Certified in weight loss
“Last year was the first time the certified bariatric nurses examination was given, so I decided to take it,” Jackson said. “It was a pretty extensive test.”
Now the pioneering nurses are bringing this new specialty to the Valley. They are two of only a handful of nurses nationwide who have bariatric nurse certification.
“Denise and I are two of the first in the Valley,” Jackson said. “That is pretty exciting.”
The field of bariatrics is focused on the causes, treatment and prevention of obesity. As our nation’s waistlines grow, so does this area of medicine.
“There’s a rise in need for those patients, as obesity rises, those patients really need our help in meeting all of their needs,” Helgeson said. “It’s wonderful they finally pushed for it and obtained a national test for it.”
Helgeson and Jackson believe the certification offers a tool they can utilize to further assist doctors, staff and patients at Community Medical Centers.
“I really feel it helps me with my patients more than anything else,” Jackson said. “It’s given me more flexibility, a wider range to help my patients.”
Both women said they are driven and dedicated to bariatrics because of the satisfaction they get out of watching their patients reach weight-loss goals and start living healthier lives.
“In this field you’re actually helping people get better,” Jackson said. “And they’re also helping themselves get better.”
Helgeson and Jackson would like to see the field expand and are big supporters for other nurses interested in getting bariatric certification.
“I always encourage the nurses that are on the floor to expand their knowledge,” Helgeson said. “It can directly impact the patients they care for.”
And it must feel pretty good to be the first in the Valley, not to mention the country, to lead the way in this specialty.
“I’m very proud that both Denise and I took the exam and passed,” Jackson said. “We both have a lot to offer our patients and we encourage other people to follow in our foot steps.”
This story was reported special by Joy Pickering. She can be reached at MedWatchToday@communitymedical.org.