Nurse Certification

Many nursing specialties offer nurse certification. Some nurses choose to pursue certification in their field after many years of working and continuing education. Some specialties require several years of specific work experience while others require only current employment in the area. Most nurse certifications require a standardized test to evaluate the nurse’s knowledge and almost all require a fee or membership in the organization of the specialty.

After several years of working in a particular field, nurses may want to pursue nurse certification to prove mastery and to gain additional credibility in their line of work. For example, an operating room nurse may choose to pursue certification through the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses to obtain the certification of certified nurse – operating room (CNOR). Because several years of work experience are required before taking the test, the title implies that the nurse has a great deal of specialized knowledge in the field.

A few organizations do not require a specific amount of time in a specialty field before the nurse is able earn nurse certification. For example, the certified emergency nurse (CEN) certification requires only that the nurse be employed in some type of emergency setting, but does not specify a particular length of employment there. A large fee is still required to take this certification, and the test is known to be quite difficult.

Regardless of the type, almost all nursing certifications require some form of testing and a fee. Most tests are now given via computer, very similar to NCLEX–RN (National Council Licensure Examination–Registered Nurse) testing. Study guides for the tests are available from the various certifying bodies, usually for free. Fees for taking the tests vary widely; some certifications are discounted for members of the specialty organizations. The CNOR test is heavily discounted for nurses who are members of AORN. Similarly, members of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) are given a discount if they choose to pursue certification as an emergency nurse.

After testing, the nurse is either notified immediately or via mail of the exam results. After receiving a passing score, the nurse can begin to identify herself as being certified in the specialty. Nurse certification shows employers and patients that the nurse has a great deal of knowledge in a field and employs standards set by the certifying body. Depending on the certification and the employer, this may mean an increase in pay, as well.

Nursing Degrees

There are many types of nursing degrees available to nurses. The minimum degree to be called a nurse is the licensed practical nurse (LPN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) degrees. Registered nurses (RNs) have a minimum of an associate’s degree in nursing, though many have a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Doctoral degrees in nursing are also available. The type of nursing degree to pursue depends on the nurse’s desired career path and whether nurse certification will be pursued at a later date.

The LPN or LVN takes a minimum of a one-year course in nursing. The LPN credential can be earned through a technical, vocational, or community college. In the community college setting, the LPN credential is often the first year of a two-year program leading to a credential as an RN. Prerequisites may be needed when taking courses at the community college level. Prerequisite courses are often taken as a part of the program when taking an LPN course through a vocational or technical program. LPNs are not usually able to pursue nurse certification programs, with a few exceptions.

One pathway to becoming a registered nurse is through an associate’s degree in nursing. The two-year degree leads to credentialing as a registered nurse. The RN is eligible to take state board certification through the NCLEX-RN upon graduation from an accredited nursing program. The two-year program often requires a minimum of two years of courses in biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, sociology, English, mathematics, and nutrition. Other prerequisites may also be required.

Registered nurses can also obtain initial credentialing through a bachelor’s degree program in nursing. These four-year degrees are similar to the two-year degrees in that the outcome is the same–a license as a registered nurse. Four-year degrees typically require a statistics course and courses in nurse leadership and community health. Some registered nurses that have already obtained a two-year degree return to school to pursue a degree known as the RN to BSN (RN-BSN) degree. This is usually a one-year program that gives the associate’s-level nurse the additional training in leadership and community health required for the four-year degree.

Some nurses choose to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. These types of degrees are often required if the nurse chooses to become a nurse educator or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Advanced practice nurses can practice on their own without oversight from a medical doctor, and provide primary care to many types of patients. Some registered nurses also choose to pursue post-baccalaureate degrees to become more proficient clinically, becoming Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) who still provide nursing care at the bedside.

There are many choices for degrees in nursing. The nurse should decide which pathway to choose based on career goals. If working in a long- term care setting is the ultimate goal of the nurse, it may be wise to pursue a licensed practical nursing certificate. If the goal is to become an advanced practice nurse, the individual would need to first choose a pathway to becoming a registered nurse.

What Makes a Good Nurse?

While many seek a nursing degree and a nurse certification, there are some common attributes that good nursing candidates have in common. People who choose the profession of nursing may find it a difficult environment in which to work if they do not possess at least a few of the attributes.

Patience is almost a mandatory quality of the nurse. Nurses must deal with others on a daily basis, and different people have different priorities. It can be frustrating to deal with patients who do not take their health care seriously. It can also be frustrating to deal with coworkers who have different priorities. Finding patience to deal with all kinds of people in all kinds of situations will help the nurse cope with many career frustrations.

Nurses also need to be kind. Because they deal with people and patients from every walk of life, it is important to remember that not all patients will have the same ideals or beliefs. Dealing with a frustrating patient can often be handled with just a smile or a kind word. It can be difficult to remember to be kind when in the middle of a difficult situation, but nurses who are able to remember to smile often are much less stressed.

Another quality of a good nurse is self-motivation. Nurses often work on their own with nothing more than a doctor’s order to go by. They prioritize their patients’ care, delivering care to each patient based on many factors that the nurse must determine and interpret. Without self-motivation, it could be easy to miss a deadline or make an error.

Nurses should also be organized and able to multitask. Because of the burden placed on nurses by the health care system, they will often be responsible for many patients at once. The nurse needs to keep track of when medications and treatments must be given, when paperwork is due, when assessments are needed, and if any other care is needed. Without the ability to stay well organized, the nurse can become overstressed and may burn out quickly.

While nursing may seem simple on its surface, there are many necessary qualities to good nurses. Patience and kindness should be personality traits before even considering the profession. The ability to become self-motivated and organized can be learned, but they are important skills and traits for the nurse to have.

History of Nurse Certification

The history of nurse certification is relatively short compared to the history of nursing in the United States. Formal certification of nurse specialists did not begin until only fairly recently, but has grown widely in popularity in the past 40 years.

Nursing as a profession began in the mid-1800s when Florence Nightingale tended to wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. The profession drew many women and a few men to it over the next 100 years. Nursing schools were established in the late 1800s, with the first American graduating from nursing school in 1873. This nurse, Linda Richards, went on to found several more nursing schools in the United States during her career.

Nursing moved into the college setting in 1923, with Yale University offering the first professional nursing program in a university. Master’s degrees in nursing began to be offered in the 1950s, with Columbia University being the first to offer such a degree. By the 1960s, most nursing education took place in a college or university, with some hospital based programs still offering training.

Mildred Montag recommended that nursing training move away from hospitals and into colleges, a movement that effectively ending the nurse training that many hospitals provided until the late 1960s. With the move toward the nurse becoming a well-educated professional with a college degree, the nursing profession became even more valued and respected. Today, there are only a few hospital-based diploma programs left that offer training for registered nurses. Virtually all registered nurses today are trained at the collegiate level, helping the public understand that nursing is indeed a profession requiring intellect and a great deal of knowledge.

Nurse certification began officially in 1974 when the American Nurses Association (ANA) offered the first credentialing service to registered nurses. The process has always been voluntary though many organizations promote the certification process, which they believe imparts a greater knowledge and confidence upon the certified nurse. In 1978, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) began certifying the first operating room nurses. Many more specialty organizations followed suit, with certifications now being available for almost every nursing specialty and for many more subspecialties.

While the history of nurse certification itself is relatively short, the history of nursing spans almost 200 years. Nurse certification is sure to assist future nurses in expanding their knowledge about specialties and ensuring that the public has the best quality nursing care.