Nurses General Nursing
Published Sep 5, 2003
20 members have participated
dwoodruff, RN
26 Posts
Are many nurses certified in their specialty area?
Dave ARNP
629 Posts
Wouldn't practice, and not be!
David Adams, ACNP, FNP
barb4575
169 Posts
I was certified at the Clinical Nurse Specialist area in Med-Surg...but when the five years had passed after the exam, I allowed it to lapse because I have worked in LTC, Med-Surg and education and quite frankly, did not have the CNS hours in practice. I think the certification renewal regs should change. In order to become certified again, I would have to retake an exam and the last time it was $150...personally, I think it is just one more way for the profession to rip people off financially. I had written to the AACN regarding certification regs for renewal...no response.
I also have not noticed that those RN's that are certified appear to be anymore knowledgeable than their peers. I have worn my nursing pins for 21 years from my graduate programs and I am so very proud of them...the certification did not really bring the same feelings for me even though I felt that the exam was very difficult.
Barbara
renerian, BSN, RN
5,693 Posts
I agree with Barb.
renerian
indie
102 Posts
I became certified in Pediatrics thru ANCC in 1997. After five years, although I met the recertification criteria, I had become disillusioned with the ANCC as a self-serving organization who repeatedly changed the 'rules' of certification according to their own needs, not those of the profession or individuals.
Repeated requests for recert. criteria (well prior to my recert. date) were met with apathy or rudeness as they were not available. When they became available, the cost seemed ridiculous for the benefits.
I did not recertify and, although an independent and needing a 'shop window' in which to display my skills to clients, I have not found this a problem in the last year.
Tweety, BSN, RN
34,347 Posts
As a charge nurse my employer asks for a BSN or certification. I got the certification in Med-Surg. Let it lapse. Then recently got it again. It gets me .50 an hour more. My employer pays for it.