Nursing Certifications

Additional certifications can help you advance your career, increase your earning power, and create new career options for you as a travel nurse. Learn about the top nursing certifications for each specialty and the top certifications for travel nursing jobs.

Validate Your Competency and Increase Your Earning Potential

Why are certifications so important? Certifications validate a nurse’s competency and proficiency in their nursing specialty. Certifications allow nurses to advance in both their careers and earning potential.

The first step is understanding what certifications are necessary for your current position. What’s required for a particular specialty can vary based on the facility or the assignment, but most specialties have certain basic requirements in common, like clinical practice hours, experience in the field, and degrees. Next, is to understand what additional certifications or desires for your specialty and what certifications will help you advance in your nursing career and provide you with greater career opportunities.

The Best Nursing Certifications for a Travel Nurse

Use our RN Certification Guide below to assist you with determining what’s commonly required, recommended and desired by most facilities across the country. It’s important to confirm specific facility requirements with your Recruiter, as they do vary and can frequently be updated and/or changed.
Nursing Specialty
Required Certifications
Recommended Certifications
Desired Certifications
Case Management
BLS
ACLS, CCM or ACM
Cath Lab
BLS, ACLS
NIHSS
RCIS, CCRN
Certified Surgical Technologist
BLS, (NBSTSA – Preferred) NCCI
CST-FA
Critical Care / Intensive Care (ICU)
BLS, ACLS
CCRN, TNCC, NIHSS
PALS, CPI
Cardiovascular ICU
BLS, ACLS
CCRN, NIHSS
IABP, CRRT
Dialysis
BLS, ACLS
NIHSS
RN-BC, CGRN, CHN, CNN
Emergency Department
BLS, ACLS, PALS
TNCC, NIHSS
CEN, CPI, ATLS, CCRN, ENPC, MAB, ATCN, TCRN, CFRN, CPEN, S.A.N.E.
Gastroenterology / Endoscopy (GI / Endo RN)
BLS, ACLS
PALS, NIHSS
CGRN, CPAN, CAPA
Interventional Radiology
BLS, ACLS
PALS, NIHSS
CPAN, CAPA, RNCB
Labor and Delivery
BLS, NRP, ACLS,FHM
AWHONN-INT, AWHONN-ADV
S.T.A.B.L.E
Medical Surgical (Med-Surg RN)
BLS
ACLS, NIHSS
PALS, NIHSS, RN-BC, CMSRN, CCCTM, WOCN
Neonatal ICU
BLS, NRP
PALS, ACLS
S.T.A.B.L.E., NCC
Oncology
BLS
ACLS, OCN, NIHSS
APHON, CPHON, AOCN, AOCNP, BMTCN, CPON, AOCNS
Operating Room (RN)
BLS, ACLS
PALS, NIHSS
CNOR, CRNFA, CPAN, CAPN
Pediatrics
BLS, PALS
ACLS, CPN
NRP, ENPC, APHON, PEARS
Pediatric Emergency Department
BLS, ACLS, PALS
TNCC, NRP
CCRN, PEARS, ENPC
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU RN)
BLS, PALS
ACLS
CCRN, PEARS, ENPC, TNCC, NRP
Pediatric Operating Room
BLS, PALS
ACLS
CNOR
Pediatric Telemetry
BLS, PALS
ACLS, CPN
NRP, ENPC, APHON, PEARS
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU RN)
BLS, ACLS
PALS, NIHSS
CNOR, CPAN, CAPA

Nurse Certifications FAQs

Advanced nursing certifications demonstrate that a nurse has acquired additional knowledge, skills, and expertise in a specialty area. It shows a nurse’s commitment to be a lifelong learner and to being an expert in their nursing field, beyond the required Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to start with. Nurses with advanced certifications are typically more confident and act as role models for other nurses and healthcare professionals.

Earning advanced certifications raises your credibility and gives you an edge when competing for higher nursing positions which can increase your salary and career advancement.

