CNA Certification

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

Does anyone know if it is possible for an RPN to have a CNA certification in their specialty. I would be interested in getting it. I hold many of the requirements, except that I am not an RN.

Thanks

[Fiona59]

I think it depends on the specialty.

I know someone who completed the same dialysis training as the RNs take. The RNs can certify as Nephrology specialists, the LPNs cannot. The dialysis course is exactly the same, the two levels of nurses sit side by side, and then write the same exam and work with the same patients.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

This is honestly the first time I have felt limmeted as an RPN(LPN)

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Fiona59, she's asking about the Canadian Nurses' Association certification, which is only available to RNs. I'm writing the exam next month and have jumped through all of their hoops. It's quite the process just to be given eligibility. Oh, and $502.95...

[Fiona59]

Yes, I know. There is a nephrology certification. Certification

Unfortunately, it also eliminates Registered Psychiatric Nurses as well

[dishes, BSN, RN]

In the past, when the CNA has been asked to allow the PNs to write the certification exams, their answer has been that the organization is for RNs and the exams were developed for RNs and PNs can create their own national certification exams. However, the reality is, that it is very expensive and time consuming to create certification exams and it is unlikely that this will ever happen. I have passed a CNA certification exam and I know that the RPNs in my workplace could pass it just as easily as me.

I would like to see the CNA certification exams available to both RNs and PNs, as excluding the PNs from the exam is just another way for RNs to oppress PNs.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

What really got to me was saying that PN experiance will not count towards it. In my setting the RN and PNs do the same job, and yet my experiance "does not count"?

[Fiona59]

I found it really hypocritical that they refuse to allow registered psychiatric nurses to write the exam.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Daisy

Do you think that if you obtained your RN and continued to work in the same specialty area, your manager would not sign the certification application until after you had two years experience as a RN? I guess it would depend on whether your manager's interpretation of the eligibility criteria is flexible or rigid. They would have to be pretty rigid to not recognize your RPN experience. There are different kinds of managers out there, some have been very flexible and have signed for new grads with less than two years experience.