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1. Definition of Nursing Certification- a nursing certification is when a nurse has a specialty in one specific area of nursing and is licensed to do specific tasks in that certification. This certification is important to work in a specific field because it tells of a nurse's knowledge and experience in the field and proves that the nurse can perform their tasks, giving quality care to patients.

2. Identified Area of Nursing Certification- For my certification of choice, I chose to research a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner certification. I chose to take a deeper look at this certification because ever since middle school, I have been interested in this field and I think I would enjoy doing something related to women's health. There is also so much to do with this certification, it sounds like a good balance to me.

3. Requirements for Certification- Minimum requirements to be certified as a WHNP is that you need to pass the NCLEX exam, complete a registered nursing degree, and then be certified as a registered nurse. It is recommended that a nurse works 1-2 years before applying to a nurse practitioner program, more specifically a WHNP program.

4. How to Obtain Certification in this Area- To become a certified WHNP, you will need to do a series of things to obtain your certification. A nurse must go through a program specific to a WHNP, and this has the option of being online. This program will take about 2 and a half years, once completed the nurse must sit for the NCC national board certification and complete the exam to receive the certification. To take this exam, you have to have gone through a nationally accredited graduate/postgraduate WHNP program.

5. Maintenance of Certification-
To maintain certification in WHNP, a certified individual must complete a competency assessment of knowledge every 3 years that contains the information that was covered in the certification exam to make sure you still understand all areas of the program.

6. Overall Impression- my overall impression of nursing certifications is that I think they are extremely important in showing specific credentials and knowledge of a specific area in nursing. I think certifications are needed to let others know what your knowledge level is as a nurse, and to let the community know what your job is. Being certified is also a good way to show your education level to others. Though having a certification in something takes so much work, it is definitely worth it in the end. My impression of a WHNP is positive, I think it is something I could do but I am not sure where my plans will take me in the future and how much schooling I would like to do. If I do take the route of going into women's health, this is a plan I would consider. I see the benefits of this occupation and I think it would be fulfilling. The value of certification is important and I understand now why people have these specific certifications and why they're often listed after one's name. Being certified in a specific subject is good for people in the workplace, and also the entire community.

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1. What is a nursing certification?
A nursing certification ensures that nurses are qualified with a substantial amount of knowledge, capabilities, and experience in order to care for others properly. Nursing certification is important because it provides proof of knowledge needed for their practice.

2. Identified Area of Nursing Certification
The certification I chose is the Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (CPNP-PC) certification. A Pediatric Nurse practitioner (PNP) specializes in caring for newborns, infants, toddlers, adolescents and young adults. PNPs focus on well-child care, as well as prevention or management of common pediatric acute illnesses and chronic decisions. CPNP-PCs provide pediatric primary care in a variety of health care settings. Among these are primary practice, ambulatory and school-based clinics, hospital, subspecialty clinics, and more. This certification specifically focuses on Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. I chose this because I ultimately want to work with children and feel as though it would be a good fit for me.

3. Requirements for Certification
To obtain the CPNP-PC certification, one must first provide proof of completion of an MSN, DNP, or post-master's certificate program accredited by the ACEN or CCNE with a concentration in pediatric primary care. They must also provide official transcripts sent from APRN program or school. They must then prove completion of a minimum of 500 (PNCB highly recommends 600) hours of supervised clinical practice in primary care. Completion of graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, health assessment, and pharmacology is also required. All of this is required to take their state's board of nursing exam, which is what is needed to be passed in order to complete certification.

4. How to Obtain Certifications in this Area
The Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care (CPNP-PC) exam certifies graduates of primary care pediatric nurse practitioner programs. This exam is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and meets the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's APRN criteria for certification programs. To receive certification for primary care alone, the fee of the exam is $385, however it costs $600 for both primary and acute care exams.

5. Maintenance of Certification
After the certification exam is passed, one must apply to the state board for licensure in the state in which that nurse would like to practice. Every state's rules and regulations specify the scope of practice and any required collaborative or supervisory agreements for Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Recertification is annual, but over a seven year period one must complete PNCB Pediatric Updates modules and pharmacology requirements.