There’s a wide array of reasons, but the main three are validation, increased earning potential, and more career opportunities.

Instead of having to prove your skills over time, a certification can validate them for you instantly when looking for work. Employers will easily validate a nurse’s competency and proficiency in any nursing area.

When you are certified, more career paths are suddenly open to you, and along comes your earning potential as well. While certifications in many places aren’t mandatory, they make it a lot easier to compete and ask for higher wages. Make sure you first have the required certifications for your current position, followed by getting them for whatever position you have your eye on. The more specialized a position and nursing job, the more certifications you will need.

Yes, you should. While certification in most medical institutions or businesses is not mandatory, they’re increasingly more desired and required for anyone looking to revitalize and enhance their careers. It’s an essential way to stand out in such a competitive job market. In fact, in some specialized areas of nursing like anesthetists, oncology, pediatric and geriatric care, etc., certifications are now an obligation and not just a bonus.

  • American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
  • National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES)
  • American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
  • American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN)
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
  • Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE)
  • Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC)
  • Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI)
  • Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC)
  • National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC)
  • National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)
  • National League for Nursing (NLN)
  • Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
  • Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
  • The National Certification Corporation (NCC)
  • Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)

When it comes to nursing certifications, one can usually divide them into board certifications and specialty certifications.

Board Certifications
Certifications for Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), for Registered Nurses (RN), and for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN), are based on their experience in the field, and so a state-level board of experts determines if a nurse has the required experience to be granted a license to practice nursing.

Specialty Certifications
These have to do with specializations like anesthesiology, pediatrics, oncology, cardiovascular, and more. They are given out by schools, non-profits, and other nursing organizations for each specialization.

Certifications don’t last a lifetime. You are required to renew a certification after a certain amount of time due largely to just how much progress there is in the healthcare and medical industry. This is a way of keeping nurses updated on the latest in their fields, including research, technology, skills, and protocols. For renewal, a nurse will most likely be asked to volunteer, pass an exam about updated knowledge in the area, or even be asked to help teach about a subject.

It varies, but the prices for certification and recertification can range anywhere from $100 to $1,000, or even more. Take your time to look at each certification and the fees associated with it in order to determine which one is the best for you.

The Recommended or Desired Certifications for Nurses

This is a list of nursing certifications, and while they are not the only ones available for most nurses in the country or internationally, they are the certifications either required or strongly encouraged for most of our travel nursing positions, along with a quick explanation of why they’re important and how to obtain them.

The AHA’s BLS certification, or Basic Life Support training, prepares learners to recognize multiple life-threatening events, conduct high-quality chest compressions, provide proper ventilation, and use an AED.

 

The BLS course covers high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults, children, and newborns, the American Heart Association Chain of Survival (BLS components), the early use of an AED, effective ventilations with a barrier device, the importance of teams in multi-rescuer resuscitation and performance—during multi-rescuer CP— and relief from a foreign-body airway obstruction for adults and infants.

The gold standard in resuscitation training for recognizing and intervening in cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies is the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. The ACLS course expands on basic life support (BLS) skills and extends healthcare provider training. Learners can expect to gain knowledge and experience in high-performance team dynamics and communication, cardiovascular emergency, systems of care, immediate post-cardiac arrest treatment, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes. You will learn how to become an experienced and strong member or leader of an official ACLS team with the help of this crucial training program.

The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is a training course developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) for healthcare providers who respond to or treat infant, neonate, or child-related catastrophes. The PALS course simulates pediatric emergencies to assist, train, and better prepare participants for real-world events. Treating a child is not the same as treating an adult, and the PALS certification will teach learners how to respond effectively in a pediatric emergency.

NRP stands for Neonatal Resuscitation Program, and it is a certificate program offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This application is meant to provide you with the most up-to-date information about neonatal patient resuscitation. As a multi-step program, learners will have lectures, self-study sessions, and written and skills assessments before receiving their NRP certification.

