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22-WD-COMP-105-CertPrep Article Importance of Certifications - Article Header Image-V1-RI-01

Benefits of Nursing Specialty Certifications

August 8th, 2022
August 8th, 2022

While there are some nurse specialties that require certification, most nurses will need to make a choice about whether or not to pursue specialty certification. Changes in clinical practices and the increasing demands of an evolving healthcare industry are making it more likely that nurses will want to make that choice.

Specialty certification goes beyond the required state and local licensure requirements. Certification acknowledges clinical knowledge, experience, expertise, and judgement within a specialty. The benefits of certification can include financial rewards and career advancement opportunities, but they also increase confidence and empowerment for the nurse, as well as their patients and the healthcare organizations that employ them. 

Fostering a culture of lifelong learning is important in healthcare so finding the right solution for specialty nursing certifications is essential, too. The breadth of knowledge by specialty, the necessity of content that will meet both certification and regulatory requirements, and the evolving nature of healthcare can make certification prep a challenge for both nurses and healthcare leaders. HealthStream’s CE Unlimited puts clinical certification preparation and their own professional development directly in the hands of nurses.

The pandemic has brought nurse retention and recruitment into even sharper focus for healthcare leaders as healthcare workers struggled with increasing burnout and some joined the “Great Resignation.” Those that stayed wanted more options for professional growth and development and looked for more ways to be engaged in their everyday work through clinical ladders, unit advancement, and specialty certification achievement. It is now more important than ever to provide specialty certification preparation for healthcare providers in an easily accessed platform. HealthStream’s CE Unlimited provides a solution that is engaging and content-rich with prep materials for more than 40 specialties, including a free app that mobile users can use on the go.

Specialty certification preparation with HealthStream’s CE Unlimited Clinical CertPrep can certainly provide benefits to nurses, but it also has value for other healthcare stakeholders – patients and healthcare organizations.


Engaging Nurses Through Specialty Certification

Change is a constant in healthcare. Even if a nurse does not perceive a need for specialty certification today, healthcare mergers and acquisitions are relatively frequent, and nurses may eventually find themselves in a situation where a specialty certification would be advantageous.

A study by the American Board of Nursing Specialties highlighted nurse managers’ preferences for hiring specialty-certified nurses because of their knowledge and their documented experience in that specialty1. The study found that certified nurses were likely to strongly agree with the following statements about the intrinsic value of certification.


  • Certification enhances feelings of personal accomplishment
  • Certification provides personal satisfaction
  • Certification provides professional challenge
  • Certification enhances professional credibility
  • Certification provides evidence of professional commitment

Interestingly, the same study found high levels of agreement with these statements from the non-certified nurses in the sample as well. When asked their level of agreement with statements about the extrinsic value of certification, there were very high levels of agreement with the following value statements.


  • Certification increases marketability
  • Certification improves employer recognition
  • Certification increases salary
  • Certification increases professional recognition

Helping nurses to build confidence while improving their skills has wide-ranging benefits for nurses, patients, and healthcare organizations.

Nurses at every age and stage of their career need professional goals, and those goals will likely include education. Education is key to building not just competence, but the kind of confidence that helps nurses really embrace their specialty. This is particularly true of nurses in the Gen X and Gen Y categories who come to work with an expectation that formal training will be provided.


Specialty Certification – A Foundation for Safer Patient Care

Providing safe, effective, and efficient patient care is the goal of every healthcare organization, but the roadmap to patient safety is complicated. Nearly a quarter of a century after the 1999 publication of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) patient safety report “To Err is Human” that helped focus healthcare leaders and the public more intensely on the issue of patient safety was published, there remains significant opportunity in the area of preventable medical errors.

There is ample evidence that specialty certification can make meaningful contributions to safer patient care through the validation of nursing practices consistent with established standards of excellence. AORN published a study that showed the relationship between specialty certifications and improved surgical outcomes The study linked better outcomes in SICUs with higher levels of nurse specialty certifications.


Specialty Certification – Why It Matters to Healthcare Organizations

While there are studies that make it clear that specialty certification matters to nurses and hiring managers3, it can make a difference for healthcare organizations, too. There can be payoffs in terms of reductions in vacancy rates and turnover rates, as well as improvements in patient perceptions of their experiences. A research study in an acute care medicine unit examined strategies to encourage staff to become certified.