6. Overall Impression
After educating myself on the certifications and requirements for the CPNP-PC, I can understand the importance of the exam and maintenance, as well as the licensure process. I feel with the certifications in place, a safer and healthier environment is provided and maintained for patient care. Nursing Licensure is so important to verify that nurses are held to the highest standard of education to create better levels of care. This not only creates a relationship between nurses and patients, but with that level of trust, nurses have the capabilities to protect and care for their patients. Because the certification I chose specifically caring for infants and children, I feel it is important that certifications are implemented to prevent potential harm or malpractice. A level of trust should be built with the children to supply the highest and safest level of care.

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A CEN certification is for ER nurses that want to prove their knowledge in the field of emergency medicine. I chose to research this certification, as I enjoy a fast paced environment. Because of this, I have always thought working in the emergency room would suit me.

To be eligible to take the CEN exam, you need to be a registered nurse. It is recommended that one has actual experience before taking the exam, but it is not a requirement. If you pass the exam, you then qualify for a BCEN certification. BCEN stands for board of certification for emergency nursing.

The CEN exam has a total of 175 questions, but only 150 are scored. The exam costs about $150. These questions involve topics such as cardiovascular emergencies, respiratory emergencies, neurological emergencies, and several more. The exam tests one's knowledge of many different emergency situations. The test lasts 3 hours long. Test takers must score 106/150 in order to pass the exam.

In order to keep the certification, you must either retest every four years, or complete the necessary continuing education requirements.

Overall, the BCEN certification does not require much maintenance and is a great certification to have under your belt if trying to find a job as an ER nurse.

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Emylee Parks- CEN Certified Emergency Nurse

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Emylee Parks- CEN Certified Emergency Nurse

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Nursing certifications are a way to provide a standardized level of specialty for registered nurses to attain. It is a highly regarded title that shows patients that their nurse has dedicated themselves to that particular area of nursing. A nurse should have experience in the area of their certification before taking the test, and the certification proves that the nurse is well versed in their area.
I chose Certified Emergency Nurse because it is a certification that is commonly pursued by emergency room nurses. I also chose this because I will hopefully be pursuing this certification in the future.
The Pre-requisites for sitting for the CEN exam is a current Registered Nurse license. It is recommended that you have two years of relevant clinical experience, but it is not required.
To get CEN certified, you need to have a valid RN license. Two years of experience is recommended but not required. You have to apply to sit for the exam. If you are approved, you can schedule your exam. It is recommended that you study and be well-prepared for the exam before taking it.
Recertification is necessary every four years. It requires requesting a retest. Again, you must submit your qualifications to the certification company. Once you are approved, you may sit for a retest. If you pass the retest, you are certified for another 4 years.
After reviewing this certification process, I am even more excited to pursue this certification! It has many benefits including learning more about my specialty, being more confident in my skills, and giving my patients the confidence in my care for them. I was always impressed with the certification process. The nurses that I know that have certifications are very knowledgeable and dedicated to their field. Certification is a way for a nurse to set themselves apart in their field!

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Nursing Certification:

-       A nursing certification is rewarded to a person that demonstrates and achieves the proper skills, knowledge and experience of the nursing field. Nursing certifications are important for a number of different reasons. The certification proves to each patient that the individual treating them has met the requirements and qualifications to become a nurse. Nursing certifications make sure only the most qualified and trained individuals are able to treat patients as a nurse.

Area of Nursing:

-       I chose to do ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Nursing. My mom worked in the ICU for 12 years and she always had the craziest stories. I find this area of nursing to be so interesting because there is such a wide variety of patients that could be treated. Nothing is also ever the same and you never know what you are going to deal with in this area of nursing. I love to experience new things so I felt this area of nursing would be the most interesting to me.

Certification Process & Requirements:

-       The first step to becoming an ICU nurse is becoming a registered nurse (RN) by completing the education requirements and passing the NCLEX exam. After these individuals have to gain at least two years of experience in a position that specializes in intensive care nursing. The final step that most individuals follow is earning the Certification for Adult Critical Care Nurses (CCRN). This certification is awarded by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. In order to be eligible to take the CCRN exam, nurses must practice as a registered nurse or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of acute/critically ill pediatric patients during the previous two years (875 of the hours must be completed in the most recent year). Individuals can also qualify to take the CCRN exam by practicing as a registered nurse or APRN for at least 5 years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of acutely/critically ill pediatric patients (144 of the hours have to completed in the most recent year of application). There is different criteria that the hours have to meet in order for them to count.

