Like other professionals, nurses who are already highly skilled have various opportunities to grow in their careers by pursuing further education. Nurses can develop their knowledge and skills through certification. Earning an advanced degree can help nurses to specialize their focus on a specific area, such as adult-gerontology acute care or family care. Nurses who want to expand their career horizons and add to their competencies can consider pursuing an online Master of Science in Nursing.

What Is Nursing Certification?

A state license gives nurses the legal authority to practice their professions; certification enables licensed nurses to demonstrate the advanced knowledge and skills needed to practice in a specialized area of healthcare. After completing the required credits and clinical hours for a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, nurses can qualify for roles such as family nurse practitioner (FNP), adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner (AGACNP) and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Nursing students pursuing an MSN to become an FNP are eligible for the following organizations’ FNP certification exams:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

Nursing students pursuing an MSN to become an AGACNP are eligible for the following organizations’ AGACNP certification exams:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (acute and primary care)
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (acute care only)

Nursing students pursuing an MSN to become a PMHNP are eligible for the certification exam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The Benefits of Nursing Certification

Employers look for advanced practice nurses who specialize in certain areas to fill positions in their healthcare facilities, and certification provides nurses with greater opportunities to work in their areas of interest.

Benefits for Nurses

Employers want nurses to become certified for a few reasons, and since attaining certification is not a simple task, nurses can prove their dedication to their practice by doing so. Most organizations that offer certification require certified nurses to complete a recertification process every three to five years, depending on the organization. Fulfilling these requirements allows nurses to enhance their knowledge and skills, stay on top of trends, and learn about changes in nursing and healthcare.

Benefits for Employers

Employing certified nurses can increase a hospital’s level of credibility and prestige. Additionally, when more nurses have higher education levels and certification, their medical facilities can become Magnet-recognized, a status granted by the ANCC. Magnet recognition helps an organization gain the respect of the public, as well as other healthcare organizations, and attract more patients.

Benefits for Patients

The benefits of nursing certification also extend to patients. For example, it can help to cultivate a greater level of trust between the nurse and the patient. FNPs can promote their certification while working with families. AGACNPs can also promote their credentials as nurses who are certified to work in acute care. According to the American Board of Nursing Specialties, “Healthcare consumers should be knowledgeable of the qualifications and credentials of the registered nurses caring for them.” Patients will feel more at ease and will more easily trust their nurses when they see that they’re experts in the field.