Learners will be expected to know a range of NRP skills connected to neonatal resuscitation at the end of your course, such as chest compressions, intubation, drug administration during resuscitation, preterm neonatal care, and end-of-life care for the neonatal patient.

The Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) is a 16-hour certification course that teaches core-level pediatric training information and psychomotor skills required to care for pediatric patients in an emergency environment. The course introduces a systematic assessment paradigm, combines the related anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, and identifies effective therapies for acute illness, child injury, and pediatric emergency in general.

The training curriculum includes triage categorization and preventative techniques. The ENPC training course is delivered in a variety of forms, including lectures, videotapes, and skill stations that urge learners to integrate their ENCP for nursing skills into a patient situation in a risk-free classroom setting.

Because Basic Fetal Heart Monitoring is a complete beginning course, students do not need prior experience to participate. Participants will get the knowledge and abilities required to undertake fetal surveillance using electronic Fetal Monitoring. FHM students will be given an overview of the responsibilities of the nurse during the antepartum period, as well as how to get the information required to perform suitable antenatal examinations correctly.

The FHM certification is ideal for determining whether a patient requires internal fetal monitoring or external fetal monitoring. The FHM course specifies the etiologies associated with baseline fetal heart rate parameters, variability, and fetal heart decelerations.  Other topics covered in Basic FHM include uterine and fetal monitoring techniques and nursing treatments for unsettling patterns. Additionally, learners get the opportunity to practice FHR strip assessments.

An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) is a four-year undergraduate degree that enables students to learn fundamental information and clinical skills in the profession of nursing. Most associate’s programs are two-year degrees. However, you can finish some in as short as 18 months. Students who receive an ADN program may be qualified to take the national certification exam (NCLEX-RN exam), required to become a registered nurse.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is an undergraduate degree for registered nurses (RNs) that educates nurses on patient care technology, research, health promotion, safety, and quality within the healthcare system. A BSN degree frequently comes before the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, accessible to BSN nurses who want to advance in their professions.

Learners can get a BSN in a four-year bachelor’s degree program or an ADN in a two-to-three-year associate degree program and then continue their education after working as an RN. RN-BSN programs assist nurses in obtaining a bachelor’s degree, filling the gap between an ADN and a BSN.

Although it is frequently misunderstood as an acronym for “Certified Nurses, Operating Room,” CNOR is actually a definition. CNOR is a professional accomplishment award given to nurses who work in the field of perioperative care, which includes pre-, post-, and intra-surgical intervention.

Prior to qualifying for CNOR certification, there are three specific requirements that must be met. To be eligible, nurses must hold an unrestricted RN license in the state in which they practice, work full-time or part-time in a perioperative clinical setting (or in perioperative nursing education, administration, or research), and have at least 2 years of perioperative experience with more than 1,200 hours of intra-operative care experience.

The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is the leading women’s health nursing authority that advances women’s and newborns’ health care via advocacy, research, and the development of high-quality, evidence-based standards of care.

The Intermediate Fetal Heart Monitoring Course offered by AWHONN education is a fantastic interdisciplinary course for perinatal registered nurses and physicians. This course presupposes that the learner has already completed entry-level/basic fetal monitoring training. It is intended for obstetric care and perinatal practitioners who use fetal heart monitoring during labor. AWHONN certifications are a great opportunity to grow in a healthcare career.

In addition to the AWHONN-INT, the AWHONN-ADV certification is intended for perinatal practitioners who have previously completed the AWHONN Intermediate Fetal Monitoring Course. This course, in particular, employs a case study method that focuses on the examination of complex FHM patterns. Complex case studies with recommended therapies, advanced principles of maternal-fetal physiology, and contact with colleagues are among the course components.

