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Professional Development Council Makes “Nursing Certification” a Major Goal
National Nursing Certification for the Registered Nurse (RN) is a realistic goal since it is available to all Registered Nurses and can be obtained in a variety of specialty areas. The acquisition of National Certification has a number of benefits for the RN. It promotes quality health care through credentialing and education of the health professional, delineates an important milestone in the careers of professional nurses and emphasizes value in the profession. It also provides expertise in the professional’s area of practice and recognizes the skills of professional nurses.
National Certification is important to nurses because: certification enables certified nurses to differentiate themselves in the workplace, recognizes professional competence, supports evidence based practice and enables the professional to provide safe, quality care. In addition, certification permits nurses to demonstrate their competence to practice through recognized examination and contributes to the institution’s prestige while actualizing long term financial benefits.
Registered Nurses can become certified through the payment of a required fee to a recognized certification program or agency and an examination. Certification can be maintained on an ongoing basis. However, the time frame and method for re-certification is stipulated by the certifying agency and may be maintained through examination, continuing education, publication, precepting or presentations.
There are many specialty areas of certification for nurses as well as certifying agencies. The following are among, but do not represent all of the certifying agencies:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- American Association of Critical Care Nursing
- National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators
- Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing
- Certifying Board of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates
- American Holistic Nurses Association
- Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses
- Intravenous Nurses Certification Corp.
- Nephrology Nursing Certification Board
- National Certification Corp. for Ob-Gyn and Neonatal Nursing
- American Board of Occupational Health Nursing, Inc.
- Oncology Nursing Society
- National Certifying Board for Opthalmic Registered Nurses
- Orthopedic Nurses Certification Board
- National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurses
- American Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses
- Certification Board: Perioperative Nurses, Inc.
- American Society of Plastic – Reconstructive Surgical Nurses
- Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
- Vascular Nursing Certification Board
- Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society
Our Office of Nursing Excellence has made “Magnet” a mission for this institution. Therefore, the goal of increasing the number of Certified Registered Nurses at this institution will aid in the achievement of this objective, as nurses become experts in their area of practice.
According to the American Board Nursing Specialties (December 2006), nurses who are currently certified should serve as role models and form partnerships with professional nursing organizations and Specialty Certification Boards to advocate for meaningful incentives. Together, we must all work for the actualization of this goal.
-Avis Haynes, RN, CNM, FPNP, PhD
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