Hard-working, compassionate and knowledgeable, nurses play a valuable role in our health care system. Nearly a decade ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) called for nurses to take on a greater role in the industry. With this shift, nurses can handle more responsibilities and address the shortage of primary care providers, bridging the gap between nurses and physicians.
Nurses have heeded the call and continue to seek higher education and credentialing that validates their nursing skills, knowledge, and abilities.
Nursing credentials are available for a vast array of skill sets and come with an alphabet soup of initials. Health care leaders say credentialing has a solid place in nursing because it expands nurses’ education and recognizes and encourages their professional development and achievements.
Credentialing is available to registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). In seeking credentialing, some APRNs also earn post-master’s nursing certificates in specific fields, including family (individual across the lifespan) nurse practitioner (FNP), forensic nursing, or nursing education.
What Are Nursing Credentials?
Across health care professions, standards of education, experience, and training dictate the type of care states permit practitioners to provide. Nursing credentials are the degrees, certifications, and specializations that nurses earn throughout their careers, indicating their level of expertise and regulating the type of care they are licensed to provide.
Pursuing nursing credentials takes hard work, dedication, and a significant investment in one’s career. Earning an advanced education, specialization or additional certification can allow nurses to better control their future, steer their career trajectory, influence their scheduling and work-life balance, and earn a higher salary by competing for senior-level roles.
Benefits of Earning Nursing Credentials
About 40 boards and centers offer nursing credentials in various specialties. Among the most prominent is the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB).
Each certifying body has its own set of requirements, which typically include a master’s degree, hours of experience, and successful completion of a certification exam. Most of the certifying bodies are members of the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC). To be certified as an accredited board, organizations must meet more than a dozen standards, including advanced testing security and standardized eligibility criteria for test candidates.
In the field of health care, nursing credentials are the next step after successfully completing the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and following the steps for individual state licensure.
From there, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) provides advanced credentialing that promotes greater career diversity and health care aptitude. Many institutions offer students the option of earning an online MSN degree with a specialization as an FNP, forensic nurse, or nurse educator. After earning an MSN degree, students can earn post-master’s certificates and, later, an online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or online doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in nursing.
Experts say advanced credentialing is advantageous for nurses, their employers, and the public. The AACN noted some of the benefits as follows:
- Americans prefer nurses who have specialty certifications. A survey cited by the AACN said 73% of American consumers are more likely to select a hospital that employs a higher percentage of nurses with certifications and advanced credentials.
- With the increasing complexity of health care, specialty nurses are more important than ever because they have the skills and experience to help patients.
- Nurses with advanced education are happier at their jobs and less likely to seek employment in a new workplace. Certification boosts confidence in nursing and provides personal career satisfaction.
- Continuing education better prepares nurses to make informed decisions.
How to Display Nursing Credentials
Nurses earn various certifications and credentials that allow them to practice legally. As a standard of practice and legal requirement, nurses display their credentials to showcase their achievements and the services they are certified to provide in their states.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) recommends nursing credentials be displayed in a standardized manner across the field of nursing to ensure credibility and continuity and to reflect an environment of professionalism. Through standardization, health care organizations can present themselves as a unified industry with strict standards of practice, reassuring patients that their care is a top priority.
The ANA recommends credentials be displayed in the following order:
- Educational degrees: The highest earned degree goes first, including doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), or Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN).
- Licensure: The licensure required to practice nursing including RN or LPN.
- State designation or requirement: Advanced level of practice, including APRN, family nurse practitioner (FNP) or nurse educator (NE).
- National certification: Certification awarded by an accrediting body (such as the ANCC), including family nurse practitioner-board certified (FNP-BC).
- Awards and honors: Recognition for outstanding achievements, including Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
- Other certifications: Including non-nursing certifications recognizing additional skills.
For example, if Susan Jones, an RN, earned an MSN and has a nursing certification in critical care nursing (CCRN), her credentials would be displayed as follows:
- Susan Jones, MSN, RN, APRN, CCRN
Individuals who have more than one of the same type of nursing credential should list the highest education degree first. Usually, listing one degree is sufficient. For nurses who have a second degree in a relevant field, it can be listed as well.
For example, if Susan Jones also has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is working in an executive position in health care, she can list her credentials with the high non-nursing degree leading the list:
- Susan Jones, MBA, MSN, RN
Most states require nursing credentials on legal documents, such as prescriptions and medical records. Credentials are also vital in professional activities, such as for speaking engagements, research publications, and during legal or legislative testimony.
Nursing credentials are also beneficial for nurses who plan to enter advanced degree programs.
Plan for a Fulfilling Career in Nursing
Skilled nurses are in high demand across the country. Now more than ever, with the opportunity to pursue nursing credentials and specializations they’re passionate about, nurses can build a career that meets their personal and professional goals. Nurses who have earned an MSN degree and plan to further their credentials can take the next step by earning a certificate such as one of the online post-master’s certificates offered by Duquesne University.
At Duquesne University, the online post-master’s certificates’ coursework allows candidates to continue their careers while learning new skills. The university’s specialization programs — Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Executive Nurse Leadership and Health Care Management, Family (Individual Across the Lifespan) Nurse Practitioner, Forensic Nursing, Nurse Education and Faculty Role or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner — allow nurses to expand their skill sets and career options.
Discover how you can lay the foundation for a fulfilling career with advanced education and training from Duquesne University.
Recommended Reading
Family Nurse Practitioner Role: Past, Present, and Future
How Nurse Leaders Can Address Discrimination in Nursing
Trends in Nursing Education: What to Expect for the Future
Sources:
Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification, Accreditation Standards
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Certification Benefits Patients, Employers and Nurses
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Nurse Credential Standard
American Nurses Credentialing Center, Certification Credentials
Indeed, “How to Display Nursing Credentials (with Tips and Examples)”
Institute for Healthcare Improvement, The IHI Triple Aim