Palm Coast nurse earns national emergency certification to strengthen patient care

When his overnight shift ends, Joe Stores does not always head home.

In recent months, the assistant nurse manager at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway chose to stay a little longer, using that time to prepare for a national exam that would test his experience in emergency care.

He passed, joining a growing number of nurses who are choosing to pursue advanced specialty certifications.

Stores earned his certified emergency nurse credential, a distinction that reflects advanced training in one of the profession’s most demanding specialties.

He is one of 72 nurses at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway and AdventHealth Palm Coast who recently earned national specialty certifications, a nearly 160% increase over the past two years.

Unlike required licensure, national board certifications are voluntary and often require months of preparation outside regular work hours.

Last year, nearly 68,000 patients sought care in the emergency departments at AdventHealth Palm Coast and AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway. For many of them, that additional training can shape what happens in critical moments.

“When people come into the emergency room, they’re handing you trust right away,” Stores said. “You have to be ready whenever they need you.”

His connection to the field started early.

“I grew up around it,” he said. “My mom taught nursing. My dad was a paramedic. I was always hearing about real calls, real situations. It stuck with me.”

Before becoming a nurse six years ago, Stores spent more than a decade working as a paramedic. The move into nursing allowed him to build on that experience while stepping into a leadership role in the emergency department.

Earning the certification became part of that next step. The process required weeks of preparation and a comprehensive exam.

“It pushes you to think deeper,” he said. “Not just what you do, but why you do it.”

Support from the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation helped make that next step possible, covering the cost of coursework and the exam, removing a common barrier for nurses looking to advance their skills.

“Having access to that class, at the right time, made it realistic,” Stores said. “Otherwise, it’s easy to put it off.”

Hospital leaders say efforts like this reflect a larger effort to create clear paths for growth, shaped by feedback from nurses who want more opportunities to advance while staying at the bedside.

At AdventHealth, that commitment includes a systemwide approach to continuous learning, where nurses can build skills over time and pursue certifications that support both patient care and career growth.

“When nurses have opportunities to keep learning, it strengthens how they care for people and how they grow in their careers,” said Yuri Pashchuk, associate chief nursing officer at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway. “That benefits everyone who walks through our doors.”

For Stores, the impact of that support comes back to patient care.

“When someone comes into the ER, they may not know who has what certification,” Stores said. “But that extra training helps nurses respond faster and with more confidence. I’m grateful I had the support to keep learning so I can take better care of my patients and lead my team.”