In one year, the number of certified nurses increased 60%, the RN turnover rate decreased from 16.7% to 8.1%, the RN vacancy rate decreased from 11% to 4.73%, and the patient satisfaction score increased.4

Medical errors are costly – they are most costly to patients, but they also have a significant cost to the organization in terms of fines, loss of reimbursement, and the loss of public trust that occurs when a medical error becomes public knowledge.


Clearing the Way to Specialty Certification

While specialty certification may be becoming more common there are still some perceived barriers to certification – barriers that healthcare organizations can help nurses overcome with the right educational tools. A 2007 study identified some perceived barriers to certification. The top five were:


  • The cost of the examination
  • Lack of institutional reward
  • Lack of institutional support
  • Lack of access to preparation courses
  • Discomfort with test taking

These kinds of personal and institutional barriers are surmountable with HealthStream’s CE Unlimited’s Clinical CertPrep.

Employers can help5 when they offer certification as part of the Magnet journey for their organizations and by offering bonuses that recognize the value of specialty certified nurses. Nurses and local chapters of professional organizations can help by providing specialized workshops focusing on certification. Nurse managers can help by modeling the practices of lifelong learners and fostering an atmosphere of learning and mentoring nurses as they pursue specialty certification. However, the right content also matters and providing access to a learning platform with appropriate content, study tools, and practice tests will help nurses get the most traction on the road to specialty certification.


Effective, Accessible and Cost- Efficient Tools for Nurses and Healthcare Organizations

In order to be a real solution for specialty certification prep, the product needs to be effective for nurses and cost-efficient for healthcare organizations. Your organization can overcome perceived barriers to certification such as lack of support by providing the right tools for learners. The app that supports CE Unlimited is free, easy-to-use and includes on-the-go access to the program’s study card bundles and practice tests.

The reporting offered by CE Unlimited makes it easy for leaders to monitor progress, and a toolkit assures implementation success. Leaders can easily determine whether their organization is meeting regulatory and licensure compliance and measure progress on their Magnet journey with CE Unlimited’s reporting features. CE Unlimited also integrates with HealthStream Learning, Jane® and ePortfolio.

CE Unlimited’s Clinical CertPrep has easy-to-use study card bundles to help nurses prepare for certification in more than 40 specialties. In addition to the prep tools, there are practice tests to help learners feel more confident when taking certification exams.

The library of online content can be accessed using a free app that allows learners to access content anywhere at any time. The content is dynamic. Resources are reviewed and updated on a yearly basis, so leaders can be sure that their teams are accessing the most current evidence-based practice information. HealthStream has partnered with top industry thought leaders and content providers to ensure that your team has access to the best, most up-to-date information in their specialty.

Specialty certification training preparation is available for the following specialties.


  1. Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
  2. Adult Critical Care (CCRN)
  3. Neonatal Critical Care (CCRN)
  4. Pediatric Critical Care (CCRN)
  5. Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist (CDCES)
  6. Certified in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM)
  7. Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN)
  8. Emergency Nursing (CEN)
  9. Certified Gastroenterology Nurse (CGRN)
  10. Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN)
  11. Certified Medical Surgical Nurse (CMSRN)
  12. Certified Nurse Manager and Leader
  13. Certified in Nephrology Nursing (CNN)
  14. Operating room Nursing (CNOR)
  15. Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)
  16. Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN)
  17. Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN)
  18. Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
  19. Rehabilitation Nursing (CRRN)
  20. Cardiovascular Nursing (CVRN)
  21. Certified Wound Care Associate (CWCA)
  22. Certified Wound Specialist (CWS)
  23. Nurse Executive (NE-BC)
  24. Oncology Nursing (OCN)
  25. Orthopedic Nursing (ONC)
  26. Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
  27. Ambulatory Care Nursing- Board Certified (AMB-BC)
  28. Cardiac Vascular (CV-BC)
  29. Gerontological Nursing (GERO-BC)
  30. Medical-Surgical (MEDSURG-BC)
  31. Nursing Case Management (CMGT-BC)
  32. Nursing Professional Development (RN-BC)
  33. Pain Management Nursing (PMGT-BC)
  34. Pediatric Nursing (PED-BC)
  35. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC)
  36. Low Risk Neonatal Nursing (RNC-LRN)
  37. Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC)
  38. Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB)
  39. Maternal Newborn Nursing (RN-MNN)
  40. Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN)
  41. Wound Care Certified (WCC) Coming Soon!
  42. Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Nursing (CHPON) Coming Soon!
  43. Bone Marrow Transplant Registered Nurse (BMT-RN)
  44. *Trauma Nursing Review (TNCC)
  45. *Basic Life Support (BLS)
  46. *Advanced Life Support (ALS)
  47. *Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

