Additional certifications

Just_Kidney, ADN, BSN, RN · May 30, 2013

I have the same question! I really want to be a flight nurse and they require a butt load of advance certs which I'm sure I can get later, but I was wondering if I can get any of them before I'm actually an RN?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 31, 2013

Would it help you during school? Maybe. You wouldn't likely be allowed to utilize all of what you've learned though. I'm going to be renewing my ACLS certification this year because it's about time that I did. I've taken it probably 3 or 4 times so far... all before getting into RN school. Normally I wouldn't recommend taking advanced classes until around your last semester in school. Why? It's because that way you'll have the cert when you're done with RN school and not having to worry about studying for that and the NCLEX at the same time. Unless you're considering ER or doing Neuro work, I'd say you should wait on the NIH stroke certification. Then again, if you're looking for ER, also consider PALS. In my case, I'm also a Paramedic, so I need some of those courses for that line of work (which I've been away from for quite a long time).

Many of the Flight RN certs can be earned later, and some must be earned as an RN, if memory serves.

bigsick_littlesick · May 31, 2013

Touching on the flight nurse stuff, I, too, wish to one day become a flight nurse but I know that most companies want about 2-3+ years of experience in ER and ICU setting before being considered. In our ER, they want you to have ACLS, PALS, TNCC and MICN. In ICU, they want CCRN which you need to have worked as an ICU nurse for two years.

Obviously, you can go and pay for ACLS and PALS but when I was looking to sign up for TNCC, most of the companies that offer it say that it's best to have some ER experience prior to taking the class. Otherwise, you'll most likely be completely lost and not get the best learning experience out of it (not cheap either). I still want to take it though!

For MICN in my county, you must be an RN, have current ACLS and provide evidence that you have a min 6 mos experience as an ED nurse so that one is obviously not possible to get before finishing nursing school.

I am not 100% but I would think that most, if not all, flight programs would want their nurses to take NRP program too.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 31, 2013

There are many certification programs to every specialty. Many, CCRN,CEN,CFRN,CPEN,CTRN will not allow you to test before you are a RN and actively employed in that speciality. CFRN â€" BCEN and they are expensive.

There are other "certifications" TNCC,ENPC,CATN CFRN â€" BCEN that you MIGHT be able t take without being RN but near impossible to pass without some experience. ACLS, PALS, NRP are other required certifications that you can take however.....there needs to be some working knowledge of the basics. While flight nursing is a REALLY cool job...( that actually doesn't pay all that great).....it requires experience and expertise first. MINIMAL BSN required!!!! Some academic facility based crews require MSN.

Here is one companies requirements........Air Evac Lifeteam

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · May 31, 2013

Before graduation I had NIHS, ELG CERT and ACLS. immediately after graduation I got PALS and NRP. During my first job (L&D) I got ENPC and just yesterday I got TNCC. I am currently studying for CEN but most likely wont test until January once I have some experience in the ER.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · May 31, 2013

Keep in mind you have to pay for all of these out of your own pocket, whereas if you get them on the job (if they're required for your job - they're not required for every one of them), and they're required for your unit, your employer pays for them/provides them.

ACLS can cost as much as $200; the costs are not set by the American Heart Association and are at the whim of the training center.

Also, unless you're a paramedic or have prior medical experience, you may not understand ACLS and its cousins - including rhythms and the pathophysiology behind them - thoroughly enough to justify the out of pocket expense. Usually knowledge is hollow without understanding, and nowhere else is that truer than medicine and nursing.

thatsthekeyRNC · May 31, 2013

I took ACLS and PALS as a graduating student right before graduation. It was nice because we organized it with the company through school so it was all students, so the the teaching was definitely geared toward people who have never taken these classes before. I learned SO much. It was very expensive..about $240 each including books.

Prior to taking these courses, I also took an EKG/pharmacology course offered by the same company, which really gave me the baseline information needed to complete ACLS/PALS. Now it's time to focus on NCLEX, but I also plan to take NRP this summer.

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · May 31, 2013

Keep in mind you have to pay for all of these out of your own pocket, whereas if you get them on the job (if they're required for your job - they're not required for every one of them), and they're required for your unit, your employer pays for them/provides them.
ACLS can cost as much as $200; the costs are not set by the American Heart Association and are at the whim of the training center.
Also, unless you're a paramedic or have prior medical experience, you may not understand ACLS and its cousins - including rhythms and the pathophysiology behind them - thoroughly enough to justify the out of pocket expense. Usually knowledge is hollow without understanding, and nowhere else is that truer than medicine and nursing.

Even while working L&D I had to pay for NRP, so they aren't always paid for.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Jun 1, 2013

My preceptor (who is also the CNS for the OB/MB floor) told me it wouldn't hurt to get as many certifications as you can. That way, if you need them for the job you are applying for, you have an edge over people who don't!