Nurse Midwife certification (CNM) is a specialized credential online nursing program that allows registered nurses to provide comprehensive healthcare services to women, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

Nurse midwives are skilled in providing prenatal care, assisting in labor and delivery, and offering postpartum support to mothers and newborns. They also emphasize education and empowerment of women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

S.T.A.B.L.E. stands for the six assessment and care modules in the program and is based on a mnemonic to maximize learning, retention, and recall of information: Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood pressure, Lab work, and Emotional support.

S.T.A.B.L.E. is the most widely distributed and executed neonatal education curriculum that focuses solely on ill baby post-resuscitation/pre-transport stabilization care. S.T.A.B.L.E. In addition, quality improvement, the seventh module, emphasizes the professional role of improving and assessing treatment delivered to unwell infants.

Specifically, oncology nursing certification, or the ONS Credential, is made for nursing knowledge of cancer prevention, treatment, survivorship, palliative care, and end-of-life care, and reflects knowledge across treatment types, including surgical, medical, and chemotherapy.

Because of rapid scientific and technological advances in cancer care, nurses must maintain current and highly specialized knowledge to provide quality care. Continuous professional development and earning specialty nursing certification are important considerations to maintain pace with the rapid advances in oncology knowledge.

The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is an assessment of stroke-related neurologic impairment. The NIHSS was created as a research instrument to collect baseline data from patients in acute stroke clinical studies. The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) exclusively provides an online course. This institution provides instruction in three credentials, the most popular of which are National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Certification, NHISS, and NIHSS.

Case managers with the Certified Case Manager (CCM®) credential have the expertise, knowledge, and professional experience to provide the appropriate services to patients across the continuum of care, including those with serious or complex medical conditions, as well as catastrophic injuries and illnesses.

The CCM test certified Case Managers, providing them with the credentials to demonstrate that they have the knowledge, skills, and professional experience to provide services to patients.

The American Case Management Association certifies Accredited Case Managers (ACMs) (ACMA). The ACMA accreditation procedure promotes professional practice standards for case managers in hospitals or health systems. Collaboration and an interdisciplinary approach are required in acute care case management practice. The ACM certificate will reflect that you passed the certification exam.

Recertification of ACMs is required every four years. You must complete 40 hours of continuing education units to recertify (CEUs). Thirty of the forty hours must be dedicated to Healthcare Delivery Case Management. The remaining ten hours can be spent on anything other than case management. Ten hours of continuing education that is not specialized in case management must be connected to the practice of health care in the ACM’s field of practice.

The CCRN certification certifies your acute/critical care nursing expertise to hospital administration, peers, patients, and, most importantly, to yourself. CCRN certification encourages continued achievement in the field of critical care nursing.

To work as a critical care nurse, you must first be a registered nurse and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers the most commonly recognized credential for critical care nurses, CCRN (AACN). To be eligible for the CCRN certification, you must have two years of critical care patient care experience and pass the CCRN Test. Every three years, the certification must be renewed.

The Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is a 16-hour, two-day course designed to educate core-level trauma information and psychomotor skills related to administering professional nursing care to a trauma patient.

To be eligible for TNCC certification, you must be a Registered Nurse. The training will only provide Continuing Education Units to all other licensed individuals. ENA will provide certification following satisfactory completion of the graded psychomotor skill station and multiple-choice examination.

The CPN test confirms pediatric nurses’ knowledge and expertise beyond basic RN licensing. RNs with a diploma, associate’s degree, BSN, MSN, or higher nursing degree may be eligible through one of two pathways. For RNs with experience in the specialty, the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) test provides respected, accredited board accreditation.

CPN certification can pave the way for progress, boost confidence, and create a sense of personal accomplishment. CPR programs for nurses teach nursing students about the Good Samaritan law and how they are legally protected when providing medical assistance to patients. The law is intended to prevent rescuers from being sued as a result of unintentional harm or death of the victims they aid.

