Certification in Nursing: What It Means for You
If you are not a certified nurse, there is no better time than now to get some certification and enter the field as a qualified nurse. Here are just a few of the great benefits you could receive if you pursue nursing certification.
Professionalism
Just like a high school diploma or college degree, nursing certification is evidence that you have expertise in a certain field. By obtaining nursing certification, you are showing others, especially potential employers, that you are knowledgeable and practiced.
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Commitment
Obtaining nursing certification is no easy feat; it takes time and commitment and a whole lot of hard work. It is definitely a challenge, so if this is something you’re pursuing, or want to pursue, don’t give up! By becoming certified, you are showing others that you have a dedication to healthcare and will do whatever it takes to reach your professional goals. This is a good sign for employers; if you were committed enough to get your certification, certainly you are committed enough to be a great nurse that is dedicated to healing others.
Better Patient Knowledge
As more and more nurses become certified, patients will become more aware of how that certification impacts care. Patients will then be more inclined to opt for a certified professional. They will come to see that certification is an indicator of professional success, dedication, and all of the other benefits we’ll talk about here. Essentially, patients will learn to expect certified nurses, thus ensuring that the quality of care will go up.
Self-Fulfillment
Of course there are a lot of outward benefits to becoming certified, but if you are a self-motivated nurse and one who takes pride in personal accomplishments, gaining certification in nursing can be one of the most self-fulfilling things that you can do. Because it is so challenging and demands so much of a person, you will come to see how capable and deserving you actually are of the honor of becoming a nurse.
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It’s a “Must”
In this era, there is a huge emphasis placed on college, continuing education, and overall self-improvement. Because of the growing trend of furthering knowledge and skills for entering the workforce, becoming certified as a nurse is pretty much a necessity. Just like how a high school diploma is no longer the basic expectation of education, and how a bachelor’s degree is the new “bare minimum,” nurses nowadays simply need to be certified. The demand for certified nurses is just too high.
It Makes You Competitive
As we just mentioned, certification is becoming a necessity. So when you achieve that certification, you enter the job market with a bit of a leg up on the competition. Part of the job-seeking process is self-marketing. In other words, you need to be able to advertise yourself, your skills, and your knowledge. A certification is like having someone else say that you are an expert in the field and that you are very qualified. It shouldn’t be the only reference you have, but it might be one of the best.
It Ensures Better Care
Recent data has shown that patient outcomes are much more positive when patients are tended to by a nurse or other practitioner who has received certification in their field. Lately, there is a bit of skepticism when it comes to how healthcare is provided, especially in the United States, so having certification means that you will be better prepared and more capable of treating patients effectively.
