DSD certification?

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Specializes in Neurology, Long Term Care, Med-Surg..

What would a DSD (Director of Staff Development) certification do for me?

Can I obtain one as a BSN or is it worth more with an MSN?

I understand that in CA I'll need 24 hrs of education...but will this get a DSD after my name or is it just a "DSD" next to "CPR" and "ACLS"?

Thanks!

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Specializes in ED, LTC, SNF, Med/Surg.

I've never heard of a DSD other than dry sterile dressing. I think it may be one of those unique specialties with a small market at best. I had a DON years ago in a SNF whose title was "BSN, DON, C". I got the BSN and DON, and I asked her about the "C". She looked at me quite oddly and said, "It means I'm certified in Gerontology." I had never seen anything like it before, and have yet to come across it again.

Personally, I would be highly skeptical about these relatively unknown certifications, particularly if they cost you money...

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What would a DSD (Director of Staff Development) certification do for me?

Can I obtain one as a BSN or is it worth more with an MSN?

I understand that in CA I'll need 24 hrs of education...but will this get a DSD after my name or is it just a "DSD" next to "CPR" and "ACLS"?

Thanks!

Regarding the DSD requirements and worth, I have never heard of it before, but here is an old thread here on the forum about DSD: https://allnurses.com/nurse-staff-development/director-staff-development-296580.html.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I think 'certification' is pointless; in the two California SNFs that I've been around, the 'DSD' is a title conferred by the institution, not a 'certification.' Unless it was germane to the communication, putting 'DSD' after your name would look pretentious to me.

Per the California Department of Public Health (1), one can be designated the 'DSD' simply by either

"One (1) year nursing experience as a licensed nurse providing direct patient care in a long term care facility in addition to one (1) year of experience planning, implementing and evaluating educational programs in nursing"

or

"Two (2) years of full time experience as a licensed nurse, at least one (1) year of which must be in the provision of direct patient care in a nursing facility (also long term care facility). Within six (6) months of employment and prior to teaching a certification program the DSD or Instructor shall obtain a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education courses in planning, implementing and evaluation education programs in nursing."

Note that it makes no reference to being 'certified' as a DSD nor is any formal training actually required.

I presume that you realize that 'DSD' applies to the nurse responsible for CNA training in a SNF and is not the nurse-educator role.

Just curious: Why did you post in pre-NP forum? The two seem unrelated to me.

1: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/services/training/Documents/cnatrainingpacket.pdf

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Specializes in Neurology, Long Term Care, Med-Surg..

Thank you so much all! Great insite and advice. I wont go for it...like realmaninuniform point out, it's always a little sketchy to have a little known certificate charging $$$. I'm digging for certs to help boost my future AG-NP/AGCNS degree and stumbled upon it.

♪♫ in my ♥: I posted it here because I correctly assumed that pre-NP folk would be in-the-know about new/odd certification out there.

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