Maintaining Certification:

-       CCRN last for a 3-year period. During the 3 years, individuals must stay up to date on registered nurses’ licensure or APRN licensure. Individuals can maintain CCRN renewal through two ways. They can either use the Synergy CERPs (Continuing Education Recognition Point) or earn renewal by exam. In order to do continued education during the three-year period, individuals must complete 100 CERPs. 60 of the CERPs must be in Category A and at least 10 of the CERPS must be in Categories B and C. Individuals that want to gain renewal through the exam  must meet the eligibility requirements to take the exam that were mentioned earlier. Once they do this they must apply, take and pass the CCRN exam before their scheduled 3-year renewal date.

Overall Impression:

-       From this assignment, I realized how much work goes into different nursing certifications. It is a never ending of processing of renewing and completing hours. If I were to ever go into nursing I still would have an interest in ICU nursing. ICU nursing is very fast paced so I can see why there is so many requirements in order to obtain and renew the certification.

https://www.aacn.org/~/media/aacn-website/certification/cert-renewal/renew-handbooks/ccrnrenewalhandbook.pdf?la=en

Above is a link to the CCRN renewal handbook, that I found a lot of great information in.

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A nursing certification is a recognition that a nurse receives when they are able to demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in a certain field of study. Nursing certifications are extremely valued because it demonstrates to patients that they are fully qualified to provide care in their specialty. Another reason that certifications are important is that it greatly benefits employers by allowing themselves to differentiate themselves from competitors by having skilled nurses.

The area of nursing certification I chose was the trauma certified registered nurse. This certification allows nurses to work with patients that require treatment for potentially life-threatening injuries or illnesses. I chose this specific certification because I was particularly interested in this field and wanted to know more about the requirements to be certified. Additionally, all of my previous jobs have been very hands-on and I feel as though this specialty would be a good fit for me.

To be eligible for the BCEN certification exam, an individual must obtain a valid, unrestricted, U.S. or equivalent RN license. The BCEN recommends around 2 years’ of experience in your area of specialty, but it is not required to take the exam. International candidates must go through the BCEN’s International Credential Evaluation service, which will verify that the degree meets the standards of the United States.

First to obtain a certification, individuals must create a profile on the BCEN website. Afterwards, an individual has to check their eligibility through the website. After their nursing license has been deemed eligible, they can fill out an application and pay. When the payment has gone through, an individual will receive an email from the BCEN that details the 90-day test window, how to schedule the exam appointment with the provider, where to access the handbook, and helpful information on how to prepare for the exam. After receiving the email from BCEN, an individual can sign up for a testing time. One can take the exam in person or from their own home through a live remote proctor. While preparation for the exam isn’t necessarily required, it comes highly recommended from the BCEN. Once it comes time to take the exam, you will provide valid identification and complete the exam within a 3-hour time frame. If you completed the exam through a live remote proctor, your results will appear directly after completion. If you are testing within a designated center, you will receive your score from the test administrator minutes after completion. When the exam is successfully completed, you are able to utilize the certification credential.

A TCRN certification needs to be renewed around every four years. To obtain a renewal of the certification, one must complete 100 contact hours within the 4 year certification period. An alternate method would be to retake the BCEN exam through live remote proctoring.

After completing this assignment, I believe that nursing certifications are an extremely important concept, as they enable nurses to be more qualified than others in their specialty. While looking further into the certification for trauma nursing, I realized that obtaining this certification is extremely manageable while working. With no requirements past having your valid, unrestricted RN license, I believe that this certification could be very manageable and beneficial for nurses who wish to work and explore another field. Certifications are extremely valuable because they create trust between the patient and care provider and allow hospitals to differentiate themselves among competitors.

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Certifications for nursing Emily Momchilovich

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Certifications for nursing Emily Momchilovich

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A nursing certification is a formal way to show that a nurse has the specific skills and experience to give the best outcome if health care. Having a certification is important because it shows that you have completed all the necessary step and experience needed. When nurses have a certification it shows employers they are fit for taking care of people properly.

I chose to do the Genetics Nurse, advanced certification. I chose this one specifically  because I enjoy learning about genetics and how they impact a persons life. This certification is for nurses that want to research and take care of people that are at high risk of genetic disorders. Having this certification would be an interest of mine in the future.

