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Discussion

Did you keep your RN certifications?

Now that I'm a NNP, I'm wondering about letting my RNC-NIC (one of the NICU RN certifications) lapse. I'd be eligible to keep it current because all I need to do are some CEUs and I already need to do some to keep my NNP license current and the content area is in the same field of neonatology.

It's $100 every 3 years, so it's not much, but then again, it's also $100 more in my pocket.

Did any of you guys keep your RN specialty certifications? If so, why?

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    • Experts

    I kept all my RN certs, including my CEN.

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    • Admin

    I, too, have kept all of mine up-to-date.

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    • Experts

    I should add that I'm the type that plans for a rainy day...kinda "just in case". I'm not sure what the "just in case" is - but somehow I feel better hanging on to everything.

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    • Experts
    I should add that I'm the type that plans for a rainy day...kinda "just in case". I'm not sure what the "just in case" is - but somehow I feel better hanging on to everything.

    This is the reason I would keep them. Never know when you might want to go back to that area and the certification may have great bearing on you getting the position you seek. You worked hard for those certs. They may still be useful.

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    • Author

    But the thing is- I'm still in that area of nursing. My RN and NNP certifications are both in neonatology (and in actuality, it's all administered by the same company, the NCC). I guess I don't see why the RN certification would be useful, seeing as I have a higher knowledge-based certification in the same field.

    Well...in any case, I have until 2017 to decide. I did renew it this past year before I finished my NP program.

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    I keep my cnor. One hospital I was credentialed at required APN to have cnor or crnfa to get first assisting privileges.

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    • Guides

    Our Critical Care NP openings always say ACNP required and CCRN preferred. I imagine the CCRN criteria would carry weight for applicants who have no ICU NP experience. We would certainly bump up an applicant to the front of the line who has ICU NP experience even if they didn't have CCRN certification. For all it's worth, I do keep my CCRN current as well.

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    • Experts

    With a higher 'certification', I have applied for jobs below my current 'state' and got nowhere in the application process because I did not present the "lower" 'certifications' that the job requested. They did not care that I now had a higher knowledge base. Keeping the certs would be a hedge against any such possibility to weed you out.

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    If there is an 'advanced practice' version of your RN certification I would make the switch to that, but if there is not, I would definitely keep your RN certs up to date. It marks you as an expert in your field and gives you more street cred : ) Might just be what 'one ups' you over another candidate for a position/ promotion/ etc.

    Cardiac

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