Certification in nursing is widely considered as a demonstration of commitment to the knowledge and skill set of the individual. This is why several nursing candidates are seen choosing to become certified. But, as we can see in the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) website, there is simply a long list of nursing certifications. By just scrolling through the list, anyone may feel confused and oscillated about the need of so many nursing certifications. It’s quite natural for us to think whether too many nursing certifications a bad thing. In the following post, we are taking this question into the discussion in an attempt to answer “Are too many nursing certifications a bad thing?”

Why Nursing Certification?

For a professional nurse, the certification is important in several ways. Firstly, it would establish professionalism. Thus, in the future, it would stand as an evidence of professional growth. Secondly, the certification is demonstrating a level of commitment, thereby protecting the well-being of the patients attended. Thirdly, the certification acts as a tool to promote expertise.

Besides all these, several employers of today are found to be looking for the employees who have got a specialty certification, as these would enable the nurses to offer the most relevant as well as cutting edge service to the patients. On the other hand, the certification is found to be benefiting the nurses financially, thereby leading to career advancements.

It’s only because of all the reasons stated above that some of the nursing specialties are requiring the completion of specialty certifications in order to make sure of continued development.

National Study on Specialty Nursing Certification

A few years back, a national study was conducted by the “American Board of Nursing Specialties” to evaluate the value of specialty nursing certification. This was a web-based survey and involved certified/non-certified nurses and nurse managers. Of the 11,427 participants, around 75% were certified. Of them, almost 14% were found to be holding the nurse manager position. The study showed that both the certified, as well as the non-certified nurses were showing a higher level of agreement with the value statements on certification. This was the case with the nurse managers too. They also seemed to have a higher level of agreement on the certification value. From this study, we can conclude that the specialty certification is important for the field of nursing.

Too Many Nursing Certifications – A Discussion

Now, let’s take an example of a new RN graduate obtaining all kinds of certifications like ACLS, ATLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, CCRN, Stroke assessment, and Rapid STEMI identification. This sounds like too many, doesn’t it? And yes, this is too many for a person to look to receive promptly after graduation. But, is it good or bad? Let’s look at the broader picture here.

All of these course certifications may look good to have on an individual’s resume. But, how worthy are these? Likely, having all of these certifications won’t impress potential hiring managers, because they show a lack of focus and/or area of interest in the first impression. In the big picture, it is smart to think from the hiring managers’ perspective, because our ultimate aim is to present an impressive resume to them to grab a job. So, we have to make sure we are presenting a clear picture of ourselves that makes sense before our hiring managers. It is a good idea to make your resume focused to the particular job and field you are applying to.

On the other hand, we are not coming to say that having too many certificates is a waste of time and money. Certifications would be fruitful to someone as long as they are appropriate for the person’s level of experience. Yes, these certifications should be related to your work of course. If this is not the case, we would advise you not to go for too many nursing certifications.

When it comes to the CCRN, passing the certification course is not enough on its own. The hiring managers won’t consider you for the particular job posting if you don’t have the relevant critical care experience. Without this experience, you are just a person who passed the test. Remember that experience behind your CCRN is what gives someone a good impression.

Position and Experience Are Critical

In conclusion, any number of specialty certifications in nursing will be of some value (lower or higher) only when it is relevant to the individual’s position and/or job experience. If you are a new graduate, then think twice before enrolling in a certification class. It’s simply because a beginner cannot be a master of any specialty and if an individual doesn’t work in a specialty, he or she cannot be a master of it. So, it’s good for the beginners to learn the basics for at least some time and then consider which certifications would be helpful in enhancing your knowledge and resume. Thereafter, decide upon the number of certifications you would need to see career advancements and proceed accordingly.