To be eligible to get an advanced genetic nursing (AGN-BC) certification one must go through there basic steps. These steps consist of first obtaining a basic RN license.   Once you have gotten your license you must meet the genetic nursing license requirements which is done by doing on the job training in that field. After you have worked in the specialty for at least 5 years, have done at least 50 case studies and have 45 hours of continued education. These steps will get you the certification.

To obtain this certification a portfolio must be completed. In this portfolio there must be a professional development paper stating all you have completed in your field of specialty, Professional and ethical proof that you are able to provide valid care for people in a professional and ethical way, a document that shows how you display teamwork and coordination, and a quality and safety paper showing you are eligible for this certification.

To maintain this certification, nurses must renew this certification every 5 years. After  these 5 years your must sit for the genetics exam again to test that you have the requirements still and can give proper care for patients.

After learning about this specific certification that can be obtained I respect people that stick with the 5 years that are required to get the certification. Most people want something that you can get fast but it is a process to get the AGN-BC. It takes dedication and I respect people that do it. Overall I think nursing certifications are important because in this world we need people that do specific things, such as genetics, babies or special needs. These people have the best understanding of the topic and can provide optimal care in that area. The value of certifications is extremely important to show that the person can give the proper care.

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1. DEFINITION OF NURSING CERTIFICATION- Nursing Certification is an official declaration of one's education, skills, and experience as a nursing professional. Nursing certifications ensure to the public that nurses have the upmost experience and skills to care for their patients and improve their health outcomes. a nursing certification is important and valued because it benefits both nurses and the public. By being certified, nurses put themselves in the right positions to have positive health outcomes for their patients, and give themselves the opportunities to become recognized in their field of work.

2. IDENTIFIED AREA OF NURSING- I chose to research the ACCNS-P (Pediatric) certification. This is also know as the CNS Wellness through Acute Care Pediatric certification. Nurse specialists with this certification have the skills and expertise to proves all-inclusive care for pediatric patients. They may also have higher pay than other professionals in this field of work. I chose this form of certification because I want to get into pediatrics after getting my nursing license.

3. REQUIREMENTS OF CERTIFICATION- In order to get this certification, a encumbered U.S RN or APRN license is required. The license has to also be current and up to date. One gets this RN license by taking a rigorous amount of undergraduate school, and passing the NCLEX Exam. People applying to become a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist must also complete a graduate-level advanced practice education program at a school of nursing. This practice must include pediatric CNS practice.

4. HOW TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION IN THIS AREA- After an RN gets licensed by taking and passing the NCLEX, then going through the graduate-level advanced practice education program, they must take another exam for certification. They are taking this exam through the CNS Wellness which is through the Acute Care Pediatric. The Issuing Organization is the American Association of Critical Nurses. The exam is 175 questions, and the applicants are given a 210 minute time limit. The cost of the exam is $255 for AACN members and $360 for non-members.

5. MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION- Once someone passes the certification exam, they then become a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. In order to maintain this high certification, it is required that one must renew their certification every three years. They can do this by having an up-to-date active nursing license, and having 75 continuing education hours.

6.OVERALL IMPRESSION- After completing this assignment, I have a new found respect for nurses (More than I already did prior to researching). Getting certified in any form in nursing is very tough and it requires a lot of dedication and time. But, I do feel as if the things one must do in order to get certified makes sense. For the field of certification that I chose to research, I still am very interested in this topic. I had to take an exam in order to get into nursing school, so I am not surprised one has to take an exam to become certified as a nurse. Nursing certifications are important because they ensure to the public and colleagues that an individual is fully capable and competent enough to fulfill their duties as a highly-respectable nurse.

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Isabell Nagel-Russell: Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)

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Isabell Nagel-Russell: Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)

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DEFINITION OF NURSING CERTIFICATION

Nursing certification provides recognition for a nurse's skill-set, specialized knowledge, and their personal experiences in a specialized area of work. Furthermore, it ensures patients, families, and employers that the nurse who is taking care of them is well equipped with knowledge and numerous specialized skills in order to provide such care in a specific area. It is valued and extremely important to the nursing field because it proves that the nurse's most important goal is safety, quality care, and a strong healthcare system that focuses on their patients' well-being. Without certification, patients may feel unsafe and employers would not be able to prove that their nurses are qualified and or have enough experience in that field to properly care for others.

