Certifications? Do you have any?

Nurses General Nursing

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I think that's what they are called... I'm a brand new Registered Nurse (as of yesterday). I'm curious about certifications and training that you may need in this career... or may just want. I'm going to be working at a large family practice, but I would love to continue my education and training. What kind of Certs do you have and what do you recommend?

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I am a certified Hospice and Pallative Nurse, obviously I work in hospice.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, Critical Care Transports.

I am a board Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN). However, I would encourage you to find a position that you like and will allow you to develop a strong skill set. After working for a few years in your speciality is the right time to consider pursuing board certifications. One note - many certifications require at least 2 years of nursing experience before you can test.

Good luck and welcome to the nursing profession!!

- Aaron, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN

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I have a few and think the emphasis on certification is somewhat overrated IMHO. Work as a nurse, find a niche and look at certification in a couple of years. Good luck.

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Specializes in Oncology.

I'm taking the Oncology Certified Nurse exam soon.

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Specializes in Acute Care.

I'm going to test for my Acute Care Certification next month...

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Specializes in PICU.

I have my CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse). I'd say it's one of the more highly valued certifications, but I don't have any objective data, just my experience. When I switched jobs recently I found recruiters to be a lot more interested once they discovered I had it.

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Crisis.

If you check out the ANCC website, you will find information about Nursing Certifications. The applications to take the tests spell out the required number of working hours, etc... that you must have in that field of nursing before you can even take the credentialing exams. And the exams are expensive. Congratulations on becoming a nurse!

Terry

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Specializes in Med/surg, rural CCU.

I don't think any specific cert is more valued. If you were CCRN but applying for a hospice job what good would it do?

Find your passion- get your experience, then work on a cert for that job.

I'm currently studying for my progressive care cert. PCCN. I looked into the CCRN, but my care coordinator told me it wasn't really pertinent to what we do in our CCU.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I have my IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). I will be taking the RNC exam this fall for inpatient OB.

Certifications are highly individual, depending on the area of nursing you're in and what your interests are. As others have said, many/most certifications require that you have a certain amount of time working in the field. RNC (which offers many different types of certifications) requires two years, I believe.

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Ahhhh.... this is all good to know :) Thanks a bunch for your input... this helps a lot. I really didn't understand what certifications were needed for.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I have CCRN and TNCC.

Employers do value certification because it helps with Magnet status and that sort of thing. Many hospitals will pay for or contribute to the prep costs, test costs, and/or offer a certification bonus. Also some studies have demonstrated a correlation between better outcomes and satisfaction, etc. and higher percentages of certified staff.

Your specialty certification should (obviously) be relevent to the population you care for, and (I think- AACN certs, for sure) requires a certain amount of time in that specialty area.

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