The value of obtaining specialty certification in my professional practice would be to not only benefit my patients but also myself personally, professionally and economically It would give me further education and certification, specific to the area that I work in. I always say that in nursing school we are taught such a wide range of topics. I feel like we know a little bit about a lot of things but not a lot about one specific thing. Getting my certification would expand my knowledge base allowing me to grow within my specific field and evolve as a nurse.
The end and most important result, is to be able to provide the best possible care allowing for our patients to have the best possible outcomes.
The value of specialty certification to the nursing profession as a whole would be that it takes nursing to a new level. Not only are we a registered nurse but we have taken the next step to be certified in the area that we work in. It will raise the standard of practice throughout the nursing profession and improve patient outcomes. Receiving my certification shows a deep appreciation and dedication to my nursing profession. Not only would it improve patient outcome but it would improve on patient safety as well. Certification is an official recognition of a nurse’s knowledge and expertise within an area of specialty practice. The American Board of Nursing Specialties defines certification as “the formal recognition of specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health outcomes. Certification is associated with improved patient outcomes” (Reap the benefits, n.d.).
Reference:
Reap the benefits of certification: AJN The American Journal of Nursing. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2018, from https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2012/01001/Reap_the_benefits_of_certification.2.aspx
The value of obtaining a specialty nursing certificate in my area of work would be that I can be more educated in the specialty of which I work. I work in a pediatric clinic and a pediatric psych hospital. It is important that I know the difference in treating pediatric patient’s as opposed to treating adults. For example, CPR is different for pediatric patients in some ways. It is important for me to know the difference so I can be effective in the way I manage a situation. There are many pediatric certificates that can be obtained to further one’s knowledge and practice.
The value of special nursing certification to the nursing profession as a whole is that nursing is always evolving. We as nurses never stop learning new things. To obtain these special certificates further advances our knowledge as a whole. This provides more in dept care than what we got in nursing school. This helps us specialize in certain areas of concern. For example, when I worked for the cancer clinic, in order for my to administer chemotherapy, I needed a special nursing certificate that indicated I took more in depth chemotherapy education. These are very important requirements to ensure that we are providing the best care possible.
Specialty certification is important because it does “raise the standard of practice” within that specialty. It encourages a mastery of the knowledge and the art of one’s specialty and shows a commitment to continuing to work in that specialty for the foreseeable future. I have not entirely decided to what specialty I want to commit. It is important that I choose at least where I primarily want to work so that I can focus on it’s mastery through education, experience, and certification. This would be better for me professionally and, most importantly, it would lead to the best care possible for my patients.
The value of getting a specialty certification in your area now only shows how committed you are to your patients, but yourself as well. It shows that education and advancing your career is important to you. It can help you reach career goals and maintain job satisfaction.