Certifications

[OBwonKnewbie]

Hello!

Anyone here with RNC-OB certification - can you tell me what the benefits are of being certified!? I have been looking into OB certification but my more experienced coworkers tell me it's a waste of my time. They all say there is no benefit, its just wasted money on a test and more CEUs to worry about. One coworker also told me that if you are in a law suit then you are scrutinized even more because you have a certification. We are a small hospital, and no one in my department has any of the OB certifications. Not one. Do you think they are discouraging me because they just don't want me to get one? I have done L&D over 2 years and I was looking into books and study guides, but now I am discouraged. Can anyone enlighten me more about certifications? Thank you :-)

-OBwon

[klone, MSN, RN]

It looks great on a resume.

Many hospitals will pay you more if you have a certification (my hospital pays an extra $.75/hour for a cert - unfortunately, more certs does not equal more pay, as I have two).

I don't think you would be MORE scrutinized in a lawsuit, in fact I would think the opposite would be true, if anything

I think they are discouraging you because you work in a culture that does not value furthering your education, and they probably feel threatened by someone being outside the norm in that regard.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree with the previous poster. Your colleagues are discouraging you because they don't want you to "raise the bar" for them. They don't want you to set a higher standard than they want to meet.

Certification may not get you any direct financial reward -- but is that all that counts to you? I didn't get any financial reward for mine, but it certainly made me feel good about myself inside. The intrinsic reward was real and I happy that I am certified. I have gone through the renewal process once and plan to again -- if I don't retire first, which I probably won't.

And who knows? ... It might lead to some good opportunity someday -- a promotion -- a new job -- being chosen to go to a good conference -- etc.

[perfexion, ASN, RN]

Certification means bragging rights amongst your colleagues. It means you're an expert in your field. I have 3 certifications and being a travel nurse, that gains me a ton of jobs, and respect. I can't take that respect to the bank but it makes me feel all warm and squishy inside knowing I've impressed a bunch of strangers.

[OBwonKnewbie]

Thank you everyone for your replies. Financial gain is not my incentive for wanting a certification. I want to be the best that I can be, and I know that studying for certification and eventually sitting for the test will gain me so much more knowledge then I currently have, which I love. My end goal some day is to end up teaching, and teaching nursing would be my dream job. I do want to get my masters some day, but right now I am trying to get my bachelor's paid off first. I thought getting a certification (which I want to do regardless of having my masters) would be a good way to spend my time right now.