PCCN or RN-BSN?

[melisgood]

Hi,

I have 1.5 years experience as a telemetry nurse. I am trying to decide on my next step. A lot of the nurses on my unit are getting their PCCN certification. I was told you have to have your license for 2 years to take the PCCN exam so that date will be coming up in a few months for me. In your opinion, should I do this, or start on my RN-BSN first?

TIA!

[April, RN, BSN, RN]

Why not do both? You could take your PCCN exam in the summer then start an RN-BSN program in the fall (or whatever timeline works for you).

Does your employer pay for the certification? The test costs around $250 so it might be something to consider for you. I would like to get certified in my specialty at some point, but my employer doesn't pay for certifications and having the certification doesn't increase our pay rate at all.

[NaKcl, BSN, RN]

I second to do both.

you may eligible to get a reimburse for the certification testing fee and some kind of bonus to maintain the certification. It will be a plus point on your reseme as well.

[KM9165]

Definitely do both!

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

I would do both, and no you don't have to wait 2 years to take the PCCN. They require a certain number of hours working bedside in a progressive care patient population (I don't remember the number of hours but it's on AACN's website). If you work 36 hours per week, I think it takes about 48 or 49 weeks to make that requirement. So basically 1 year of full time work. And that minimum number of hours worked, must be within the last 2 years with X number of hours within the past year.

All of this is layed out in the information on AACN's website for the PCCN and CCRN exams.

[Moogie]

Agree with the others---do both. Just make sure to either take the certification exam first or schedule it during a break. It's difficult to try to study for something like this when you have papers due or exams to take in your coursework. You don't want to be taking your certification exam the week you have a couple of papers, a group project, or several exams.

Good luck---it sounds like you have good ideas for your career advancement!

[PhilliesRN]

I am a second career nurse and I finished WGU last June; it took me about 9 months. I already had a BA and WGU accepted a lot of my credits. The key (IMO) to WGU is the speed it takes to finish. You don't have to be super fast, but you don't want anything extra on your plate while you are in WGU. At WGU, time is money. I take my PCCN in a few weeks and I am dedicating all my free time to PCCN studying. Both are great to have but I wouldn't recommend doing both at the same time.

[PhilliesRN]

Ugh. I'm responding to a 4 year old post. I need to end my PCCN study break and get off this site.