Nurses have always been thought of as lifelong learners by nature. We continue to keep up with the changes as our practice continuously evolve. One way of doing this is through certification. Certification attests to one’s skills, knowledge, and professionalism in nursing or in any other field. So to answer the question, yes, certification in nursing really matters!

Why Certify?

Nurses hone and develop their skills and knowledge through hands-on practice and learning about the latest innovations in their respective fields. In a way, the line practice makes perfect is really true in nursing. One might think, checking vital signs will always be done the same exact way. True, but the tools that you are using in practice may change with the times.

For example, when I was in nursing school, we manually checked for the vital signs of our patients. Past forward to 30 years, now, our vital signs tools are computer-enabled to “communicate” with our electronic health record system.

Moreover, what we learned back in college is already obsolete five years into practice. Best practice at that time is no longer applicable in the present. This is just but one of the reasons why nurses need to continue to train and learn about the latest relevant practice in our respective settings.

Certified nurses are experts in their own fields. Years of skills, enhanced knowledge, and critical thinking comprise that expertise. They advocate for changes in practice not only for the benefit of their colleagues, but more so for the provision of safe, quality, and person-centered care.

Personally speaking, my nursing certification boosted my confidence in myself as a Pediatric nurse. The fact that it makes me more marketable benefits me more as well.

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Nursing Certification and its Impact on Healthcare Organizations

During these days of swift turnovers, it is in the best interest of healthcare organizations (HCOs) to hire and retain competent nurses. Aside from good financial compensation and other benefits, most HCOs sponsor nursing certifications. Magnet-certified HCOs are fully invested in advancing nursing excellence. In fact, 86% of HCOs reported that they consider certification as an important hiring factor.

Nurses in Magnet HCOs report higher job satisfaction, lower burnout, and lower turnover. Those nurses enjoy autonomy and utmost support. They advocate for their patients, themselves, and their practice. Because of this, healthcare consumers seek out Magnet organizations as their healthcare providers.

Furthermore, an increased number of certified nurses in an HCO is directly proportional to improved patient outcomes. Consequently, this also means better accreditation results and even more grant funding sources.

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What Nursing Certification Should I Pursue?

Different certifying bodies offer different certifications. Foremost is the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) which has a number of options for nursing and advanced nursing practice certifications. Aside from the ANCC, there are other organizations that offer specialty certifications. For example, I, along with my colleagues, obtained our Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) certification from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board.

Start with talking amongst your colleagues. Chances are some may already have obtained their certification. Ask them about the eligibility criteria, how to apply, and how to prepare for the examination.

Preparing for the Certification

Preparing for certification will be like preparing for your nursing board examination. You have to study, especially on topics that you may not be as familiar with. Read on the latest evidence-based practices that are relevant to your own setting. Ask more experienced colleagues questions.

Speaking of which, it is very helpful if there are a number of you who are taking the certification at the same time. You can bounce off ideas with each other, discuss topics, and just have fun learning together.

I should know because that was how all of us passed our CPN examination. We had review materials prominently placed at every corner of our nurses’ stations (we had two). During our breaks, we reviewed actual patient data and critically analyzed them.

Another thing that you should also look into is if your HCO reimburses your certification expenses. Some healthcare systems partner with ANCC through Success Pays. The mutual aim is to increase certification in each HCO without the financial burden on the nurses themselves.

Ask your human resources if they offer educational assistance. If they do, contact the contractor and ask relevant questions. Some of those are included in my previous post linked here.

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Perception of Healthcare Consumers Regarding Nursing Certification

Numerous studies document improvement in patient safety relative to the increased number of certified nurses in an HCO. Some of the favorable results include a decrease in patient falls, medication errors, etc. These are all hallmarks of improved patient outcomes.

Data are good. However, the personal testaments of those who have been impacted are more powerful, if you ask me.

I took care of an asthmatic patient who first presented with very mild shortness of breathing after a dinner out with his family. After the pediatrician assessed him, he was prescribed Benadryl by mouth, and discharge orders were entered. Although I couldn’t put my finger on it at that time, I didn’t feel comfortable discharging him. I strongly advocated for him to stay for a couple more hours just to be closely monitored. The pediatrician told me to answer to the billing office if asked why the patient stayed beyond the time of discharge.

Thirty minutes into close monitoring, his oxygen level started going down and he was gasping for air in no time. The respiratory therapist started him on oxygen after I informed her. The pediatrician hurriedly came to the room since I called him STAT! I collaborated with the pharmacist to convert the Benadryl order to intravenous route so that I can administer it right away.

I called our Children’s Hospital for a Pediatric Transport Team to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit when the patient became stable. While waiting for the ambulance to come, the dad saw my certification, along with my colleagues’, prominently displayed in our hallway. He said to the pediatrician: “you are fortunate to be working with certified nurses who really know how to appropriately manage their patients, with or without your supervision.”

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Keep On Learning

Career development is not only for selfish reasons. Sure, some of them come with financial compensations or reimbursement. However, as nurses, our foremost goal is to take care of our patients/clients to the best of our abilities. We owe it to them to always provide safe, quality, holistic, and person-centered care.

Happy Certified Nurses’ day my fellow certified nurses! If you are not one of us, are you planning to certify soon? Please share your own certification story in the comment below.