Gaining Certification
Certification in a nursing specialty area represents an objective mark of professional excel- lence and commitment for the emergency nurse. In the broad perspective, it validates that you’ve successfully acquired an up-to-date body of knowledge, skills, and experience that encompasses the scope and standards of practice for a particular nursing specialty (Rishel, 2013). Certification engenders a measure of professional recognition and achievement for the recipient. In that context, it may be a requirement for advancement or promotion if your healthcare facility has a nursing leadership structure that offers a formal clinical lad- der. Attaining certification might also entitle you to receive a certification pay differential or a higher salary overall.
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The healthcare institution also benefits from employing certified nurses. Certification serves as tangible evidence of your commitment to and individual responsibility for professional development (Kaplow, 2011). A high rate of professional certification is very favorably viewed and even expected by a number of hospital accrediting agencies such as The Joint Commission, the American College of Surgeons Consultation and Verification Program for trauma centers, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program®. Patient outcomes are also positively affected: Kendall-Gallagher, Aiken, Sloane,
and Cimiotti (2011) found that for every 10% increase in hospital nurses who had both their BSN and professional specialty certification, the risk of 30-day inpatient mortality and failure to rescue decreased. However, Altman (2011) found that some key barriers can negatively affect certification rates in the hospital: “Fear of test-taking or failure and lack of resources or organization recognition are reasons many nurses cite for not becoming certified” (p. 68).
Professional certification requirements vary depending on the type of specialty exam but typically include a practice requirement in the specialty, passing a standardized test, and either periodic re-testing or maintaining a specified composition of continuing education credits and professional activities, such as presentation or publication in every certification review cycle. Recertification intervals are dictated by the certifying body and generally fall in the 3 to 5 year range. Some certifications also mandate specific academic credentials like a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in nursing as a qualifier to sit for the exam. For example, certification as a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner requires a graduate degree in the appropriate nursing specialty area.
Each certification exam has its own unique application process and fee schedule. The appli- cation includes standard demographic and academic information. It may also contain ques- tions about your practice setting and license or registration number. An unrestricted regis- tered nurse (RN) license is an admission requirement. Depending on the exam, practice hours or years of service may be either recommended or required as a qualification to sit for the exam; a nursing supervisor signature may be needed to substantiate that the appli- cant has attained the specified work experience. Application fees vary by exam type and usually fall within a $200 to $400 range. If the certification exam is associated with a par- ticular professional nursing organization, discounts on testing fees are usually available as a benefit for active membership. Some hospitals do offer reimbursement for exam fees and preparation expenses associated with the exam as both an incentive and a reward for suc- cessfully passing the test. In the same manner, institutions may also reimburse the expenses related to recertification.
According to the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (2015), more than 30,000 emer- According to the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (2015), more than 30,000 emer- gency nurses are currently certified.
gency nurses are currently certified.
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Once the application is processed, you’re sent a letter or electronic communication confirm- ing that you can sit for the exam. Also included in the correspondence is pertinent informa- tion about how and where the test is offered and any special requirements such as having a valid driver’s license with picture identification available for admittance to the testing site. Although some exams may still be offered in a paper and pencil format, the most common testing modality is via the computer in a designated, proctored testing center. Fear of test- taking is a common concern among nurses (Teal, 2011). The most important success strat- egy is devoting sufficient time and effort to test preparation. Exam preparation books, sam- ple questions, review courses, and other educational resources should be obtained well in advance of the testing date to support test-taking readiness. Forming a study group is another excellent strategy to facilitate learning as well as build a peer support network for two or more emergency nurses studying for the same exam. For a listing of specific certifi- cation exams that may be appropriate for the emergency nurse, see Chapter 4.
Another common option if you have specialized training in forensic nursing is to obtain the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner–Adult (SANE-A) and/or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner– Pediatric (SANE-P) certification through the International Association of Forensic Nurses. There are also several certification exams available that cover a wide range of nursing spe- cialties and have relevance to various aspects of emergency nursing practice, including adult or pediatric critical care nursing, gerontological nursing, nursing leadership, staff develop- ment, as well as a host of advanced practice certifications if you have a graduate degree. As long as the requirements are met for initial certification or recertification, you can achieve a number of certifications to represent your expertise. The challenge becomes the time, effort, and expense in maintaining all of them.