Multiple Board Certification - Is it worth it??

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Specializes in Critical Care | CCRN-CMC.
Multiple Board Certification - Is it worth it??

I finally got my CCRN and very excited about. It took me number of years, then paused for a while, restarted again and finally got it. Now that I got this, I'm contemplating to go for other certs like Trauma and Stroke. But is it worth it?

I'm not opposed to knowledge, on contrary ... I feel like I forgot everything again. I need the knowledge, I don't want it ? I NEED IT. 

I started reading stroke board review material and really enjoying going through it. But is it worth sitting for the board exam? 

The upside: pass another board, probably be the only RN in my hospital with multiple certs, add more letters after my name. 

The downside, I have to spend several hundred $$ for the registration, Qbank, and finally exam it's self. No reimbursement for additional cert, have more people give me a stink eye.

In my research, I've found that people who have set for multiple cert exams, have gone into academia, research, leadership, administration, etc. As of now, I have ZERO plans leaving bedside. I love it, I enjoy it, not going anywhere.

So wanted to get opinions out there. 

Thanks!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I have 4 specialty certifications (RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS, IBCLC). It looks impressive (or ridiculous, depending on your viewpoint) on a resume, but mainly I did it for myself. My current employer reimburses up to $500/year for certification (initial or maintenance) so it doesn't cost me much (except the IBCLC recertification - that costs nearly $1,000 every time I recertify, but luckily that only needs to be done every 7 years). 

I'm sure the alphabet after my name has helped me land jobs.

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Specializes in Critical Care | CCRN-CMC.

Thanks for taking the time to  answer this. ?

Definitely helps!!

 

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Specializes in SRNA.

If for personal growth then why not especially if you can afford it. If it's to be the only RN in your hospital to be multi-cert'd then no use in shelling out hundreds of $$$ for that - half the time people don't care LOL.

I refuse to obtain additional certifications unless my job is paying for it. My first ED foot the bill for my CEN, my current hospital foot the bill for the CCRN.

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Specializes in Critical Care | CCRN-CMC.
Lipoma said:

If for personal growth then why not especially if you can afford it. If it's to be the only RN in your hospital to be multi-cert'd then no use in shelling out hundreds of $$$ for that - half the time people don't care LOL.

I refuse to obtain additional certifications unless my job is paying for it. My first ED foot the bill for my CEN, my current hospital foot the bill for the CCRN.

Thank You ?

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