Piedmont Athens Regional’s breast health nurse navigator Susan Irwin recently earned certification as a Certified Breast Cancer Navigator (CBCN). Irwin, is the second nurse navigator at the hospital to earn CBCN certification.

CBCN certification is the only nationally accredited breast care nursing certification that’s available exclusively to registered nurses and encompasses the entire spectrum of breast care nursing practices. Awarded by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, it ensures navigators are well educated in regard to best practices for breast imaging, breast cancer diagnosis, and treatment.

Requirements to earn certification include:

•  An active registered nurse license

• A minimum of 2,000 hours of breast cancer nursing practice within the 48 months prior to application

• A minimum of 2 years of experience as an RN within the 4 years prior to application

• A minimum of 10 contact hours of nursing continuing education in breast care nursing or an academic elective in breast care nursing within the last 3 years

• Applications must pass a 165-question test during a three-hour testing period. They are tested on five major subject areas: care continuum, diagnosis and staging, treatment modalities, nursing practice, and psychosocial dimensions of care.

Piedmont Athens Regional gives patients access to a comprehensive breast health program. In addition to screening mammograms, patients receive personalized breast health care in areas such as surgical oncology, radiation oncology, clinical trials, genetic counseling, cancer wellness services, and social services, guided and assisted by an oncology nurse navigator. Patients and their support system also have access to services and programs at the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support and the Beautiful You Boutique.

To learn more about breast health at Piedmont Athens Regional, visit piedmont.org/cancer. To meet Piedmont Athens Regional’s breast surgeon Katie Moore, M.D., watch this video.