Certifications?

[iijrzpnoyii]

im a brand new RN with a associates degree. im going back to school in the fall for my BSN which hopefully i can complete in 2-3 years. im really in no hurry right now since my career > school for now.

now, i currently work on the oncology floor. im hoping to be able to get to the OR as a first assistant RN in the next couple of years.

my question is, what kind of certifications are worth getting while i still have my associate degree? im pretty much looking for as much pay increases i can get while trying to get my BSN at the same time.

[TazziRN, RN]

Certs won't get you pay increases. They will make you more marketable, but they won't get you more pay.

[iijrzpnoyii]

oh really... i heard differently that there are some that are actually worth a raise

any more input?

[TazziRN, RN]

Okay, maybe it's CA facilities that don't pay extra for certs. Some places will pay you a bonus for certs, on initial cert and a smaller portion for recert, but that's not extra pay.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

If you mean certification in a specialty area (which my hospital does pay extra for), then it sounds like you're not planning to stay in your specialty area (oncology) long enough to pursue this. These certifications require experience in the field and the fee to take the exam discourages "casual" test takers.

Just my suggestion: dig in to your brand new career as an RN. There's much to learn in the specialty area where you are, let alone the other one (perioperative nursing) in which you also have interest.

[loricatus]

Certs won't get you pay increases. They will make you more marketable, but they won't get you more pay.

I'm getting $1500.00 more per year for my CEN and will get another $1500.00/year if I pass the CCRN. By the way, this is in NY.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Certs won't get you pay increases. They will make you more marketable, but they won't get you more pay.

In addition to specialty-area certifications as discussed, ACLS and PALS give employees at my facility extra $ above those who don't have them. Not tons, but it IS a pay increase in the form of $ to keep your certs current.

[TazziRN, RN]

In addition to specialty-area certifications as discussed, ACLS and PALS give employees at my facility extra $ above those who don't have them. Not tons, but it IS a pay increase in the form of $ to keep your certs current.

Ah......okay, that's the difference. ACLS was required at the two facilities I worked at, and PALS was required at the last one......of every bedside nurse, not just critical care.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Ah......okay, that's the difference. ACLS was required at the two facilities I worked at, and PALS was required at the last one......of every bedside nurse, not just critical care.

Seems like a good idea to me, too, but go figure administration on that one. If you were outside of a critical care area, you "don't need" those "extras"

Whatever, it means a heavier paycheck for those who have it!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I'm getting $1500.00 more per year for my CEN and will get another $1500.00/year if I pass the CCRN. By the way, this is in NY.

Awesome ... my CEN gets me only a little over $700 annually.

[RNinSoCal]

I recently turned down chemo certification classes at my facility because there are no benefits and many draw backs.

There is no pay increase for chemo cert where I work.

Nurses who are chemo certified are asked to float or travel to other units to provide chemo with no compensation.

We do not have enough certified nurses on the floors to be safe (our infusion center has plenty due to the 9-5 hours M-Fri, the floors have few)

There are dangers involved with contact to chemo that I am not willing to risk until my uterus is non-functional.

The benefits have to outweigh the costs for me to change my mind.

My facility also has no extra pay for ACLS, PALS, or any specialty certification in any area. Union hospitals have good pay, but only one pay scale regardless of the extra letters after RN.