Logo Here The Importance of Certification and How to Increase the Number of Certified Staff Jessica Malloy, MS, RN-BC, ONC, Iris Gonzalo-Sowle, BS, RN-BC, ONC, Donna Trerise, BSN, RN, CCM Saratoga Hospital Introduction There are many professional organizations that offer nursing certification in their area of expertise. According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses certification helps “validate knowledge, skills, abilities and experience in areas beyond the scope of RN licensure”. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certified more than 250,000 nurses in the last 20 years. Many certifying bodies of the nursing profession, including the Orthopedic Nursing Certification Board, discuss the benefits of certification. Benefits consists of improving quality of care and patient safety, increasing the knowledge base within the specialty, increasing career opportunities, and increasing personal and professional satisfaction. Objectives o Several studies (Cary, 2001; Haskins, Hnatiuk, & Yoder, 2011; Schroeter, Byrne, Klink, Beier, & McAndrew 2012; Wyatt & Harrison, 2010) have shown that the perceived effects or value of certification are: Increased knowledge, competence and confidence Personal and professional achievement More career opportunities Improved ability as a mentor/resource Recognition from colleagues and employers Sense of autonomy Increase in pay or benefits o A study by Coleman, Coon, Lockhart and Kennedy (2009), showed that nurses certified in oncology scored higher on a pain management test that non- certified nurses. o Nurses certified in wound care scored significantly higher on the Pieper Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Tool than nurses certified in other specialties and nurses without certification (Zulkowski, Ayello, & Wexler, 2007). o As the number of certified nurses increase the amount of falls on the units were found to decrease (Boltz, Capezuti, Wagner, Rosenberg, & Secic, 2013; Kendall-Gallagher & Blegen, 2009) Importance of Certification Barriers to Certification American Association of Critical care Nurses (2013). What is Nurse Certification?. Retrieved February 17, 2013 from American Nurses Credentialing Center (2010). Why Certify? The Benefits of Nursing Certification. Retrieved February 17, 2013 from Boltz, M., Capezuti, E., Wagner, L., Rosenberg, M., & Secic, M. (2013). Patient safety in medical- surgical units: Can nurse certification make a difference? Medsurg Nursing, 22, Cary, A. (2001). Certified registered nurses: Results of the study of the certified workforce. American Journal of Nursing, 101(1), Coleman, E.A., Coon, S., Lockhart, K., Kennedy, R., & Montgomery, R. (2009). Effect of certification in oncology nursing on nursing-sensitive outcomes. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 13, (2), Haskins, M., Hnatiuk, C., & Yoder, L. (2011). Medical-surgical nurses’ perceived value of certification study. Medsurg Nursing, 20, (2), Kendall-Gallagher, K. & Blegan, M. (2009). Competence and certification of Registered Nurses and safety of patients in intensive care units. American Journal of Critical Care, 18, (2), Schroeter, K., Byrne, M., Klink, K., Beier,M., & McAndrew, N. (2012, September). The impact of certification on certified perioperative nurses: A qualitative descriptive survey. ORNAC Journal, Wyatt, H. & Harrison, M. (2010). Certified pediatric nurses’ perceptions of job satisfaction. Pediatric Nursing, 36, (4), Zulkowski, K., Ayello, E. & Wexler, S. (2007). Certification and education: Do they have an effect on pressure ulcer knowledge in nursing? Advances in Skin and Wound Care, 20, (1), Increasing the Numbers At Saratoga Hospital the number of certified staff was increased by:  Offering certification awards consisting of $500 for first certification and $250 for second certification annually.  Offering upfront funding for fees and preparation materials.  Offering review courses on-site or paying for staff to attend offsite.  Access to in-house library with abundant resources.  Increased monies to attend outside conferences for continuing education and two paid conference days per year.  Public recognition of certification by having plaques posted throughout the organization acknowledging those certified and celebrating on Certified Nurses Day.  Discuss the importance of nursing certification.  Describe methods used to help encourage and support certification and increase the numbers of certified staff. Haskins, Hnatiuk, & Yoder (2011) found the barriers to certification are:  Exam cost and renewal fees  Test taking anxiety  Lack of institutional incentive  No longer working in particular specialty References