(*Indicates Bonus Materials)


References

  1. American Board of Nursing Specialties. (2006). Specialty Nursing Certification: Nurses’ Perceptions, Values and Behaviors
  2. Boyle, D.K., Cramer, E., Potter, C., Gatua, M.W. and Stobinski, J.X. (2014), The Relationship Between Direct-Care RN Specialty Certification and Surgical Patient Outcomes. AORN Journal, 100: 511-528. https:/doiorg/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.04.018
  3. Ball, Lynda, K. RN, MSN, CNN, July/August 2016. The Value of Certification Nephrology Nursing Journal, 45(4), 325,336.
  4. Prowant, B.F., Niebuhr, B., & Biel, M. (2007). Perceived value of nursing certification: Summary of a national survey. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 34(4), 399-402. Ridge, R. (2008).
  5. Williams, H.F. & Counts, C.S. (2013) Certification 101: The pathway to excellence. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 40(3) 197-208, 253.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hardest nursing certification to get?

Many consider the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) certification to be one of the most challenging. Achieving a CRNA requires not only a Bachelor of Science in Nursing but also a minimum of one year of experience in a critical care setting. Candidates must then complete a rigorous accredited nurse anesthesia educational program, which typically lasts two to three years and includes both classroom study and extensive clinical practice. After completing the program, candidates must pass a comprehensive national certification exam. The complexity and depth of knowledge required, along with the responsibility CRNAs hold in clinical settings, contribute to the perception of this certification as one of the most demanding in the field of nursing.

What is the easiest nursing certification to get?

It is commonly thought that certifications like the Basic Life Support (BLS) or the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) are the most accessible entry points into the field. The BLS certification involves learning crucial life-saving skills, including CPR, and is often required for many healthcare positions. The CNA certification provides foundational skills necessary for assisting nurses with patient care. While these certifications still require training and passing exams, they typically have shorter preparation times and fewer prerequisites compared to more advanced certifications, making them more attainable for those beginning their careers in nursing.

What is the highest certificate in nursing?

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is often regarded as the highest clinical certification for nurses, representing the pinnacle of nursing practice expertise. Differing from a research-focused doctorate like the PhD in Nursing, the DNP emphasizes clinical practice, leadership, and the application of advanced nursing knowledge to improve healthcare outcomes. This terminal degree prepares nurses to lead in complex healthcare environments, develop evidence-based policies and practices, and provide the highest level of patient care. DNP programs typically encompass coursework in leadership, informatics, and health policy, along with clinical practice hours tailored to the student's area of focus. Achieving a DNP not only signifies a commitment to excellence in nursing practice but also empowers nurses to enact transformative changes within the healthcare system.

What is the lowest paid RN specialty?

While registered nurse (RN) salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and facility, certain specialties traditionally tend to have lower average earnings compared to others. Public health nursing is often considered one of the lower-paid RN specialties. Public health nurses focus on community-wide health promotion and disease prevention, working in settings such as government. health departments, schools, and non-profit organizations. Despite typically earning less than their counterparts in more specialized or high-stress environments like critical care or anesthesiology, public health nurses play a crucial role in safeguarding public health and implementing community health initiatives.

Which nurse specialty is in highest demand?

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) is currently the specialty in highest demand. Due to a growing emphasis on preventative care, an aging population, and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, FNPs play a crucial role in delivering primary care services. They are trained to provide comprehensive healthcare for individuals and families across all ages, genders, and diseases, acting as the first point of contact for patients. The versatility of FNPs allows them to work in various settings, including hospitals, private practices, and community health clinics. Their ability to perform a wide range of duties—from diagnosing and treating acute and chronic conditions to promoting overall wellness—makes FNPs indispensable in meeting the rising demand for healthcare services. As a result, FNPs not only enjoy diverse career opportunities but also play a pivotal role in addressing the shortages in primary care providers.

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