When you become a Registered Nurse, you can either work in a general capacity or work towards a specialty nursing certification. While being a general nurse is a rewarding endeavor, earning a specialty will help open up new opportunities to you as you advance your knowledge and you develop a larger skill set. There is a wide range of different specialty certifications available to choose from, and many are high in demand. If you would like to learn about some of the certifications that you can work towards holding, read on and learn about some of the most popular options.
Certifications for Nurse Practitioners
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a nurse qualified to treat some medical conditions without being under the supervision of a physician. With more and more of the population gaining access to medical care since the Health Care Reform Law was passed, the need for NPs has become greater than ever. Patients can go to an NP to be diagnosed or treated for mild or moderate conditions without having to wait weeks for an appointment or hours in a lobby. This is why 916 million people each year will go to Nurse Practitioners.
There are 3 different types of practitioner certifications that you can earn depending on the patient demographic you would like to work with. If you want to work with adults, you can earn the NP certification. If you would like to work with families, the FNP is more appropriate. Perhaps the most popular option is the A-GNP certification, which is designed for professionals who work with adult gerontology patients. You can apply to earn your certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners once you meet the minimum requirements.
Certifications in Critical Care Nursing
There will always be a need for professionals in critical care settings who are highly trained to work under pressure. If you would like to work in urgent cares, intensive care units or emergency rooms, there are a long list of certifications that you can choose from that are issued by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation. The credentials that you can work towards include: the critical care nursing CCRN, the Tele-ICU CCRN-E, the Progressive Care PCCN, the Nurse Manager CNML, and the critical care knowledge professional CCRN-K. You can also go a step further and earn subspecialties such as the CMC or CMS in Cardiac Medicine and Surgery.
The Vast Certification Options
These are just two of the many different areas that you can choose to specialize in. There are certifications in everything from dermatology and forensics to gastroenterology and infection control. If you would like to learn about the organizations that offer certifications and the options they offer, read more about nursing certification boards. You may learn about a specialty that you never even knew existed.
Nursing is more that just a field of study, it is an entire discipline that includes interactions with all populations. If you are working as a licensed professional and are ready for a change, it may be time to choose a specialty. Specializing in an area of practice will make you feel accomplished and will demonstrate your commitment to the field. Find out what it takes to earn the nursing certification that you want to possess, and get started.