Kym Leonard Carter, RN, CBN, of Alpharetta, Georgia has become one of the first nurses in the metro-Atlanta area to be certified through the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons. Carter is the Program Coordinator for the Bariatric Center at North Fulton Regional Hospital where she has worked since 2005.
To be considered for this certification, nurses must successfully complete a written examination that is designed to assess the professional competencies in all technical areas of bariatric nursing standards as set by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery. A nurse must also have at least two years of bariatric nursing experience to be considered for this distinction.
The certification must be renewed every four years through continuing education in the field of bariatrics.
The Bariatric Center at North Fulton Regional Hospital offers two complete programs for the treatment of obesity. The medical weight loss program, or Lifesteps® Weight Management Program, takes participants on a 12-week journey of behavior modification, physical exercise and dietary counseling. This approach is primarily geared toward those wanting to lose a small to moderate amount of weight and who want to learn to keep that weight off.
The surgical weight loss program is geared toward those who meet the NIH criteria for obesity and who have tried other weight loss methods but have not been able to achieve desired results. To meet the NIH criteria, one must have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more or have a BMI of 35 or more with a life-threatening illness that may be improved with weight loss, such as sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
Surgical treatment of obesity may not only help control the diseases associated with obesity, but it may also help prevent the development of those same diseases if they are not already present. Many patients report an improved quality of life, better moods, increased self esteem and the ability to participate in more social activities.
North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 167-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.
North Fulton Regional Hospital is proud of Bariatric Center Program Coordinator Kym Leonard Carter and all of her achievement in the field of bariatric nursing. To learn more about the Bariatric Center at North Fulton Regional Hospital, visit www.northfultonregional.com/bariatrics, or call us at 770-751-2924.