IDENTIFIED AREA OF NURSING CERTIFICATION

Specifically, I chose to talk about Trauma Certified Registered Nurses or TCRNs. I chose this area because I would really like to learn more about it and how I would obtain my certification for this type of work. I think I want to work in an environment that is fast paced and changing daily, so this may be a good area for me to at least look into.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION

In order to receive this certification, a nurse would need to have a valid, unrestricted, U.S, or equivalent RN license before taking the BCEN/TCRN certification exam. Additionally, the nurse must meet two years or 1,000 hours in trauma nursing, including direct and indirect patient care.

HOW TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION IN THIS AREA

To obtain this certification nurses must submit their TCRN application, complete 1,000 hours in trauma nursing and pass a test called the TCRN certification exam via in person or through an online proctored test. According to the “Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing,” the BCEN exam is the only source for trauma care nurses and their employers to gain recognized certification for their knowledge and performance. Furthermore, the “Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing” states that BCEN exams are based on specialty nursing role delineation studies and are developed by an exam committee of nurses who practice in the specific exam’s specialty area and represent diverse geography. This way, the test can have accurate and practical questions to ensure that nurses taking the exam have the proper knowledge to perform the job. Finally, nurses must answer 104 items correctly out of the 150 score items given to pass the exam.

MAINTENANCE IF CERTIFICATION

In order to maintain their certification as a trauma certified RN, said nurse would need to retake the certification exam every four years or prove to have continued their education (CE) hours. Some renewal frequencies may vary; however, once you have received a certification you should have to renew these requirements every four years.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

After learning about nursing certifications, I can understand why it is an important aspect for not only patients, but the nurses and employers as well. It has been made clear that patients and families feel more safe when they know a nurse is certified, but it also shows employers that specific individuals have put in the time and effort to receive their certifications. With that being said, it is more likely that these nurses will get a better or more reliable job within a hospital. Lastly, certificates protect nurses so that in the event their knowledge is being tested, they are able to show proof of their hard earned qualifications. I believe that TCRN certification can be difficult to acquire, but it would serve any nurse well in their future career and allow them to work to their full potential. I think striving for this certification would definitely be beneficial, and personally it would make me feel more confident when performing tasks at work. Finally, the value of being certified in a specific field of work can bring about many benefits and provides a sense of safety for all involved. I think all nurses should feel satisfied and accomplished after receiving a new type of certification because it proves that they are prepared for their job, have put in numerous hours of experience, and possess the knowledge it takes to work as that specific type of nurse.

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Olivia Garibaldi- Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certification 

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Olivia Garibaldi- Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Certification 

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Nursing certifications are a way of recognizing the knowledge and experience that a nurse has in a specific field. Certifications are important because they allow nurses to advance their careers by proving that they have adequate knowledge in a certain specialty. Accomplishing this is valued because it shows that the nurse can apply all the skills and information they learned to give high-quality care to a patient.

I chose to explore the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing certification because I would like to work in a specialty that involves children or infants. Being a NICU nurse is challenging because you are working with very sick babies, so it is important that you have all the necessary tools that are needed to provide great patient care. I find it valuable to always stay up to date on your knowledge and continue to better yourself as a nurse, so completing this certification is definitely something that I would be interested in.

To be eligible to obtain the NICU nurse certification a nurse must work as a NICU nurse for two years with 2,000 patient care hours and have an RN license in either the US or Canada. In order to obtain the certification, a nurse has to pass the NICU nurse exam. The application cost $50 and the test itself costs $275. The test can be up to 175 questions, including the pretest questions, and the nurse will have three hours to complete it. There are five content areas like general assessment and general management that make up the test, and the test will be scored on a pass/fail basis.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing certification is only valid for three years and in order to maintain this certification the nurse must take a continuing competency assessment to create an education plan that will determine the number of hours of CE that is needed in a specific area. The education plan will lay out what must be completed, and all CE hours must be done by the end of the nurse’s current maintenance period.

After reading about nursing certifications, I definitely believe a lot of nurses should strive to complete a certification. It may be a difficult process, but it allows nurses to advance in their careers and makes sure they have the skills necessary to succeed in their specialty. When reading about the NICU nurse certification, I took note of how hard it was to maintain. I knew that the original certification would have a lot of requirements, but I did not know the maintenance would be so difficult. Certification is valuable because it proves how hard the nurse is willing to work to advance in their specialty and demonstrates that they have the proper amount of knowledge and experience in their field.

