{"id":5681,"date":"2019-05-02T10:38:15","date_gmt":"2019-05-02T14:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=5681"},"modified":"2024-12-19T17:11:31","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T22:11:31","slug":"types-of-nursing-certifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/types-of-nursing-certifications\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Types of Nursing Certifications You Should Know About"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you pursue a career in nursing, generally speaking, you are becoming more than just a \u201cnurse.\u201d You are becoming a Registered Nurse, or a Pediatric Nurse, a Critical Care Nurse, or a Nurse Practitioner. The list goes on, and that\u2019s the beauty of the nursing field. Because there are so many different facets of healthcare, nurses have an array of opportunities \u2013 both vocational and educational \u2013 upon entering the field. Not only can nurses pursue specific specializations in their line of work, they can also earn a multitude of advanced certifications to demonstrate their expertise.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve already outlined the different types of nursing careers<\/a> available to aspiring RNs, but what are the different types of nursing certifications that RNs can obtain with licensure? And what is the benefit of pursuing an advanced nursing certification as a licensed Registered Nurse? Let\u2019s start with the latter.<\/p>\n

The Benefits of Advanced Nursing Certifications<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nursing certifications are created by, or sponsored by, professional associations and credentialing organizations like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC<\/a>). They are nationally recognized, no matter the state or employer, and can carry over to any role that you pursue.<\/p>\n

The core advantage to pursuing a specific nursing certification is that it exhibits professionalism, competence, and commitment to the field. It also can represent a higher-level of patient care, and benefit a nurse\u2019s patients and their families, according to the AACN<\/a>. All this, in turn, is attractive to employers and can ultimately lead to broader career opportunities for a certified RN.<\/p>\n

What Types of Nursing Certifications Can You Pursue as a Registered Nurse?<\/strong><\/p>\n

After becoming a Registered Nurse, you may decide that one area of nursing or healthcare appeals to you most. Maybe you enjoy working with children or families. Maybe you wish to work in cancer research, or help orthopedic surgeons and their patients. Fact is, you can get certified in just about any interest area \u2013 as there are more than 180 different types of nursing certifications out there (and 168 nursing certifications that are currently available to obtain). Below Goodwin College outlines five of the most common (and essential) certifications in nursing.<\/p>\n

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  1. RN-BC <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This is a broad one, but perhaps the most common and core credential you can come across in nursing. When you see \u201cRN-BC\u201d after a nurse\u2019s name, it means that he or she has achieved an RN license as well as board certification (hence, BC) in a specialty. Specialties can range from Mental Health Nursing to Gerontological Nursing, Case Management to Pain Management Nursing, and all that falls in between. Board-certified nurses can be found across the healthcare field, in health clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, private practices, and more.<\/p>\n

    The American Nurses Credentialing Center awards the RN-BC designation. To pursue this certification, an RN must have two years of work experience, 2,000 hours in the given specialty, as well as 30 hours of ongoing education (such as through a BSN degree program).<\/p>\n

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    1. CPN <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A CPN is a Certified Pediatric Nurse that has significant experience working with infants, children, adolescents, and their families. They are known to provide evidence-based and family-centered care in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, private practices, public health agencies, and special needs daycare centers. Today, there are more than 25,000 nurses with an active CPN certification, according to the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB<\/a>).<\/p>\n

      If you have an interest in working with children, a CPN certification can help you stand out to employers and in your career. To be eligible for this type of nursing certification, you must achieve:<\/p>\n