The CPN test confirms pediatric nurses’ knowledge and expertise beyond basic RN licensing. RNs with a diploma, associate’s degree, BSN, MSN, or higher nursing degree may be eligible through one of two pathways.

For RNs with experience in the specialty, the Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) test provides respected, accredited board accreditation. CPN certification can pave the way for progress, boost confidence, and create a sense of personal accomplishment.

CPR programs for nurses teach nursing students about the Good Samaritan law and how they are legally protected when providing medical assistance to patients. The law is intended to prevent rescuers from being sued as a result of unintentional harm or death of the victims they aid.

According to the American College of Surgeons, a surgical first assistant assists the surgeon with exposure, hemostasis, and other technical responsibilities that allow the surgeon to perform a safe operation with the best possible outcomes for the patient.

For individuals seeking to demonstrate proficiency in aseptic technique, patient care, and surgical procedures, the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification is available. Because the CST exam is based on practical knowledge, it is best suited to individuals with extensive experience and educational background.

The Crisis Prevention Institute’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) certification program is intended to give learners the information and abilities needed to respond to a crisis in a nonviolent manner.

The Crisis Prevention Institute’s (CPI) Enhanced Nonviolent Crisis Intervention certification program aims to educate trainees with the information needed to respond quickly and effectively, allowing staff to prevent or defuse a behavioral escalation.

You can become CCPS certified if you have at least one year of prevention experience, have completed a certain number of hours of training and education, passed the IC&RC Certified Prevention Specialist written test and paid the CCAPP application or application renewal costs.

The purpose of this certification is to provide an overview of counterpulsation therapy as provided by the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump. This course is designed for CVICU and Cath Lab personnel. Insertion, console use, physiological consequences of the balloon pump, and troubleshooting will all be covered in the course.

An IABP improves blood flow into your coronary arteries. It also aids your heart’s ability to pump more blood with each contraction. The balloon is threaded through your aorta. The aorta is a big artery that exits your heart.

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is often used to sustain critically ill patients with acute kidney injury or chronic renal disease whose condition makes intermittent hemodialysis too dangerous.

CRRT is a slower form of dialysis that is gentler on the heart. CRRT is performed 24 hours a day, rather than over four hours, to slowly and constantly clear out waste products and fluid from the patient. To keep the dialysis circuit from clotting, specific anticoagulation is required.

Becoming board-certified in a specialty field is one method for nurses to demonstrate their dedication to best practices, patient safety, and continued education. The designation RN-BC refers to board certification and shows that the nurse has met the certification organization’s standards of excellence.

After you obtain your RN license, you will be on your way to becoming board-certified. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) usually uses the RN-BC designation, which can relate to a variety of specialty credentials.

Patients with gastrointestinal illnesses of the stomach, esophagus, or bowel are cared for by gastroenterology nurses. Ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and abdominal traumas are some of the conditions that can be addressed. A certified gastroenterology registered nurse’s job is to care for patients who are having an endoscopy or colonoscopy.

Nurses who want to become certified should study for the Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse (CGRN) exam. Certification examinations are a fantastic opportunity for an RN to demonstrate their dedication to a specific area of practice and their commitment to continued study and growth in the profession. The American Board of Certification of Gastroenterology Nurses administers the exam (ABCGN).

Community Health Nurse certification is available to registered nurses who are actively involved in their communities (CHN). The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers certification in Community Health Nursing to nurses who complete certain qualifications.

The CNH certification is a combination of nursing and public health practice used to promote and safeguard population health. It integrates all of the fundamental components of professional, clinical nursing with public health and community practice. Community health nursing is especially important at this time.

The Certified Nephrology Nurse-Nurse Practitioner (CNN-NP) credential confirms that a person has the skills and knowledge to work with patients who have renal disorders or injuries. Nurse practitioners who have earned this qualification will be able to assist in the complete examination, treatment, and monitoring of patients with renal problems.

