More certification after I graduate?

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My mom was telling me today that nurses at her hospital if they want to work in ICU or in the ER they have to be "certified" I couldn't figure out what she was talking about..after I take the NCLEX and pass what else do I need to do? I don't really know where I am going to work yet (still have 15 months) but ER or ICU sound like good options..do i need this so called certification or is she talking about experience in the dept? im confused....my mom isnt a nurse so I think she could be confused...she says you must be certified in critical care...help im confused...if i do need to be certified what does this entail and how much does it cost/where can i get it?

One of the best things I heard from a preceptor when I was a new grad...

"Nursing school teaches you how to learn how to be a nurse." ;)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I have never been able to figure what CCRN then actually stands for (if it's not Critical Care Register Nurse). I can't find the definition on the AACN.

The AACN designates usually go after the RN. Like I'm RN-C, or RNC, or RN, C. I'm not sure how it goes for my certification in med-surg. I'm not sure what the critical care nurses are supposed to use but CCRN is rampantly used from what I can see. I've seen people use RN, CCRN after thier names. My spouse has his in Nurse adninistration and his title is RN, CNA (for certified nurse addministrator). (BSNs use a "board certified" as they take a different level of test than ADNs).

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Specializes in CCRN, CNRN, Flight Nurse.
(BSNs use a "board certified" as they take a different level of test than ADNs).

Which 'different' level of tests are you talking about :confused:

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Which 'different' level of tests are you talking about :confused:

Good question. This is the first time I've heard of BSNs taking a "different level" of tests. Nor have I ever heard of a nurse using, "board certified".....

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I was replying to so many threads the other day. My brain got scrambled, and I apologize.

CCRN actually is "Certification in Critical Care" -- it is given to a nurse after they pass the exam offered by AACN. In the past, in order to be able to sit for any of these exams, such as CEN for emergency medicine, CPAN for PACU, etc. you were required to have two years experience in that area. Same for OR, etc.

The only exam that I am aware of that actually requires a BSN now to be able to sit for it is the CRNFA, registered nurse first assistant, and that change has been fairly recent.

The exact title for med-surg certification is dependent on which company that you took the exam thru, as some use different titles.

Hope that this helps clear up any misconceptions............. :)

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The ONLY difference between an ADN and a BSN is the years of schooling. The fundamentals are the same, a BSN often receives more management-type courses than the ADN. Some ADN programs require Chemistry and Statistics, but most don't, whereas most BSN programs do, yet not all.

Regardless of training - hospital based (which is almost completely phased out), ADN, BSN, MSN direct programs for students w/ degrees in other fields, we ALL have to take and pass the EXACT SAME NCLEX exam.

And no, I'm not opening up the which degree is better can of worms. I'm just speaking from personal experience. You can figure out which degree I have on your own if you like.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
The ONLY difference between an ADN and a BSN is the years of schooling. The fundamentals are the same, a BSN often receives more management-type courses than the ADN. Some ADN programs require Chemistry and Statistics, but most don't, whereas most BSN programs do, yet not all.

Regardless of training - hospital based (which is almost completely phased out), ADN, BSN, MSN direct programs for students w/ degrees in other fields, we ALL have to take and pass the EXACT SAME NCLEX exam.

And no, I'm not opening up the which degree is better can of worms. I'm just speaking from personal experience. You can figure out which degree I have on your own if you like.

Actually, I have found that the time difference between an ADN and BSN is only 1 semester....ADN still require 2 years of nursing school and 2 years of pre-reqs.....

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There really is no way to require a new nurse in the ICU to hold CCRN certification. A requirement of the certification is something like 1750 hours of patient care in a critical care envrionment within in the last two years. [basically anyone working full time in the ICU would cover these requirements in a year.]

New grad nurses are often hired into ICU's ,and many ED's. Before choosing a first job in an ICU the new-grad nurse should look very carefully at how that unit's orientation is structured. I work in a large center. We have a hospital-wide critical-care core program that most ICU nurses attend. Some units elect to do things on their own, because their popualtions are very specific (PICU, Neuro ICU, ETC). Find a job whereing you'll be well supported by an experienced preceptor and one with a good didactic core.

As for certification, I'm a big believer that one should obtain the relevant certification for one's practice area. It is an easy way to demonstrate to the outside world that the individual has met a certain standard, and can be trusted to know what he is doing.

Best of luck to you,

Pete Fitzpatrick

RN, CCRN, CFRN, EMT-P

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

i;ll obtain whatever certification they want just as long as I dont have to pay for it!!!!! lol....after 7 years of college im broke broke broke! lol...

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