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1.     Definition of Nursing Certification- A nursing certification is an indication of a person’s knowledge, skills and experiences related to a nursing specialty. A nursing certification is important because it proves that the nurse has the right skills set to provide high quality care to patients.

2. Identified Area of Nursing Certification- I chose to explore a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner certification. I chose this because I think that it would be very fulfilling to be able to be the first person to help someone who has been assaulted and figure out exactly what happened to them.

3. Requirements for Certification- The minimum requirements to become certified as a SANE is that registered nurses must take a Sexual Assault Examiner Class. This class entails 40 hours of classroom training, then followed by about 40 hours of clinical training.

4. How to Obtain Certification in this Area- To become certified as a SANE, each candidate must have a minimum of 300 hours of SANE- related practice within the past 3 years. Of these 300 hours, 200 of them must be focused on the patient population respective to the certification the applicant seeks. This includes:

-       Providing direct patient care as a SANE

-        Taking on-call shifts to respond to patients as a SANE

-       Teaching SANEs

-       Consulting regarding SANE issues/cases

-       Engaging in peer review of SANE cases

Next, registered nurses must pass an examination. In order to be able to sit to take this exam, one must have been a practicing RN for a minimum of 2 years. These exams are held internationally and held twice a year in April and September.

5.  Maintenance of Certification- Certification for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner is valid for a period of 3 years. Having your certification renewed every 3 years means that you will remain up to date with current best practices and emerging knowledge. To become renewed as a SANE one must:

1.     Hold current certification in the renewing specialty

2.     Hold an active, unrestricted license as a first-level general nurse in the US or a US territory

3.     Have practiced as a sexual assault nurse examiner for a minimum of 300 hours in the past 3 years. At least 200 of those 300 hours must compromise SANE related practice that is focused on the certification that you seek to renew.

4.     Obtain either the required continuing education hours

OR

Achieve a passing score on the certification examination

6.  Overall Impression- After completing this assignment, I realized just how much work it truly is to become certified for a specific specialty within nursing. Specifically for becoming a SANE, I didn’t realize how many hours of work you needed to have. I believe that it is very important to become certified, it proves that a nurse has the right set of skills to do their job to the best of their abilities.

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Certification is the recognition of specialized knowledge, skills, and experience. Pertaining to the nursing field, these skills are demonstrated through the achievement of standards to promote health outcomes. Certification is important because it demonstrates the nurse has the knowledge, skills, and experience. This certification will help the nurse themselves, the employer, and the patient. Nursing certification also provides nurses with the opportunity to achieve a career advancement.

As I think I may be interested in Rehabilitation nursing I decided to research a CRRN, Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse. A rehabilitation nurse is for any nurses who would want to work with patients suffering for chronic illness, injures, and disabilities and help them regain their mobility. I chose to research this certification because becoming a CRRN would be by ultimate career goal.

To be eligible to become a CRRN the nurse must meet requirements including a current, unrestricted U.S. licensure and either two years of practice as an RN in rehabilitation or one year of practice as an RN in rehibition and one year of advanced study (beyond baccalaureate). The CRRN exam is a computer based, and 175 multiple choice questions. 25 questions of the test are the pretest and will not be scored. The lime limit for the test is 3 hours.

The CRRN certification is valid for a 5-year period. To renew a CRRN certification the nurse must meet the following requirements have a current, unrestricted RN license, complete 1,000 hours of rehabilitation nursing experience within your 5-year certification period, complete at least 60 points of credit that meet the criteria with your 5-year certification period. Ways to earn the 60 points of credit include continuing education, presentation of rehabilitation nursing content to nurses and other healthcare professionals, academic coursework, publication, community service, etc. If these requirements are met the nurse can retake the CRRN exam, which is the same as the initial exam.

Overall, I feel that the nursing certifications can be stressful. There is so much work to do and I think it can be very overwhelming. Nurses are often looked down on and not given as much credit as they deserve for going through these certifications and gaining the knowledge that they have. I think that nursing certifications are a great thing, because it gives nurses room for a career advancement.

