Raising the Bar: Two Perianesthesia Nurses Earn National Certification
Two exceptional perianesthesia nurses—Tanya Peters, RN, and Pamela Miles, RN—recently earned national certification through the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN).
Tanya, a clinical leader in Surgical Day Care, achieved dual certification as a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) and Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA). Pamela, also a nurse in Surgical Day Care, earned her CAPA credential.
“These credentials are more than just letters,” says Melissa Lewis, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, Supervisor of Surgical Day Care and PACU at Cape Cod Hospital. “They are a testament to Tanya and Pamela’s advanced knowledge, clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to delivering the highest-quality care to our surgical and procedural patients.”
National certification is a rigorous process that requires extensive study, clinical experience and a deep understanding of perianesthesia nursing across all phases of care. Tanya, who has worked at Cape Cod Healthcare for 10 years, said, “It helps you stay on top of your game.”
Pamela, a nurse of 15 years with 11 years in the department, shared similar motivation: “I wanted to be an expert in what we do here. Certification keeps you up to date on best practices and reinforces the care we provide every day.”
Certified nurses are shown to positively impact patient outcomes, strengthen team collaboration and elevate the professional standard of nursing practice, says Lewis. “Tanya and Pamela set the bar high when it comes to delivering compassionate, expert perianesthesia care.”
Riding for Trish: Nurse Honors Colleague’s Legacy in Pan-Mass Challenge
This August, Tsvetelina Belardo will be pedaling for a purpose.
An ICU nurse at Cape Cod Hospital, Belardo is riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) for the first time this summer in honor of her late friend and fellow nurse, Patricia Lavern DiMaggio, RN. Known as Trish to friends and colleagues, she passed away from breast cancer last summer.
“Trish and I started the novice nurse program together,” says Belardo. “She was quiet, friendly, funny and such a hard worker—an excellent nurse. We shared laughs, worked through difficult shifts and leaned on each other often. Losing her reminded me that no day is guaranteed. I’d always thought about riding in the PMC, and this year, I finally committed.”
Belardo has seen firsthand the toll cancer takes on patients and their families. “It’s heartbreaking when patients are so young, like Trish,” she said. “One patient I cared for had stage IV esophageal cancer. He got married just days before he passed. He was so kind and appreciative of our care even as his body was failing.”
To prepare for the emotional and physical challenge of the ride, Belardo has completed 40-mile training rides and is working up to 60 miles before the ride. She credits leg strength training, podcasts and the inspiration of her son with helping her stay focused and motivated.
“I want to set an example for my five-year-old and do something meaningful in memory of my friend,” she said. “When I lived in Provincetown, seeing the PMC riders arrive with their families and friends cheering them on was unforgettable. Now, I get to be one of them.”
The Pan-Mass Challenge takes place August 2–3. On Sunday, August 3, Tsvetelina will ride 70 miles from Bourne to Provincetown. To support her ride, visit her PMC page.
Celebrating 10 Years of Project SEARCH Success at CCHC
Congratulations to the Project SEARCH interns at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital on receiving your certificates! Your hard work and growth over the past year have been truly inspiring.
This year’s celebration held is especially meaningful as we mark the 10th anniversary of Cape Cod Healthcare’s partnership with Riverview School and the Project SEARCH program. For the past decade, this one-year, business-led internship has provided students in their final year at Riverview with hands-on workplace experience—helping them build independence, self-advocacy and valuable career skills.
We’re so proud of all you’ve accomplished—and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next!
Pictured: Michael Lauf attended a special celebration celebrating Project SEARCH interns in the Lorusso Boardroom at Cape Cod Hospital earlier this month.
