Help with Project -- need certified nurses!

[dmaccnursing_student]

hello everyone,

for my nursing seminar class i am to discuss with someone regarding certification and write a short post for my nursing classmates to read. i am looking for any nurses who are certified to discuss with me the pros and cons of certification (such as gaining certification, maintaining certification, benefits of certification, etc). if anyone is willing to help, that would be wonderful. thank you in advance and looking forward to reading some responses! :)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Certifications after licensure indicate the nurse is, or is in the process of becoming, an "expert" in his/her field. Some certs are required for specific positions (like Pediatric LIfe Support for Pedi nurses) and some are chosen to be eligible for pay increase (meeting a goal that benefits the facility and the nurse). Certs require continuing education in order to remain certified. The nurse builds on the knowledge and skill with every re-cert. Sometimes certs help the nurse land a position, or at least looks good on resume. Many nurses are not aware that the more nurses who are certified in specific areas, the lower the hospital's premium for malpractice. I guess the idea is that expert nurses are less likely to incur risks.

[dmaccnursing_student]

I had never heard about the hospital's premium for malpractice decreasing -- interesting! Thanks for the post!