The certification focuses on understanding kidney disease pathologic processes, familiarity with CKD, competency dealing with pharmacological interventions, knowledge of evidence-based therapies, and familiarity with interdisciplinary approaches across the continuum of care.

The Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification is an earned certificate that indicates a person’s specialized knowledge and skills. A third-party organization, such as the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, grants certification.

To be eligible for the exam, you must have a current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license from the United States, a US Territory, or Canada. A nursing certificate equivalent to that of a Registered Nurse in the United States is also valid, but it must be certified by CGFNS International.

ATLS® is a global training that teaches a systematic trauma care method for patients with life-threatening injuries. This two-day interactive workshop will teach you a variety of comprehensive and flexible trauma treatment strategies applicable to all disciplines.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) advanced trauma life support (ATLS) rules govern the initial care and resuscitation of all trauma patients. The “ABCs” of trauma layout, in sequence, are the essential priorities of the initial examination of the trauma patient.

The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) is a 16-hour course that teaches core-level knowledge and psychomotor skills connected with the treatment of children from birth to puberty.

The Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) does not require you to attend a site in real life because you can complete it entirely virtual/online.

Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB) is a certification program that teaches students how to recognize, prevent, and minimize assaultive behavior in professional contexts. This fully online course fulfills both MAB AB-508 and SB 1299 requirements.

All hospital workers who work in the emergency department and psychiatric unit are required to do the MAB course. Because the majority of assaults occur on high traffic and inpatient floors, this course is recommended for all hospital workers. Nursing students must undergo this training before beginning clinical rotations at the hospital, and paramedics and EMTs will be able to use the skills learned in this course to help forecast violent behavior and defend themselves if necessary.

Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) is an advanced training developed for registered nurses who want to improve their expertise in managing numerous trauma patients. The ATCN course is taught with the ATLS course.

ATCN is a more advanced training for more experienced trauma nurses that requires more critical thinking beyond airway, breathing, and circulation management, as well as management of those basic (but necessary) concerns.

A Trauma Certified Registered Nurse, abbreviated TCRN®, works with patients who have serious or potentially life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

A certification, such as the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN®) title, is a certificate that someone has obtained that displays their particular knowledge and skills. A third-party organization, such as the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, grants certification.

The CFRN exam is designed for flight nurses who want to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in flight nursing. BCEN is the only place for emergency flight care nurses to acquire nationally recognized certification, which improves knowledge and performance. Being a CFRN nurse implies having better competency and being able to provide life-sustaining care in the air.

A certification, such as the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), is a credential that an individual has obtained that displays their particular knowledge and skills. A third-party organization, such as the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, grants certification.

The CPEN exam is designed for emergency nurses who want to demonstrate their experience and knowledge in pediatric emergency nursing through a national certification exam.

Pediatric emergency room nurses evaluate children’s injuries or conditions when they arrive at the emergency department, provide medical treatment for their patients during their time in the ER, and discharge them once they have been stabilized and informed.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are registered nurses who have had specific education and clinical training in the medical forensic care of patients who have been sexually assaulted or abused.

To become a SANE, registered nurses must first complete a Sexual Assault Examiner Class, which consists of 40 hours of classroom instruction followed by an additional 40 hours of clinical training. According to the IAFN Educational Guidelines, this program is a good place to start for SANEs.

A certified post anesthesia nurse (CPAN) is a nurse that specializes in the care of patients who have recently had surgery or any other operation that necessitates the use of anesthesia. The CPAN and CAPA certifications are valid for three years.

To become a Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®), a candidate must first receive an unrestricted RN license in the United States and have at least 1,200 hours of direct perianesthesia clinical experience in the two years preceding application to take the certification exam.

The Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) credential validates a nurse’s knowledge and expertise in caring for surgical patients. The CAPA or CAPN certified nurse has an extensive understanding of pharmacology, IV capabilities, and basic life support.

