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Making the case for nursing specialty certification: Promote the profession, advance your career, and improve patient care. Authors:
Blozen, Barbara B. Affiliation:
Associate professor of nursing at New Jersey City University in Jersey City Source:
American Nurse Today (AM NURSE TODAY), Dec2018; 13(12): 60-61. (2p) Publication Type:
Article - pictorial Language:
English Major Subjects:
Specialties, Nursing Certification
Minor Subjects: Patient Care; Careers in Nursing; Nursing as a Profession; Professionalism; Confidence; Credentialing
Journal Subset: Editorial Board Reviewed; Expert Peer Reviewed; Nursing; Peer Reviewed; USA
ISSN:
1930-5583 MEDLINE Info:
NLM UID: 101291565 Entry Date:
20190124 Revision Date:
20190209 Accession Number:
134199463
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Making the case for nursing specialty certification: Promote the profession, advance your career, and improve patient care
Contents
1. Benefits of certification
2. Professionalism
3. Financial benefits
4. Job opportunities
5. Recognition
6. Self-confidence boost
7. How to become certified
8. Take the next step
9. Tips to prepare for the certification exam
10. Selected references
Full Text
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Why should you pursue nursing certification? The answer is multifaceted and ranges from
personal satisfaction to improved patient care. Once you know why you should get certified in
your specialty, you'll want to know how to do so. Here's a closer look at both "why" and "how."
Benefits of certification
Certification supports nursing professionalism, provides financial benefits, expands your job
opportunities, recognizes your skills and expertise, and may boost your self-confidence and
enhance patient care.
Professionalism
Specialty certification by a recognized nursing organization supports and validates the nursing
profession and your own professionalism. You're already an autonomous professional; you have
a nursing degree, use critical-thinking skills and the nursing process, and are accountable for
your own actions. Certification validates that experience, elevates the profession, and confirms
your commitment.
Financial benefits
Many organizations provide a financial reward or benefit for attaining nursing specialty
certification. Some will pay for the exam, courses, or materials that you need to prepare for
certification, and others provide onsite certification review courses. According to a 2018 survey,
nurses certified in their specialty earn 23% more on average than their noncertified coworkers.
Job opportunities
Nursing specialty certification can provide opportunities for advancement and differentiate you
from others seeking the same position you are. Many organizations use nursing specialty
certification as criteria for a clinical ladder program or for promotion. Others have policies that
require certification for performing certain skills. In some facilities, for example, oncology nurses
have to be certified before they can administer chemo-therapeutic agents.
Recognition
Many organizations formally recognize nurses who attain specialty certification. They might hold
annual certification breakfasts, include certification identification on nurses' name badges,
distribute annual certification bonuses, present congratulatory certificates or memos from
nursing administration, or announce newly achieved certifications in organization or department
newsletters. One organization displayed a poster-sized photo of a nurse who earned
certification, and another produced a video of a recently certified nurse to recognize the nurse
and encourage others to seek certification.
Self-confidence boost
Some research has shown that certification may boost your self-confidence and feelings of
competency, which may decrease turnover, positively impact patient care, and increase patient
satisfaction. Although more research is needed, in a literature review that was part of a 2017
article, Boyle noted that several studies have found that certification improves certain patient
outcomes.
How to become certified
With more than 180 nursing specialty certifications to choose from, start with some
self-reflection and research. What areas of nursing are you drawn to, what are your strengths
and weaknesses, and where do you have the most experience?
Most certifying bodies require successful completion of an exam to obtain initial nursing
certification, and then continuing education to renew the certification. (See Tips to prepare for
the certification exam.) Are you ready to sit for such an exam or do you need more experience
and education in your specialty of interest? The eligibility requirements for specific specialty
certifications can help you decide.
Depending on the type of certification you're seeking, eligibility may include a certain number of
years of practice in the specialty area and educational preparation (some certifying bodies
require a minimum of a baccalaureate degree). You can learn more by visiting websites of
organizations that provide certifications you're interested in. For example, requirements for
certifications offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center can be found at
nursingworld.org/ certification.
Take the next step
Certification not only benefits you, it also benefits the organization you work for. Your
certification can help the organization differentiate itself from others and demonstrate that they
have skilled and experienced nursing professionals. This is a win-win-win for the nurse, the
patient, and the organization.
Pursuing and attaining a nursing specialty certification is a personal accomplishment and a
professional success. It displays your commitment to nursing, can help you move forward in
your career, and promotes nursing as a profession. When you determine that you're ready to
pursue nursing specialty certification, don't hesitate to take the next step.
Tips to prepare for the certification exam
Taking a certification exam can be daunting, but these strategies can help reduce the stress.
● Identify your support system. This could include others interested in becoming certified (so that you can form a study group), and friends and family who could pick up extra chores to help free up time for you to prepare.
● Rethink your priorities. Move certification up on your list of priorities. Consider what you can let go of temporarily. For example, maybe you can opt out of participating in your monthly book group until after you've taken the exam.
● Review what you'll be tested on to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Most certifying bodies have a core curriculum that outlines what you're expected to know. Focus on your weaknesses rather than taking time to review information you're already confident in.
● Establish a plan of study and commit to it. Schedule a set amount of time each week in your calendar. If you feel you need extra help, consider hiring a tutor or taking a review course.
● Take advantage of resources. For example, the American Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses offers a book of sample questions. Consider splitting the costs among several nurses interested in becoming certified.
● Review test-taking tips. See "Use your critical thinking skills to ace your next exam" at americannursetoday.com/ test-taking-tips.
● Get a good night's sleep the day before the test. You'll do better on the exam if you're well rested.
Keep in mind that nurses typically cite lack of time as a primary barrier to pursuing certification,
but if you're committed, you can take steps to find the time.
Selected references
Boyle DK. Nursing specialty certification and patient outcomes. What we know in acute care
hospitals and future directions. J Vase Access. 2017;22(3): 137-42.
Boyle DK, Cramer E, Potter C, Gatua MW, Stobinski JX. The relationship between direct-care
RN specialty certification and surgical patient outcomes. AORNJ. 20l4;100(5):511-28.
Complete list of common nursing certifications. July 2017.
nurse.org/articles/nursing-certifications-credentials-list
Fritter E, Shimp, K. What does certification in professional nursing practice mean? MedSurg
Nurs. 20l6;25(2):8-10.
Haskins M, Hnatiuk CN, Yoder LH. Medical-surgical nurses' perceived value of certification
study. Medsurg Nurs. 2011; 20(2):71-7,93.
Institute of Medicine. Ibe Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington,
DC: National Academies Press; 2011.
Senior R. 2018 nursing salary survey results, part 3. Advance for Nursing. 2018.
nursing.advanceweb.com/nurse-salaries-by-specialty-certification
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