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A nursing certification is a corroborated, professional competency tool that reflects the knowledge and experience that a registered nurse has in a particular specialty. Nursing certifications are most important for the nurse to gain the clinical knowledge needed to be recognized.

The certification that I chose is the Cardiac Surgery (CSC) certification. This certification is for advanced practice RNs, nurse managers, bedside nurses, and nurse practitioners who work with cardiothoracic, cardiovascular, and post anesthesia patients. I chose this certification because my ultimate goal in nursing is to become a cardiothoracic nurse practitioner.

The minimum requirements for this certification is a current clinical nursing specialty certification which will be then attached with this documentation. Also, nurses must have at least two years experience with 1,750 hours of direct patient care with 48 hours postoperative of cardiac surgery.

Obtainment of the CSC certification requires the taking of a 75 question exam. Passing is based off a review board that determines the difficulty of the questions and determines a "pass/cut score". Exam questions are based entirely on clinical judgement, with topics including cardiothoracic procedures, complications, interventions, monitoring, and diagnostics.

The CSC certification needs to be renewed every three years via an exam or continuing education credits that are earned as you use your CSC in practice.

Overall, the CSC - attached with most commonly a CCRN certification is daunting. From a perspective of a new nurse, especially, it makes me wonder if nurses are gaining the credit that they deserve by obtaining this knowledge and experiences. I think certifications make nursing a great career in the sense that it allows for one degree to be taken any where in medicine, but as a hopeful nurse practitioner, I want to do whatever I can to prove that I have the knowledge needed to provide for critically ill patients in the cardiothoracic population.

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Certification is the formal recognition of one's knowledge, skills, and experience. In the nursing field, it is seen as a valuable attribute. Certification shows competence, which benefits the nurse, employer, and patient. It also provides recognition, as well as an opportunity for career advancement.

As an ICU nurse, I chose to explore the certification for my specialty. The certification is the CCRN, which is a service mark (not an acronym) from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The CCRN validates a nurse's knowledge on care for critically ill patients. It is shown that certified nurses possess a higher level of clinical knowledge, skills, and experience. Also, I do not have my certification, and want to pursue it in the near future!

In order to be eligible for the CCRN, the nurse must meet the following requirements:

current RN or APRN license in the United States.

practice as an RN or APRN for 1,750 hours in direct care of critically ill patients during the past 2 years, with 875 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.

or

practice as an RN or APRN for at least 5 years with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct care of critically ill patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the most recent year preceding application.

eligible hours are spent caring for one population (ex. adults, pediatrics, neonates).

clinical hours must be completed in a U.S. or Canada-based facility.

Direct care of critically ill patients can occur in areas such as intensive care units and emergency departments.

To obtain the certification, the nurse must take the CCRN exam. It is a 3-hour exam with 150 questions (only 125 questions are scored and 25 are used to gather statistical data for future exams).

The exam is based on the AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care and consists of the following categories:

80% clinical judgment

18% cardiovascular
17% pulmonary
20% hematology/endocrine/gastrointestinal/renal/integumentary
13% neurology/musculoskeletal/ psychosocial
14% multisystem

20% professional caring and ethical practice

advocacy
moral agency
caring practices
response to diversity
facilitation of learning
collaboration

The CCRN credential is recognized for three years. To maintain certification, the nurse can retake the CCRN exam or meet the requirements of the Renewal by Synergy CERPS (Continuing Education Recognition Points). CERPs are similar to contact hours.

The Renewal by Synergy CERPS requires a minimum of 100 CERPS during the recertification period. These CERPs must come from the following categories:

category A - clinical judgment and inquiry

category B - advocacy, moral agency, caring practices, response to diversity, and facilitation of learning

category C - collaboration and systems thinking

It requires at least 60 CERPS from category A; 10 CERPs from category B; 10 CERPS from category C; and the last 20 CERPs from any category.

Also, the nurse must complete a clinical practice requirement of 432 hours in direct care of critically ill patients, with 144 of those hours accrued in the 12-month period prior to renewal date.

Overall, I feel that the certification process can be overwhelming. It requires a lot of time and effort, especially for the CCRN. However, I do believe that certified nurses are experts in their specialty, and provide the best possible care!

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Complete your Nursing Certification Padlet Assignment here.

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Complete your Nursing Certification Padlet Assignment here.

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Assignment content and grading criteria can be found in the assignment guidelines document posted in the course.