Do Employers Desire Nurses With FEMA ICS Certifications

[jeremypcaldwell]

Question. Does anyone know if hospitals or employers care if an RN has ICS/NIMS training? If so which employers? Thanks

[Gary Mendoza]

I've never had or heard of ICS/NIMS training and I've never had any problems getting a job, but I imagine having more certs wouldn't hurt and might give you an edge over someone with similar experience.

[jeremypcaldwell]

Ok Thanks. NIMS (National Incident Managment System) and ICS (Incident Command System) are FEMA systems to plan and execute relief operations for mass casualty incidents. Potentially any event which could overload hospitals, terrorist attack, natural disasters or HAZMAT incident.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Unfortunately I think it would be a footnote compared to medical certifications. Prehospital experience includes this, but this is also undervalued in general. Are you asking because you have this? Put it down on your resume but don't assume they will even know what it is.

[SiwanRN]

If public health interests you, every public health position I have had required the basic NIMS and ICS trainings at least. Some positions (supervisory, etc) required higher level ICS and NIMS.

[Shortcake_BSn]

So, I work in the ED and it was one of the requirements. I did not have it prior to employment, so I had to take the class within 90 days of employment.

[NormaSaline]

You can take the training online - it's a few modules' worth. It's somewhat interesting, not super so, but easily forgettable if you are not reinforcing it every so often or with experience. So I'm not sure how truly meaningful it can be. Usually it's for potential ad hoc employers to know you've had the training so they can check it off a list.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

NIMS/ICS training was included in my initial hire-on training bundle as an Emergency nurse; I repeated it to be a part of the local MRC. If they want you to have it, they'll make you sit through it - since it's all online, and they're making you do a bunch of that anyway, they won't care about the extra "three hours" it'll take you to go through that training.

[guest464345]

Different parts of the NIMS/ICS training were required for two of my jobs (public health, and ED). My advice is to PRINT AND SAVE the certificates because you can't get them later, and you surely don't want to repeat those online modules/tests.

[Section8UpX68WM6, CNA, LVN, EMT-B]

I took a couple of those courses (FEMA). Interesting and dry subject at the same time. But it all makes sense if you are into disaster preparedness. The terrorism subjects are the scary ones to read about. Very eye opening. You'll never look at the stuff in your house the same again LOL. I'd rather read a med surg, drug, EMT or CPR book any day though to be honest.

[V888]

If you are interested in any EMS or DHS funded position I would say to take them; as they are required and could help you get the position.

I also believe you can covert the courses into college credits if you do all 100,200,700,800.

[sooner74, ADN, RN]

Waiting for Deployment to Puerto Rico