Is it worth it to get a certification in a specialty BEFORE graduation?

[mr cooper]

I'm just starting out as a student in a 12 month accelerated BSN program and I am already thinking about jobs. I've done some research and plan on applying to many places 2 months before graduation. Anyway, I was thinking if I got a certification in the specialty I want to work in if it would help me. I'm interested in applying to some nursing residencies in critical care, so I was thinking I'd get a critical care certificate to help my resume. I'm thinking its not necessarily going to help, but I'd figure I'd ask.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Remember you are just staring: where you want to be now may not be where you want to be when you are done. Go to each clinical opportunity with an open mind and you may find you really enjoy another speciality. If not, try and get a preceptorship in a unit and work connections there for graduation.

[SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN]

I did my ACLS and joined a few professional organizations.

I also went to a 3 day conference where I made some connections and landed my first nursing job! I would say hold off on the critical care certificate for right now and re-evaluate in 6 months... it's pretty expensive to do and is a lot more valuable with recent, relevant experience.

Good luck!

What type of conference?

I have ACLS, BLS, PALS and took a Telemetry course (which I found too basic and want to actually take the Basic EKG course now because I still feel weak on EKGs, but expensive), having all of these have not helped me land a job yet

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

All you ever needed to know about nursing specialties and certification (as opposed to "certificates," a totally different thing) in three handy websites. You can't possibly be certified as a specialty nurse unless you have enough expertise to call yourself a specialist. Makes sense, eh?

Most certifications require time-in-grade, often two years, or more; most also require a lot of specialized education, and almost all require sitting a comprehensive examination (I actually can't think of one that doesn't).

List of nursing specialties - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ABNS - American Board of Nursing Specialties

ANCC Certification Center - American Nurses Credentialing Center - ANCC

[RNpearls1908]

This does seem to be a good idea to get some certifications done pre-employment like your last semester of nursing school so it is fresh and current. However, I'm just trying to figure out where one would find the time to get these certifications while in school with all the studying for classes and NCLEX and clinicals seems like more added stress.