The certification helps nurses get the ability to recognize and respect diversity and the Patient Bill of Rights, as well as knowledge of anesthesia expectations and recovery settings, familiarity with neurological, endocrine, immune, hematologic, and urological systems, and proficiency working in therapeutic environments.

The Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board (RNCB) creates, administers, and assesses the rehabilitation nursing certification program. The CRRN is the only certified certification for rehabilitation nurses, and it provides a respectable and reliable distinction for nurses working in the rehabilitation nursing specialty.

The RNCB’s objective is to promote quality in care by verifying qualifications and specialized expertise in rehabilitation nursing. There are currently over 13,000 CRRNs.

The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) certification is a specialized credential that equips registered nurses with the advanced skills and knowledge necessary to provide care for patients with complex acute, critical, and chronic health conditions. ACNPs are trained to make high-stakes decisions in fast-paced environments such as emergency rooms, intensive care units, and specialty clinics.

Medical-surgical nursing is a specialization with its own set of knowledge, skills, and abilities, all of which are validated by CMSRN certification. The specialization is prominently displayed in the credential of Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse.

CMSRN certification is the accepted method for medical-surgical nurses to develop and display commitment, confidence, and trustworthiness.

Transitional Care Coordinators are in charge of guiding patients and caregivers through the process of moving from the hospital to home health care.

Nurses, educators, and managers who are tasked with improving patient experience and outcomes, lowering healthcare costs, ensuring seamless care transitions, and promoting access to appropriate health care will benefit from earning a Certified in Care Coordination & Transition Management (CCCTM) credential.

The WOC Nurse provides clinical knowledge in ostomy, wound, and continence care and ensures that patients who require these services receive high-quality care. Because of the WOC Nurse’s competence in wound management, visits to the emergency room for wound-related problems can be reduced or eliminated.

The Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOC Nurse) provides clinical competence in wound, ostomy, and continence care and promotes professional practice, emphasizing evidence-based care, team cooperation, and care continuity.

The National Certification Exam (NCE) is administered by the NBCRNA and is designed by the National Certification Corporation to assess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of entry-level nurse anesthesia practitioners. The NCE is a computerized adaptive test with a customizable length for admittance into nurse anesthesia practice.

The American Nurses Credentialing Centers’ Commission on Accreditation has certified the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) as a provider of continuing professional nursing development.

The Pediatric Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Provider Course from the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) provides a complete overview of the knowledge required to administer cytotoxic and biotherapeutic drugs.

The Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Certification is designed for nurses who desire to focus on cancer and hematology patients. Validation as an expert in the subspecialty of pediatric hematology/oncology nursing, recognition by colleagues, employers, patients, and families, increased confidence in clinical abilities, professional growth and development, and designation with the credential CPHON® (Certified Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse) are just a few of the advantages of becoming a certified hematology oncology nurse.

The Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse, or AOCN®, credential signifies that the nurse has the knowledge and skills to work competently in an advanced capacity in cancer care. Advanced-certification nurses have an in-depth understanding of cancer care that goes beyond the fundamentals.

Children with cancer are cared for by some oncology-qualified nurses. Others look after cancer-stricken adults. Oncology-trained nurses can be found in a variety of settings, including hospitals, cancer treatment facilities, doctor’s offices, and in-home care.

The AOCNS® (Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist) has the knowledge to practice as an adult oncology clinical nurse specialist. Advanced practice providers are clinical nurse specialists.

The AOCNS® (Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist) has the knowledge to practice as an adult oncology clinical nurse specialist. Advanced practice providers are clinical nurse specialists.

The BMTCN® is the only nationally approved test that verifies a person’s blood and marrow transplantation nursing expertise. Only registered nurses are eligible for this certification.

Based on the BMTCN® Test Content Outline, the certification test is a three-hour, 165 multiple-choice question test (Test Blueprint).

The Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON®) certificate demonstrates that the holder has specialized knowledge and expertise in the field of pediatric oncology nursing. They have the expertise to provide adequate care for children with cancer and their families throughout the cancer journey.

