ANCC certification - does good, or just looks good?

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OK, my boss wants several of us to get our ANCC certification. We work on a small inpatient psych unit in a medium-size rural hospital. I already do more CEU's a year in psych than ANCC requires, so it's not about keeping up in my field. A co-worker says that hospitals benefit when they have ANCC certified nurses on staff - looks good to the inspectors. What's the real story? Is the benefit to the nurses and our patients, or just the CEO? Any ANCC certified nurses out there with an opinion?

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

I carried ANCC Psychiatric Nurse certification for five years. To be truthful I found it pretty useless. One potential employer - who did not offer me a job - saw it on my resume, commented on it and said "that's nice". Virtually no employers give extra pay for ANCC certification, or even pay for the test. It is of more benefit to the employer, who can say that they have certified nurses on staff. The requirements for renewal are a pain as well. When it came time for renewal I decided that I had better things to do with my money.

If you want it for the professional satisfaction, by all means do it. If you are counting on it to help you professionally, don't bother.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I agree with the previous poster. I got my ANCC certification as a personal goal, but it never made a bit of difference in pay or anything else. Luckily my employer paid for it, as well as renewal fees. I wouldn't have paid the over-300 dollars fee myself, nor the same fee to renew. Bear in mind that if your employer will pay for the certification, you have to take an awesome test, and some employers won't pay if you fail the test.

I believe hospitals have to have certified nurses in order to have "Magnet" status. I could be wrong, but it's to their benefit if that's the case. Just don't expect it to matter on the job.

An exception is if you're an advanced practice nurse. Then you have to be certified in order to prescribe (at least in Indiana).

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
Bear in mind that if your employer will pay for the certification, you have to take an awesome test...

I thought that the test was worse than the nursing board exam. Some of the questions they asked seemed more appropriate for a Ph. D. psychologist or therapist. Some of the issues they asked about were outside the scope of practice of an RN, IMO.

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We are magnet facility and it is required to move up the clinical ladder (and increase pay).

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Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.

i work in the big apple.

my union contract

provides a salary increase

for ancc certification.

i believe

any credential

above your entry level practice rn license

makes a statement

"on-paper" of

your professional interest

to increase your knowledge base.:twocents:

fyi, i am a previous

ancc psych-mental health nurse (generalist)

test review board member.

the questions are written and approved

by direct patient care rns.

the guidelines require

that one---yes only one--rn

have a masters degree and is

in a faculty position.

there are 6 - 8 members

from all over the united states.

i would pursue ancc certification

with or without pay increase

because my standard for practice

is

to be above the minimum standard for practice---;)

that's in any profession---nursing or showbiz!!!:yeah:

hey, but that's just me.:D

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Specializes in Education, Case Mgt, Clinical Documentat.

Hi showbizrn... do you work for 1199 or NYSNA? Anyways, I am the nurse planner for 1199 continuing education and I am looking for ANCC certified nurses on Psychiatric Nursing to be part of our faculty for our ANCC Psychiatry Nursing review for certification. Drop me an email at [email protected] if you are interested. Thanks. Hope to hear from you!

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My first post in this forum. Nice general followup on something I'd kind of wondered about. Got mine in the mid 80's cause the hospital I worked at paid fifty cents an hour extra for it as did others pay sufficient to at least pay for itself. I kept it till it expired in the late 90's cause basically nobody was paying for it by then (apparently there are still some exceptions). As for credentials, I've seen some aides without a high school diploma who were more therapeutic with patients (and staff) than some psychiatrists. The words and the music are two different things.

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I agree that it makes a "statement" that you care enough to go above the minimum standard and it was also the hardest test I ever took. LOL. I usually do very well on standardized tests and I passed on the first try but I make sure to keep my certification up because I never want to take that test again.

I don't get more pay for the certification but t allowed me to work in an outpatient child/adolsecent psych clinic. I HAD to be certified to get that job and I really enjoyed it for nearly 4 years. Nice to work Mon-Friday with weekends and holidays off. Last year I left that job to begin Perfomance Improvement just because I've been doing psych for 22 years and needed a break. I have never been sorry that I got my certifcation but if you're doing it for just extra money, it's not worth it.

Good luck.

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I agree that it makes a "statement" that you care enough to go above the minimum standard and it was also the hardest test I ever took. LOL. I usually do very well on standardized tests and I passed on the first try but I make sure to keep my certification up because I never want to take that test again.

I don't get more pay for the certification but t allowed me to work in an outpatient child/adolsecent psych clinic. I HAD to be certified to get that job and I really enjoyed it for nearly 4 years. Nice to work Mon-Friday with weekends and holidays off. Last year I left that job to begin Perfomance Improvement just because I've been doing psych for 22 years and needed a break. I have never been sorry that I got my certifcation but if you're doing it for just extra money, it's not worth it.

Good luck.

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I disagree with the first few posts. I am not sure what state they live in, but I received an increase in pay at all of my jobs and my company paid for the examine. I thought the test was very easy without studying. If you work in psych everyday, the stuff is a no brain-er. I do believe that most places prefer their nurses be ANCC certified in whatever field it is!

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.

I have been certified by the ANCC as a Psychiatric and Mental Health nurse since 1984 (2 years after graduation). Yup, that's 27 years! I would have done it even if the original test and subsequent renewals were not reimbursed. I do get a differential (currently 1750/year), but most importantly I am identified as an expert based upon my board certification. I am also a clinical nurse educator (psychiatric) and this certification is essential in securing those positions. Professionally, certification is an important designation and allows for defferentiation of the experience levels of nurses (also who is willing and able to specialize in practice). It provides validation of knowledge/skill for self, agency and patients/families. Does anyone question why a doctor seeks board certification?

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