When searching for your future career, you want to be informed about which path best suits you. Different nursing certifications can open up your career options and expand your personal network, so let’s explore nursing certifications like CRNA, CNE, NP and CPN.
It is important to understand what area you want to go into when starting your nursing career, but how do you figure it out? Nursing certifications are a great source to look at when you need help deciding what you want your nursing career to look like.
Some common nursing certifications include Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN), Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR), and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN). Nursing is full of in-demand roles, and there is likely a certification that can help you on the path to whichever career path you choose. Let’s examine some of the top nursing certifications and explore their benefits.
Benefits of Certification
Nursing certifications open career advancement opportunities, enhance professional credibility, and can increase your job security. A nursing certificate shows a lifelong commitment to learning about the field you wish to specialize in.
Having a certification signals that you are well-equipped to help your patients and provide the best possible care. It will confirm your knowledge of your studies and is often required for specialty or advanced practice roles. Overall, it can boost your experience and knowledge of your specific field in nursing, allowing for better client care and growth in your career.
1. Informatics Nursing Certification
This certificate is for registered nurses who wish to demonstrate their expertise in informatics, which is a combination of nursing, information science, and computer technology to improve healthcare. The Informatics Nursing Certification (Ni-BC) is a credential offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and it validates a registered nurse’s knowledge and skills of the informatics genre.
For this certification, you are required to have a bachelor's degree and complete 30 hours of continued education in informatics within the last three years.
Nurses can pursue many different practice areas. Find out more.
2. Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
This certification is intended for if you want to teach in an academic setting. Education is a practice area like any other, and it requires skills and training in addition to mastery of core nursing practice. Your experience as a nurse educator could change depending on the institution you are with, the type of program you teach in, and the practice environment you operate in.
Becoming a Certified Nurse Educator signifies that you have aptitude for teaching nursing concepts and connecting with students. This helps you advance nursing education and shape the nurses of the future.
3. Nursing Case Management Certification (CMGT-BC)
This certification is for registered nurses who specialize in case management, coordinating with patients on their care from short-term stays to long-term treatment. Some positions focus on a specific type of care or service, while others may focus on specific patient populations. A CMGT-BC certification assesses the clinical knowledge and skills that are necessary for high quality care and management of patients with complex healthcare needs. This certification is valid for five years at a time, and it requires renewal through education and practice. CMGT-BC is a credential offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) that validates registered nurses who have their expertise in case management.
This certificate requires at least two years of full-time experience as a registered nurse. On top of this, you are required to accumulate a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in case management as a nurse within the last three years.
What skills do nurses need? Learn the importance of soft skills.
4. Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
This certification is for nurses who work in emergency departments Emergency certified nurses can work in hospitals, urgent care, trauma centers, and as first responders in ambulances or flight services. Earning this certification showcases a nurse’s ability to provide good quality care for patients who are experiencing a medical emergency.
This certification can increase your professional credibility by demonstrating that you have expertise in an emergency setting and can lead to better job opportunities and higher salaries.
5. Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
This certification is directed towards nurses who specialize in pediatric care. It enhances a nurse's ability to provide care to children, opening the doors for different kinds of pediatric care positions and rolls. This would be a great career to go into if you are looking to help children and educate them on topics such as nutrition, sleep, and preventive care.
By getting this certification, nurses demonstrate enhanced knowledge in areas like family-centered care and growth in development.
6. Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
This certification is for perioperative registered nurses who assist in carrying out surgical operations, demonstrating their commitment to patient safety. Gaining this certification demonstrates efficiency in maintaining a sterile environment, ensuring patient safety throughout the operation, and supporting the other surgeons and surgical team that you would be working with. This certification highlights a nurse's dedication.
7. Oncology Certified Nurses (OCN)
This certification is for nurses who specialize in oncology care. This validates a nurse's knowledge and skills in the realm of caring for cancer patients and their treatments. It is often that a certification is needed if you want to pursue this field. Oncology certified nurses are specially trained to provide support through all different complex and intense treatment options such as radiation, chemotherapy, and symptom management. They also offer emotional support and educational guidance to the patients and their families.
Earning this certificate demonstrates excellent care and skill in treating cancer patients and is highly recommended for nurses who are looking into oncology centered roles.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Getting a nursing certificate in a specific specialty can help your job security and demonstrate your knowledge and skills in your specialized field. Finding your passion in the nursing field can help you decide your focus when starting your nursing education. With a specific certification, you can excel in your desired field and provide the high-quality care that your future patients need. Ready to learn more?
To find out more, fill out the form and start your nursing journey with Find Nursing Schools today!