The Oncology Nursing Society sponsors the CPON program, which stands for Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse. The exam serves as a barometer for a nurse’s ability to perform at a basic level within the specialty.

The Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) credential from the National Assistant at Surgery Certification (NASC) is for registered nurses who work in an extended position as a first assistant. CRNFAs collaborate with surgeons and other members of the healthcare team to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients; they apply specific knowledge, judgment, and skills to the expanded role of registered nurse first assistant clinical practice, and they practice intraoperatively under the direction of the surgeon. Candidates must have a valid, unrestricted RN licensure and a mix of education, training, and experience. A written exam is required of all candidates.

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certification represents a significant achievement for nurses who wish to expand their practice to provide comprehensive family-focused healthcare. FNPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who have completed a graduate-level education, typically a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), with a specialized focus on family care across the lifespan.

PEARS certification course is for healthcare practitioners who see critically sick children regularly. The PEARS course teaches students how to assess, categorize, decide, and act quickly to help a kid. PEARS training is primarily focused on prevention, specifically emergency evaluation, detection, and stabilization of pediatric victims in danger of severe cardiovascular distress.

Nurses who want to become Progressive Care Certified Nurses (PCCN) must take and pass the PCCN exam. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the world’s most prominent specialty nursing organization, administers the PCCN exam.

Nurses that specialize in progressive care are experts at monitoring and assessing critically ill patients. Progressive care nurses are responsible for monitoring crucial vital signs, detecting any abnormalities, and, if necessary, initiating life-saving treatments. On-site, a large number of progressive care nurses work.

A certified registered nurse infusion (CRNI®) is a skilled nurse who has successfully completed a comprehensive exam encompassing all aspects of infusion nursing, a specialty that focuses on the care of patients receiving intravenous (IV) therapy or drugs and fluids administered through injection.

Learners must have a valid, active, unrestricted RN license in the United States or their country of practice in order to take the CRNI® Exam. Furthermore, they must have fulfilled a 1600-hour specialization requirement.

A certified nurse educator plays a crucial role in the field of nursing education, preparing future nurses by teaching and mentoring them in various healthcare settings. To become a certified nurse educator, one typically needs to meet certain requirements set by organizations like the National League for Nursing (NLN) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

These requirements often include obtaining a graduate degree in nursing, having a certain amount of clinical hours experience, completing specific coursework in nursing education, and passing a certification exam. Certification as a nurse educator demonstrates a high level of expertise in teaching and ensures that the individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to educate future nurses effectively.

A gerontological nurse specializes in providing healthcare to elderly patients, focusing on their unique needs and challenges associated with aging. To become certified as a gerontological nurse, one typically needs to have a valid nursing license and complete additional training or education in gerontology. One common certification for gerontological nurses is the Gerontological Nursing Certification (GNC) offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Others are the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-PCNP) and the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP).

This certification requires passing an exam that demonstrates the nurse’s knowledge and skills in gerontological nursing. Additional certifications and continuing education opportunities may also be available through professional nursing organizations and institutions.

The PICC Certification is the proof of completion of a formal PICC education course and precepting of skills and competency verification for the PICC insertion process on a real patient.

PICC stands for central catheter placed on the periphery (PICC). A PICC is a thin, flexible tube that is put into a vein in the upper arm and threaded into the superior vena cava, a big vein above the right side of the heart. Intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, and other medications are administered through it.

Advance Your Travel Nursing Career with Stability Healthcare

In addition to a competitive wage, Stability Healthcare provides a variety of perks, including health insurance, 401(k) matching, a guaranteed work week, and more. We assist our nurses in traveling throughout the country doing what they love without the extra worry of finding homes and covering moving costs. To make your life easier, we provide high-quality, no-cost apartments. If you opt to find your own lodging, we’ll give you a stipend to assist cover the costs.

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