RN Certifications?

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Hello,

Is there a list/website anywhere of all the certifications you can obtain as an RN?

I checked out the ANA website but didn't really find what I was looking for. I am doing a group project on the topic for school. (Posted here vs. on the student board- I figured nurses might know better.) We have thought of ACLS, PALS, Med-Surg, CCRN, but I'm sure there's a ton more out there. Any resources for this would be super helpful!

P.S. I work on a trauma & surgical specialty unit as a PCA, so I would be especially interested in anything trauma or surgical related!!!

THANK YOU! :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

This would be really tedious, but you could go to the "Specialties" tab (top of page) and post a quick question on all that might have a specialty certification. Addictions, mental health, etc.

"Is there a specialty certification for your field of _________? What is it called and how do you earn it?"

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport.

Are you looking for any type of certification or board certifications? You will want to clarify because there is a difference between certifications such as ACLS, PALS, TNCC, etc compared to board certifications such as CEN, CCRN, CMSRN, etc. There are a lot of different certifications that nurses can obtain though. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Look at the ANCC website

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC.

I second the PP's suggestion of going into each specialty's section of this site and looking up what certifications are available for each. You don't even have to start a new post, just look up an old thread already addressing the issue and the information you need should be there.

There are TONS of certifications in nursing because of all the different specialties. The ANCC alone has a certification for almost every specialty, so really your best bet is to search each specific specialty.

If you're going to mention CCRN, don't forget PCCN, which is also offered by the AACN. Since you're interested in trauma, there is the TNCC which is offered by the ENA, which is a certification obtained by taking a course the same way ACLS and PALS are.

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See, I didn't even know there was a distinction between certifications or board certifications... wow! I will have to research further in the different specialty areas.

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Does anyone know if you need your BSN for certifications such as wound or nutrition?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

CPEN & CEN are available through BCEN. Anyone can get the study guide and take CEN, CPEN requires recent experience in a pediatric setting, TNCC and ENPC are also good to get if you want to land an ER position.

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Does anyone know if you need your BSN for certifications such as wound or nutrition?

No. It isn't related to the college degree, but the license to practice nursing.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Certs for course work is one thing - and most any nurse is eligible to get them. Being Board certified in an area of nursing practice is quite another. Often, the certification board wants experience in that field as well as an exam to test knowledge. Google nursing specialities. Critical care nursing, wound care, palliative, oncology, school nursing, emergency---there are tons besides ANCC, although ANCC has excellent credentials.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Its easier to just post the link

Nursing credentials and certifications - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

There is also a sticky at the top of this general nursing board with 7 pages worth of a glossary of nursing and medical certifications and acronyms

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