Are you certified in your specialty?

[beeker]

My employer offers zero incentive. No pay raise or reimbursements at all! But I'd like to get certified. The exams almost 400 and the text s 275 and a new edition just came out. The used older editions are almost as much as the new ones. My husband wants me to skip it. I know it won't do much for me now but I'd like to have it for my résumé. I'd also like the challenge of putting my brain back to work to Alleviate baby brain. Has anyone regretted getting certified or not renewed? Any advice? Having a hard time justifying the huge price tag.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm pretty much in the same boat with my employer. The only pay incentive is related to the clinical ladder process- in order to qualify for the top rung, the nurse has to have either a BSN or certification. To be honest, I (and many other nurses at my facility) do not find the incentive of clinical laddering to be equal to the amount of work required. When the BSN/certification requirement was introduced, the total number of nurses laddering at all dropped by about 40%.

I am certified in my specialty. The reason I chose to do it was for personal satisfaction and to have it to add to my resume. I am due for renewal next year, and do intend to renew.

[OCNRN63, RN]

My employer did not pay a differential; they compensated for the test (if you passed) only. I am certified in my specialty.

[OCNRN63, RN]

​I forgot to add that I have been certified in multiple specialties. I've never regretted doing it, even when there was no pay raise involved.

[SwansonRN]

Currently studying for the CCRN. I don't think I have enough hours in CC to actually sit for the test yet, but I do like to study because I feel like I'm better prepared to take care of my patients and understand their patho. If I pass the test I just tell my manager and they reimburse me. When it comes time for my review the fact that I sat for the test will factor into my performance review and my eligibility for a raise, but I don't think there are any other direct incentives. Mostly I just want to do it to feel accomplished and I am a bit of a textbook nerd so studying excites me.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I have had quite a few certs over the years-- took the second CCRN exam ever given (that's how old I am), kept it for almost 20 years. Changed career direction, took a few other certs as appropriate; they have opened doors for me ever since. Have further refined my practice and took a few more; they definitely open doors for me in my smaller specialty.

If you want to do it for the love of learning, as I did, more power to you! You WILL find them repaying you someday, even if the path to that isn't clear now. Future employers (at least the good ones) will notice that commitment to learning, believe me.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I have had quite a few certs over the years-- took the second CCRN exam ever given (that's how old I am), kept it for almost 20 years. Changed career direction, took a few other certs as appropriate; they have opened doors for me ever since. Have further refined my practice and took a few more; they definitely open doors for me in my smaller specialty.

If you want to do it for the love of learning, as I did, more power to you! You WILL find them repaying you someday, even if the path to that isn't clear now. Future employers (at least the good ones) will notice that commitment to learning, believe me.

I agree. While I am no longer able to work in direct patient care, I have been able to use my cert for another position that allows me to work as much or as little as I want.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I have never gotten certified. I used to work for am employer that would have given me a 1k bonus if I passed, and am kicking myself for not getting a cert back then. I am currently debating taking the CPN, even though I know longer work PEDs. I still see PEDs in the ER and figure it will help to increase my PEDs knowledge. My current employer will only reimburse me for the exam if I pass

[Palliative Care, DNP]

I'm certified in medsurg. I was going to attempt oncology certification but went to grad school instead. Where I work certifications are $1/hr more.

[llg, PhD, RN]

My employer offers no financial incentive and did not reimburse me for my cost ... but I am glad I did it. It gives me that credential that validates that I am truly an expert in my specialty. I procrastinated for years about doing it. But once I did it, it meant more to me than I thought it would.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

We have to pay for it ourselves, and get no financial reward. I do know that most of the hospitals in my area require a certification in your field; they do not require a BSN, but they want a certification.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I am certified and don't regret it. I had to pay for the books and the test. I do get paid a 1.00 more an hour. It's more of a feather in my cap.