Five Reasons to Become CCRN Certified
Two years into my career as a critical care nurse, I decided to take the plunge and test for my Critical Care Registered Nurse certification (CCRN). While a large part of me just felt it was the next step up the ladder to becoming a better and more advanced practitioner, I did have some concrete reasons behind my decision. The following are five reasons I decided to become CCRN certified.
My Hospital Paid Me More
When I tested for my CCRN, I was working for a smaller hospital that was really pushing for their nurses to become certified. At the time, I did not really understand why it mattered, but I did know that they would give me an extra 75 dollars per paycheck if I earned those four little letters. Not only that, but this hospital also paid for my study materials and the cost of taking the exam. So honestly, it was a win-win situation.
It Gives You Confidence
The NCLEX certifies you as an entry-level Registered Nurse. The CCRN certifies you at a higher level specific to your specialty. To sit for the CCRN, an applicant must have practiced as a critical care nurse for at least 1,750 hours in the past two years. In a world where nurses are able to go to grad school with zero bedside experience, the CCRN is special because it guarantees the nurse has worked in a high acuity area. Also, the CCRN exam is updated to reflect evidence-based practice and helps reassure me that I am up to date as well. Studying for and passing the exam validated my hard work as an individual and critical care nurse, as well as, made me feel accomplished when my new name tag said, Danielle, RN, CCRN.
It Improved My Grad School Application
The top nursing graduate school programs are extremely competitive. If there is any gap in your resume, you will likely be excluded from the application process. Before I applied to grad school, I wanted to stack my resume as much as possible. Therefore, obtaining the CCRN certification was a must. In my mind, it showed my prospective schools how hard I was willing to work, that I was the type of person who would go the extra inch to succeed, and that I was serious about critical care nursing.
Obtaining your CCRN Benefits Patients
Nursing is always about the patient and that is why I love the profession. A significant part of our job is learning how, when, and why to advocate for a patient. Studying and obtaining my CCRN made me a more confident and proficient decision maker. Over the last several decades our patients have become increasingly complicated and the more education we all can have, the better. Finally, Americans prefer certified nurses. Three out of four individuals said they would prefer nurses be certified than not be certified.
Certified Nurses Benefit Hospitals
It’s true, certified nurses benefit hospitals in countless ways. Helping nurses become certified increases job satisfaction and consequently, happier nurses make happier hospitals. Additionally, ongoing education for nurses reduces risk and prepares her or him to make better-informed decisions. Some malpractice insurance companies even offer discounted rates to certified nurses. Finally, employers who encourage nurses to obtain certifications might be more competitive in the healthcare market. These are all reasons you should present to your employer to obtain reimbursement for taking the exam, if that option is not offered to you.
So there you have it. There are many benefits to obtaining your CCRN. The certification alone may boost your grad school application just enough to get you in, it may give you the confidence you need to be a more confident nurse at work, or it may just be a stepping stone to becoming the best possible nurse you can be and practicing at the highest level of your profession.
Sign up to take your CCRN here.
Check out CCRN review questions from BoardVitals here.
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