Should I Get my PCCN?

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Dear Nurse Beth,

I have been working in stepdown/progressive care and wondering if I should get a PCCN? How important would this be for me?

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2 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Wondering,

I strongly recommend getting your PCCN (progressive care certified nurse) for your own professional development. It validates your expertise and takes you to the next level of practice.

Certification benefits not only you but your patients, colleagues and employer. A study shows that certified nurses make clinical decisions with more confidence.

Personally, I always got certified in whatever speciality I was in at the time (CCRN, PCCN, NPD-C). Each time I learned so much and gained so much more confidence.

Plus having the initials behind your name is nice :).

I sincerely hope you pursue your PCCN.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Specializes in Emergency Room, CEN, TCRN.

At my hospital you get an extra $1.25/hr for having certifications relevant to your unit, so there might be financial incentive to become certified. You also might know a lot about your specialty, but I guarantee if you do a bit of studying or take a prep course for your cert you'll learn new concepts or understand a lot more about stuff you thought you knew well. 

I can say honestly that reviewing for the material to take my CEN made me a better ER nurse with a greater understanding of a lot of the conditions that I see and better prepared for providing interventions to them. Plus, I liked the research and studying -- I'm doing it over again with the TCRN and enjoying learning new things I didn't consider about trauma.  

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