stellaarmijo

The exam is a voluntary and periodic certification that helps ensure a high standard of palliative and hospice care in a hospice facility and the delivery of quality nursing care to the patients. A candidate has to meet the requirements set by the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN) to qualify for certification. To become a hospice nurse, you should first enroll in a nursing school. Depending on your long-term goal, you can either complete a state-approved licensed practical nursing program, which usually lasts for a year, or obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing, which typically takes four years. If you're going to school part time, then completing a program may take longer. After training, LPNs must pass the NCLEX-PN exam, while nursing degree graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. You can enroll in a state-approved training center or college that offers hospice nurse certification programs in your area. Your next step is to enter an internship at a nursing or hospice care facility. The NBCHPN recommends that all applicants for the CHPN and CHPLN certification exams have at least two years of experience in the relevant care program as a LPN or as a registered nurse. Next, apply for the certification exam. You can access the application process on the NBCHPN website or complete and mail the application form included in the handbook, along with the appropriate fee to Applied Measurement Professionals Inc. The handbook is available for download on the NBCHPN website. Paper applications are usually processed within two weeks. The exam fee for initial candidates who are members of Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association is about $295, while the fee for nonmembers is around $415. An LPN can take the Certification for Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurses, while registered nurses can take the Certification for Hospice and Palliative Nurses. An RN is also eligible to take advanced certifications or become a certified hospice and palliative pediatric nurse. Some nursing homes may offer to pay for the hospice certification for nurses who are renewing their certifications. Finally, study for and take the exam. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice items, with 135 items eligible for equal scoring and 15 unscored trial or pretest items. You are permitted to take the exam for three hours. Certification candidates may have the opportunity to take a practice computer examination prior to the actual exam. You can download the certification handbook on the NBCHPN website to get a general impression of the exam and to get access to sample questions and the exam's detailed content outline. While a hospice certification establishes your credential on paper, a person who intends to be a bona fide hospice nurse must also be compassionate and caring. Being able to cope with emotionally stressful situations while maintaining a quality life for your patients is key to becoming a good hospice nurse. The right personality and temperament for this type of job may not be taught in school and can't be assessed by a hospice nurse certification exam, but you can certainly develop these qualities during your training as a hospice nurse. Read More

An in-depth guide on how to become a certified critical care nurse. A certified critical-care nurse (CCRN) works with critically ill or injured adult, neonatal and pediatric patients. One is often assigned to trauma, emergency or intensive care units. A CCRN certification, organized by theAmerican Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), is necessary to work in the critical care nursing field. The certification ensures you have an up-to-date knowledge base of acute or critical care practices. If you want to be a certified critical-care nurse, you must meet the requirements set by the AACN to qualify for the certification. [h=2]Meet the requirements[/h]A person who intends to become a certified critical-care nurse must be a registered nurse (RN) or an advanced-practice registered nurse (APRN). Applicants must also submit proof they have practiced as a registered nurse in the immediate care of critically injured or ill patients for at least 1,750 hours within 24 months prior to their application. Fifty percent of this time requirement, or 875 hours, must fall within the most recent 12-month period preceding the application for CCRN certification. These hours must be accrued in the United States or in an approved overseas hospital or facility. Undergraduate practices don't count, unless you are acting as a supervisor or a manager over other nurses. An application fee also applies, which usually amounts to more than $200 for first-time CCRN exam takers. [h=2]Prepare for the CCRN exam[/h]The CCRN exam consists of 150 multiple-choice items, 125 of which are scored while the other 25 items do not count toward the total score and will be evaluated for possible inclusion in future examinations. When studying, you should focus on the subject of clinical judgment, including cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, hematology and immunity, gastrointestinal, neurology, renal and multisystem issues, which make up 80 percent of the exam. Twenty percent of the exam concerns ethical practices and the professional care of age-specific patients. The certification exam must be completed within a three-hour period. You can get a copy of the AACN exam handbook on the organization's official website to get more information about the CCRN test. This nursing certification exam is regularly administered by Applied Measurement Professionals. Many hospitals and facilities pay or reimburse the examination fees and other costs associated with a CCRN certification or a CCRN renewal, but not all of them do. [h=2]Subspecialties of a CCRN[/h]After passing the CCRN certification exam, you can then apply for a subspecialty certification, such as a cardiac medicine certification (CMC) or a cardiac surgery certification (CSC). Many hospitals offer better benefits or higher salaries to a certified nurse who has both a nursing certification and a subspecialty. Earning a subspecialty also demonstrates your dedication to and knowledge of your chosen field. [h=2]Do it[/h]A nursing certification demonstrates a nurse's education and professional knowledge, and also enhances advancement opportunities. It verifies a nurse's skills and abilities and helps that individual achieve personal goals. Read More

If you are already working in the health care industry as a nursing assistant or are considering this type of work, you may want to take the voluntary certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification. CNA training is available at accredited local schools, medical facilities or community colleges, or you can opt for online CNA courses. The drawback to enrolling in online CNA courses is that you would lack hands-on experience and knowledge of laboratory and clinical practices. If you already work in the care industry, then choosing to follow online CNA courses is a valid option. Becoming a certified nursing assistant offers you opportunities to work in a variety of health-related workplaces, such as: Hospitals. Nursing care facilities. Care facilities for the elderly. Home health agencies. Assisted-living facilities. Doctors' offices. Once you have qualified as a CNA, you may find that the range of employment opportunities is immense, no matter where you live. CNA training and the official certification process normally lasts from six to 12 weeks or longer depending on your schedule. Before you take up any CNA training, you must ensure the course is officially recognized. You can check out potential courses with the Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or with your state's Nursing Aide Registry. You may opt to work in nursing homes or long-term care facilities that offer training and practical application to be able to acquire the CNA certificate and to guarantee employment once you have received your CNA certificate. Some other sources of CNA training include the American Red Cross, which may offer you discounted rates, and local community colleges, which often offer online CNA courses. When you have completed your CNA training, you will need to acquire the state-issued professional CNA certificate. This usually entails taking an examination to verify that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform as a certified nursing assistant. After practicing this profession for a while, you may consider training for a professional nurse credential. If you do decide to train to become a nurse, you can attend a traditional nursing school or take an online nursing degree. There are a number of online nursing degree programs to choose from, including: Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which enables you to become a registered nurse. Online or credit-by-examination Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN). RN-to-BSN programs. As you can see, there are many ways to acquire a CNA certification, and you can even study in the comfort of your own home. Read More Here