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

That's okay. Yes, yeah, we find something else to watch. We rewatch something. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Nice. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

But really just relaxing with my boyfriend and our cats is really what brings me joy, yes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

What brings you professional joy? 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Oh, professional joy. It definitely changes over time. So, when I worked in peds hem-onc, it was watching patients get better and having good outcomes. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Sure. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

And just caring for them and their families and having fun with a kid at work watching Moana or whatever Disney movie. I'm a big Disney fan, so I would love to do those things with them. That brought me a lot of joy. And now in my current role with Magnet, my passion, and what brings me joy the most is not just working with the nurses, but also empowering them to be the best version of themselves in the workplace, and to recognize the impact that they have. I'm getting emotional talking about it, actually. 

Recognizing the impact that they have, not just for themselves, but for their colleagues and the organization, and the community. Nurses do so much on a daily basis, and often times we don't give ourselves enough credit personally for it. And when I get to do that, when I get to give an award or recognize someone, or just sitting down and talking to a nurse, that brings me so much joy. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

It doesn't get better than that. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

It doesn't. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

Thank you so much for joining me today. 

Katelynn Milliken: 

Thank you. 

Carol Pehotsky: 

As always, thanks so much for joining us for today's discussion. Don't miss out. Subscribe to hear new episodes wherever you get your podcasts. And remember, we want to hear from you. Do you have ideas for future podcasts or want to share your stories? Email us at nurseessentials@ccf.org. 

To learn more about nursing at Cleveland Clinic, please check us out at clevelandclinic.org/nursing. Until next time, take care of yourselves, and take care of each other. 

The information in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Consult your local state boards of nursing for any specific practice questions.