Wolverine

thanks for the reply. i am more interested in just finding out what is out there... not worrying about it, per se... just trying to understand, specifically, how it works. is there one set of certifications that is universally accepted (in the u.s), or are there several different ways to acquire certification in areas and therefore several different ways that these certifications are perceived by employers, etc? i guess that is my main question.... (and if there is a set of universally accepted certs, is the info at http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/ "the list" ?) thanks again! -heather

Hello, I am currently going to school and plan to become a nurse. I am researching the different certifications that are available to RNs. When an RN says they are certified in a given specialty, what exactly do they mean? do they mean board certified? If so, is there one set of board certifications that are available/recognized, or are there an infinite number of "certifications". What I am looking for is a comprehensive list of all possible certifications, but I guess I truly need to understand, specifically, what one means when they say "certified". If you can point me to a comprehensive list, that would be great. Thanks in advance! -Heather Janes