CAMBRIDGE — The Dorchester General Hospital Foundation has provided financial assistance enabling five nurses seeking to advance their credentials as perioperative nurses to take a national certification exam, UM Shore Regional Health has announced.

According to Ida Jane Baker, president, the Foundation’s support for nursing advancement reflects the Board’s recognition that nurses are the front line of patient care in any hospital setting. “We are proud to support these nurses who have committed to advancing their skills and knowledge as perioperative nurses,” says Mrs. Baker. “Our support is an investment in quality care.”

The five — Anna Fishback, BSN, RN Melanie Smith, RN, Claudia Tilley, MSN, BSN, RN, Pamela Tuck, BSN, RN, and Susan Walbridge MSN, RN, NEA-BC — work in the operating rooms at UM Shore Medical Centers at Dorchester and Easton. They are preparing to take the national CNOR exam, administered by the Competency and Credentialing Institute. The CNOR certification program is designed for perioperative nurses interested in validating and enhancing their knowledge and skills to provide the highest quality care to their patients.

“We are so grateful to the Foundation for funding the entire cost of $2,250 for us to take the CNOR exam,” says Anna Fishback. “We are all preparing and studying for it now and plan to achieve CNOR certification early in 2018.”

These five grants bring the total DGH Foundation support for nursing education since 2013 to $10,508 in awards to 29 nursing team members.

Says Susan Walbridge, MSN, RN, manager of the operating rooms for the Dorchester and Easton hospitals, “By helping renovate facilities and purchase equipment, the Foundation has helped improve the quality of care and expand access to care for Dorchester residents. As a nurse, I am especially grateful to see the Foundation providing support for our nursing team members that enables us to enhance our credentials and professionalism.”