Nurses are a beacon of compassion and caring, as well as clinical expertise and scientific knowledge. Nursing is key to the delivery of high-quality patient care, clinical research and so much more—nurses’ value to society is undeniable.
Nursing certifications can be an integral part of a nurse’s career trajectory and professional growth. In order to understand how nursing certifications, fit into the broader context of 21st-century healthcare and nurses’ careers, it’s important to put the profession into perspective.
Nursing
More than 3.8 million Americans are licensed as nurses, and according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), 84.5% serve in a nursing role. 58% of nurses are employed in acute care facilities, and growth in jobs across the nursing spectrum is projected to be approximately 15% between 2016 and 2026.
As the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, nurses are employed in a wide variety of positions and organizations while serving an increasingly diverse patient population across the lifespan. With educational pathways available at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels, those seeking a career trajectory within nursing can pursue additional formal education, on-the-job training and specialty certification throughout their careers.
The variety of opportunities available for those in the nursing field are legion. Nurses can serve in acute care facilities such as hospitals and medical centers.
Potential roles in the acute milieu include, but are not limited to:
•Management
•Executive leadership
•Oncology
•Case management
•Clinical nurse specialist or clinical educator
•Medical-surgical
•Telemetry
•Psychiatric nursing
•Forensics
•Emergency department
•Perioperative nursing
•Critical care (e.g.: PICU, SICU, ICU, CCU)
•Palliative care and hospice
Nurses may also seek employment in non-acute specialties, such as:
•Home health
•Hospice
•School nursing
•Corporate wellness
•Case/care management
•Public health
•Research
•Remote nursing opportunities
•Insurance nursing
•Outpatient dialysis
•Ambulatory surgery
•Medical practices
•Holistic healthcare practices
•Medical and pharmaceutical sales or education
Nurse practitioners (NPs) serve the public in a wide variety of settings, with specialization in roles like Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Pediatric Nurse
Practitioner (PNP-C). Also known as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), NPs can pursue multiple certifications and are allowed to practice autonomously without the supervision of a physician in a growing majority of U.S. states and territories. While not yet mandatory, many choosing the APRN career path are now seeking a terminal degree as a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD.
Nurse entrepreneurship is another growing area of pursuit and interest for an increasing number of nurses providing services such as health coaching, freelance writing, consulting, podcasting and motivational/keynote speaking. Nurse practitioners who “hang a shingle” and open their own independent practices are nurse entrepreneurs who must generally handle the management of all aspects of their practice, including the clinical, managerial and fiscal.
Why Pursue Nursing Certification?
Registered nurses can pursue a plethora of certifications, and myriad certification pathways also exist for master’s-prepared nurses and APRNs. While some may denigrate certification as a means for associations and certifying bodies to make more money, there are real-life reasons that certification can be helpful to a nurse’s career despite the cost of doing so.
Certification can provide assurance that a nurse has reached a high level of expertise in their chosen specialty, with greatly increased potential for improved patient outcomes. For a nurse, certification may open doors of employment through increased recognition of expertise, improved credibility and marketability, higher earning potential and opportunities for clinical and non-clinical leadership, as well as overall career advancement.
The nurse candidate often invests significant amounts of time, money and energy in the achievement of certification, as well as the ongoing requirements of recertification, thus further demonstrating a dedication to the practice of that specialty and a true desire for advanced knowledge and skill.
When to seek Nursing Certification
The timing of seeking certification is an individual decision based on the nurse’s career trajectory, goals and relative marketability. Some employers may not require certification prior to hire for a specialty role. Instead, they may require a new hire to commit to achieving certification within a certain period of time. In addition, the employer may actually pay for the nurse to pursue that path following orientation as long as the nurse signs a contract to remain an employee in good standing for a certain length of time.
In certain specialties and competitive job markets, being certified may give a nurse a strategic advantage when seeking a position. If a nurse is uncertain if pursuing certification is
wise, requesting an informational interview with several nurses employed in that specialty is a potential route for learning recommendations for certification from those who have gone through the process. Speaking with hiring managers is another avenue for ascertaining what employers most value, especially in highly competitive job markets.
Hospitals seeking to attain, or reapply for, Magnet status understand that having a large percentage of staff nurses certified in their specialty is a standard sought by Magnet surveyors. In light of this, being certified can give a nurse applicant a competitive edge when applying to a Magnet facility. It's also possible that the facility offers certification pathways for its nurse employees after hire.
