Why aren’t more nurses certified?

A nursing certification is a style of certificate that certifies that a person has met specific standards beyond the fundamental level of nursing knowledge set by a specialized organization. To turn out to be board certified, registered nurses (RNs) must pass a demanding national examination or present an expert portfolio that meets specialty requirements (American Board of Nursing Specialties [ABSN], 2020). Earning certification is a fantastic method to show advanced clinical skills, a high level of experience and a commitment to skilled development. Moreover, certified nurses have shown greater job satisfaction and better pay. Although certification just isn’t required by state law, it has turn out to be an expert expectation in management positions in lots of hospitals (Edwin, 2022). Nurses aren’t the one beneficiaries, as nursing certification improves the standard of patient care, increases nurse retention, and contributes to a hospital’s pursuit of magnet status (Dierkes et al., 2021).
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In response to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC, 2022), the accrediting body for Magnet hospitals, roughly 290,000 nurses are ANCC certified of their specialty. Moreover, a study by the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS, 2020) surveyed 56 U.S. certifying organizations and located that roughly a million RNs and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) held at the very least one nursing specialty certification. This represents lower than 20% of the 5.2 million registered nurses within the US. While there are numerous advantages to having specialty certifications, why aren’t more nurses certified?

Barriers to certification

A literature review conducted by Edwin (2022) indicates barriers to obtaining and maintaining certification, which include:

• Lack of know-how
• Limited resources to arrange for certification
• Insufficient time to review
• Text anxiety
• Certification cost
• Limited organizational support
• Little or no institutional recognition

Overcoming Certification Obstacles

Edwin (2022) recommends several approaches that skilled development professionals can use to cut back barriers to certification, akin to:

• Flexible work schedules allowing participation in review courses
• Offer review courses and on-site study groups
• Integrate a blended learning approach
• Provide access to online resources
• Collaborate with national certification organizations
• Reimbursing employees for certification costs

To enrich these strategies, hospital administrators and leaders should provide ongoing support, promote a culture of certification, reward nurses, and recognize their achievements. Check Journal for nurses in skilled development to read your entire article.
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American Board of Nursing Specialties (2020). 2020 ABNS Nursing Specialty Certification Board Survey. https://www.nursingcertification.org/resources/Documents/research/infographic.pdf

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American Nurses Certification Center (2022). ANCC Certification Data 2022. https://www.nursingworld.org/~497c80/globalassets/docs/ancc/ancc-cert-data-website.pdf

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Dierks, A. M., Schlak, A. E., French, R., McHugh, M. D., & Aiken, L. (2021). Why do some nurses obtain specialization certificates and others don’t?, (5), 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001009

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Edwina H. S. (2023). Strategies for increasing your nursing certification level: Progressive Care Certification for Nurses – the trail to success. , (5), E112–E118. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000874

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