What is the quickest specialty certification out there?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone,

I see that a lot of the specialty certifications out there require 2 years+ experience or so many hours or whatever. I'm wondering what certification out there is the quickest to get? Anyone know? The quickest I've seen is wound care I think...

Any insight would be great! Many thanks!

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
It is nice to have them computerized. It was sort of surreal taking the OCN exam and finding out right away that I'd passed.

OTOH, the lactation consultant exam, while now computerized, still does not tell you your results for three months. It's offered every July, and people get their results by mail in October. Silly.

Immigration is a perfectly good reason to get a certification. I want to stay with my family, and if that is the only way the government is going to let me do it, then so be it.

I am dedicated to nursing. I am professional, and I am passionate about nursing. I believe that any certification I decide to take I will accomplish. As long as I can be hands on with my patients, I am following my calling to nursing.

That shows my integrity to nursing. Your judgment therefore is irrelevant in answering my question.

If you already have the qualifications to sit for a certification exam, even if acquired in an overseas setting, you can do that. Perhaps it's the language barrier, but your original post came across as breezy and amateurish. If you are already a nurse, already have a specialty, and already know something about expertise in it, then that's the one you want to get.

If you have been a nurse for only a short period of time, have no particular specialty or expertise already, and just want something quick and dirty, then the posts above seem pretty much on the money. Just getting a certification in a specialty for the sake of having one is one reason why any specialty certification worth spit requires time to demonstrate participation and practice in the specialty before you sit a certification exam. If you know so much about nursing, you can understand that.

So which is it?

My guess is, the Op is an international student who entered on a student visa, has recently graduated from a nursing program, their student visa is expiring and they are desparate to find another visa option.

We are seeing some of this in Canada, so I would not be surprised if this is happening in the US. It's dishonest for nursing schools to recruit international students and give them a false sense of hope that a North American nursing education will fast track their immigration.

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I feel for the OP if they are in a bind that only certification will get them out of. I just took the RN-C and CCRN for neonatal (why two? that would be a long off-topic) after ten years experience in that field. Those were hard exams, and you have to provide references to verify you have two years (immediately prior) experience in that field.

How about not worrying about what is the "quickest" but worry about what certification makes sense for you.

Ok, so at the risk of offending.... I am curious about this as well. I already know I'll be starting with TNCC, ACLS, and eventually working towards CEN (I want to work emergency/trauma).

But just out of curiousity... are there certs that have a lesser time requirement? Would be interesting if there are people out there flaunting these or that certificate, when really... not much went into it.

OP, from your later post in this thread, I get that you have an immigration issue looming over your head. That is a hard road to be on, and I'm sorry for your troubles.

But please understand where we're coming from: lots of nurses, even brand new grads with zero work experience, post here about piling up specialty certifications like candy ... with the expectation that this makes them more attractive candidates for a particular job. And it generally just doesn't. While it shows a certain amount of initiative, passing a test without relevant experience in that specialty achieved over a period of time just doesn't mean much. It certainly does not indicate you have *expert* knowledge in that specialty.

Your first post did not indicate your immigration issue, and so sounded like yet another "how many meaningless certifications can I pile up" question.

Wishing you well.

I will be a new grad soon, with zero medical experience. what do YOU suggest I do to make myself more marketable? What CAN I do to make myself stand out against techs, LPN's and others who have medical experience?

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

Ok, so at the risk of offending.... I am curious about this as well. I already know I'll be starting with TNCC, ACLS, and eventually working towards CEN (I want to work emergency/trauma).

But just out of curiousity... are there certs that have a lesser time requirement? Would be interesting if there are people out there flaunting these or that certificate, when really... not much went into it.

Certifications are different then ACLS and such. They are designed for specific fields such S pediatrics, med surge, high risk L&D, geriatric, trauma, holistic nursing...

My certification is in lactation...I'm an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). I opted for this as an L&D nurse leaving L&D and going peds NP and a strong belief in lactation education.

Most certifications take time...hours and years in a specific field before you can sit for them.

So you can't get them ahead of time or right out of school.

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

I will be a new grad soon, with zero medical experience. what do YOU suggest I do to make myself more marketable? What CAN I do to make myself stand out against techs, LPN's and others who have medical experience?

And you getting your RN? Keep grades up! I would also look I to volunteer work. Make yourself look like a well rounded individual. You can't get certifications yet.

aachavez, can you get a job as an NA at the hospital where you'd like to work? This would be a good way to get on board and show your work ethic. When we were interviewing in our last semester there was a lot of weight placed on experience in the healthcare setting. Also we have hired our techs after graduation (at least those that have shown excellent work). I agree with the previous post...keep those grades up, and do volunteer work!!

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I don't know anything about visas, so this may not be helpful/may not count to the requirement- Consider becoming certified to teach ACLS and PALS. Don't bother with BLS, we have those instructors coming out of our ears.

This is not the same as a specialty certification of course, but we can never get enough instructors. I'm tired of teaching these stupid classes, I've been out of ICU nursing for 5 years but they don't have anyone to replace me. We need help!

Specializes in ICU.

Most of the hospitals in my area are requiring a certification in order to get a job. They don't care if you have a BSN or MSN, etc., but they do want you to have a certification in something. I do not know what the rationale for that requirement is, unless it is to avoid hiring new nurses, who haven't had time to get a certification in anything. (I am not talking about ACLS, PALS, etc.)

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
I don't have TIME to invest... that is why I am asking the question - I wish I did, but I'm not that lucky.

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