There are many organizations that offer nursing certifications. A partial list of nursing-related certifying bodies includes:
•American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
•American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
•American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN)
•American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN)
•American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
•American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
•Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE)
•Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC)
•Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI)
•Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC)
•National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC)
•National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
•National League for Nursing (NLN)
•Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
•Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
•The National Certification Corporation (NCC)
•Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)
The American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) is often referred to as the central place to seek information in regards to nursing certifications. However, for certain specialty areas, the pursuit must be through that specialty’s flagship association. For example, for emergency nursing certification (CEN), the nurse applicant must go through the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN).
Additionally, organizations such as the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)–which is actually the accreditation body of the Institute for Certifying Excellence—serve by holding certifying bodies to certain standards of quality. Those who have undergone certification and those who hire certified nurse specialists are good sources for advice or mentoring regarding when, how and why to seek certification.
7 core nursing certifications for your career
There are many certifications available in the nursing career path. Below is a list of common and widely accepted certifications with broad application, recognition and relevance:
1.CCRN: Certified Critical Care Nurse
2.CMSRN: Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse
3.CEN: Certified Emergency Nurse
4.CPN: Certified Pediatric Nurse
5.CNRN: Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse
6.ONC: Certified Orthopedic Nurse
7.OCN: Oncology Certified Nurse
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1. CCRN: Certified Critical Care Nurse
According to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the CCRN (Adult) certification is a specialty certification for nurses who provide direct care to acutely/critically ill adult patients regardless of their physical location. Nurses interested in this certification may work in areas such as intensive care units, cardiac care units, combined ICU/CCUs, medical/surgical ICUs, trauma units or critical care transport/flight.
What are the prerequisites?
•A current and unencumbered United States RN or APRN license
•1,750 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients in the previous two years prior to application, with 875 hours in the most recent year
•Or, five years with at least 2,000 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill adult patients, with 144 hours in the most recent year
•Successfully passing the certification exam
2. CMSRN: Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse
According to the Medical Surgical Nursing Certification Board, CMSRN certification is the recognized path for medical-surgical nurses to build and demonstrate commitment, confidence, and credibility. We welcome you to become a part of over 38,000 CMSRNs who have achieved this gold standard of excellence in the medical-surgical specialty.
What are the prerequisites?
•RN with a current US license
•Two years of practice as an RN in a medical-surgical setting
•2,000 hours of practice within the previous three years
•Successfully passing the certification exam
3. CEN: Certified Emergency Nurse
According to the Board of Certification of Emergency Nursing, the certified emergency nurse is “the cornerstone” of any emergency department, bringing high-level skills, evidence-based knowledge, and expertise to patient care.
What are the prerequisites?
•To qualify for the CEN exam, you must possess a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the United States.
•Successfully passing the certification exam
4. CPN: Certified Pediatric Nurse
According to the Pediatric Nurse Certification Board, the CPN exam validates knowledge and expertise of pediatric nurses beyond basic RN licensure; CPN is a recognized certification for Magnet designation/resignation, and more than 30,000 nurses actively hold CPN certification.
What are the prerequisites?
•A current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the U.S or its territories
•Minimum of 1800 hours of pediatric RN clinical experience within the past two years
•Minimum of five years and 3,000 hours as a pediatric RN, with a minimum of 1000 hours within the past 24 months Pediatric nursing residency program hours can be included
•Successfully passing the certification exam
5. CNRN: Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse
According to the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing, the Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) is the only credential that represents an all-encompassing knowledge of and experience with fundamental neuroscience nursing concepts. If you treat patients with
neurological trauma, chronic illnesses, tumors, infections, seizures, and other conditions in your daily practice, then the CNRN credential may be ideal for your career growth.
What are the prerequisites?
•Active, unrestricted RN license
•One year of full-time (2,080 hours) neuroscience nursing practice in the previous three years
•Successfully passing the certification exam
6. ONC: Certified Orthopaedic Nurse
According to the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board, the ONC designation is the only
credential that recognizes the experience in orthopedic nursing. This certification advances
knowledge in acute neurological trauma and chronic neurological illness.
What are the prerequisites?
•Two years of professional nursing experience
•At least 1,000 hours of work experience as an RN in an orthopedic setting in the previous three years.
•An unrestricted nursing license
•Successfully passing the certification exam
7. OCN: Oncology Certified Nurse
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation offers the only nationally accredited,
oncology-specific certification programs that are designed for Registered Nurses and
ensures the nurse meets minimal competency standards. Nursing certification also promotes
public safety and develops specialty nursing by establishing minimal competency standards
and recognizing nurses who have met those standards.
What are the prerequisites?
•Current, unrestricted RN license
•Two years of nursing experience within the previous four years
•2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the previous four years
•10 contact hours of nursing continuing education in oncology or an academic elective in oncology nursing within the three years previous to application
•Successfully passing the certification exam
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