Keeping skills/certifications current

[nicrn7]

Hello everyone,

I am a new graduate (Aug 2010) patiently waiting for the opportunity to begin my nursing career. I have my BLS and ACLS certifications. Does anybody know where I can go to get information about other certifications/skill classes such as EKG, IV, etc.? If anyone could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

If you are an RN student you may not need IV cert. Employers assume you learned about that in school. Personally, I would not pay for any more certs. I would wait till I got hired then see what the employer wants you to know. They may even pay you while you are in class

[nicrn7]

Thank you classicdame. I had thought about my future employer possibly paying for such things. I was just feeling idle and thinking that might be something I could do while I waited but what you said makes perfect sense.

[KCMedicRN]

Although what classicdame states may be true, there are some parts of the country where new grads are having difficulty getting a job. I would think certifications that reflect the area you desire to work in may give a competitive edge. For example PALS if you are looking toward peds, TNCC if you are looking toward an ED or SICU, NRP for the NICU, etc. I had the same thought for once I graduate if employment opportunities for new grads are still competitive.