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Discussion

Certifications in the ED

  • Expert

What certifications are needed/desired in the ED?

This is a question that comes up often. I work as an APN in a community hospital ED and we were discussing this last night. All of the ED RNs are required to have BLS, ACLS and a peds certification. Trauma certification, i.e., TNCC or TNS (Trauma Nurse Specialist – an IL-only certification) is preferred and CEN is icing on the cake. However, when I was discussing these certs with the nurses, the issue was that since there was no additional pay or benefits to additional certifications, that most preferred to do the minimum required.

However, should we be doing the minimum to get by? Shouldn’t we, as professionals, strive continuously to a higher standard? I know that when I was a new ED nurse, I wanted all the alphabet soup I could get – lol – I did learn better though! My personal opinion is that BLS, ACLS, a peds cert and a trauma cert should be mandatory.

CEN however, is not to be overlooked. It is a national certification that proves basic competency as an ED RN. EDs should reimburse for the test and study materials as well as pay at least $1.00/hour extra for those that choose to go the extra mile.

Featured Replies

  • Author
  • Expert

The certificatons provide the basics for care. Its YOU the nurse who brings it up to the level of competency that allows you to provide better care for your patients.

Congrats to those that go the extra mile.

CEN is going to be your standard of competency in the ER. As we're requiring MD's to be boarded in EM, so too nursing is going to require some specialty competency sooner rather than later.

  • Author
  • Expert

Yes, I agree.

Personally, have done both the CEN and TNS and TNS by far is more difficult just simply due to the amt of pathophys that is required.

BTW - central IL has a current TNS class going on. Good luck everyone.

You mean that it is more along the lines of CCRN? The adult and peds CCRN are tough, but b/c of physiology and patho, in some ways, the adult was more difficult. Certain peds issues are tough b/c of more specific variations. Unfortunately I let my adult CCRN expire. So, I'd have to try to sit and take it again. But I love biological sciences and such, so. . .

  • Author
  • Expert

I have never taken the CCRN exam, but did the CEN exam in 1998 with 2 years as an ER RN and did fine.

TNS (trauma nurse specialist) is a course approx 120 hours of instruction at the master's level. You then take a comprehensive test and are awarded the TNS. It is an actual certification from the state of IL BON (IL Dept of Professional Regulation) and has to be renewed every 4 years It is an IL-specific course.

For someone who just recently graduated and just passed the nclex, I am interested in working in an ER. What certification should I focus on obtaining???

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