Maintaining certifications

I just left a message for Tracy, a certification specialist with AACN. I'll let you know what she says.

The only certification you need to maintain as a CRNA is your CRNA.

I just feel that I worked really, really hard for those certifications....but on the other hand I feel that keeping up the CE's will be a big pain while in school. And I know I don't NEED them as a CRNA, but it's just so hard to think of just giving them up!

I just feel that I worked really, really hard for those certifications....but on the other hand I feel that keeping up the CE's will be a big pain while in school. And I know I don't NEED them as a CRNA, but it's just so hard to think of just giving them up!

It is entirely possible that your academic load while in didactics will qualify as CEs toward these recertifications.

Just

If anyone has any more info on whether the didactic portion of a CRNA program counts toward renewing CCRN, please enlighten me! The last time I checked, the AACN website didn't seem to address this...

I am interested also... worked really hard for CCRN CSC.....

It is entirely possible that your academic load while in didactics will qualify as CEs toward these recertifications.

Just

I was under the impression that I would be able to use my academic credits to maintain CEs...but, not sure. I do not want to lose my certifications. I maintain several professional licenses simply because I busted my butt to earn them. Sure it's costly, but then so were the degrees.

:yeahthat: Glad I'm not the only one who feels that cert's are hard to give up! I'm going to call TCU & see if they can answer the question....I'm sure it's bound to have come up in the past. Guess I'll also check with my cert boards, AANN & AACN. I'll keep u guys posted.....

Someone from AACN just called me back. She said that hours worked in the role of the nurse anesthetist o of a student nurse anesthetist count toward certification, as long as you have 432 hours of direct patient care in the last 3 years, with 144 hours worked in the prior year to renewing certification.

About didactic work...lecture and simlab hours don't count towards certification hours. However, you could file as "inactive" which would extend your time another 3 years before you recertify. As soon as you start clinicals though, you would begin accumulating those coveted hours. You can (and will) work the 432 hours of direct patient care within that first year, and reactivate your CCRN status.

Let's do another scenario: Let's say that you will be short your 144 hours in the past year in order to renew your CCRN. Remember, you need 432 hours total, with 144 in the last year. You can file as "inactive", then rack up your hours once in residency. As soon as you hit 144 hours, with the remaining 288 being within the last 3 years from your new 144, you can renew as active status.

If you have more questions, contact AACN.

800.394.5995 EXT. 268