2025 CENP Faculty Spotlight: Susan Pastor

What do you think is the most important takeaway from the review course that helps participants feel prepared for the exam?
The CENP Essentials Review Course is the playbook that enables executive nurse leaders to engage in a comprehensive evaluation of their executive leadership skills. The course content provides a pathway for study, along with the opportunity to engage with experienced executive nurse leaders to discuss concepts and deepen their knowledge.  It provides a clear, manageable way to digest the vast amount of nursing leadership content. Course participants often share “I wish I would have taken this course long ago in my leadership journey.  I now feel better equipped to lead in this challenging healthcare environment.”

The course also provides test-taking tips and strategies that participants find very helpful. Some participants have not had the recent experience of being immersed in preparation for taking a standardized test and the preparation can feel overwhelming. Participants often share that they feel much more confident in their knowledge and their ability to be successful at the exam. Of course, when a participant reaches out to announce that they have passed the exam and are now Certified in Executive Nursing Practice, it is great to know that AONL played a part in their success!      

What motivated you to pursue CENP certification?
The AONL certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) is validation that a nurse leader has mastery of the executive nurse leader body of content. As I progressed along my nursing leadership journey, my mentors supported my efforts to grow and form relationships with experts on our field.  Having the honor of being selected for the Johnson & Johnson/Wharton Fellowship in Nursing Management, I had the opportunity to network with many of my influential executive peers from across the country who encouraged me to pursue certification.  I listened to this guidance and I began to prepare for the exam. I took advantage of the CENP certification review course at the AONL annual meeting, which was so convenient. My efforts paid off! I am proud to say that I am a certified nurse leader!

How has becoming certified added value in your professional and/or personal life?
In addition to being an outward sign of expertise in nursing executive practice, I am often approached to consult or to act as a mentor for developing nurse leaders. This acknowledgement of my expertise is rewarding and satisfying for me. I am always ready to provide some assistance and encouragement to developing nurse leaders!

As an experienced executive nurse leader, this certification has validated my “seat at the table” with not only my executive peers, but with other healthcare disciplines. As nurse leaders, we have a unique frontline perspective on the provision of patient care and sharing our expertise is critical to shaping the future of healthcare! I am not shy to share my expertise and my voice. My executive colleagues often comment about the unique nursing perspective that I bring to discussions, strategy, and decision-making.