The Different Certifications You’ll Need as a Nurse

Are you interested in a long career in nursing? If so, you’ll need to know which certifications to get. There are many nursing certifications, and they’re crucial for advancing your career.

If you’re beginning your journey as a nurse, you ought to know which certifications to pursue. It all comes down to which career path you want to travel. Do you want to specialize in IV care, wound care, or dialysis? Or would you prefer to be a nurse practitioner? These are questions you need to ask in order to know which certifications are required. Here are the different certifications you’ll need as a nurse.

Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN)

First, you’ll need to become a registered nurse (RN). To do that, you’ll need one of two things:

• An Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

You’ll need one of these degrees from a school that’s accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Lastly, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN, a nursing exam from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. RN requirements may vary from state to state, so do some research on your area.

RN Specialty Certifications

Once you’re an RN, you can pursue several specialty certifications. Choose the one that best represents your interests and future goals for your career. Such certifications may include:

• Certified Addictions Registered Nurse(CARN): With this certification, you can work in recovery and addiction centers. This is a good fit for those who like to work with individuals who are recovering from addiction.
• Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC): With this certification, you can monitor EKG readings and provide post-op care for cardiology patients.
• Board-Certified Case Manager: Here, you’ll coordinate psychological and medical care for long-term patients.

BLS and ACLS Certifications

There’s a lot of confusion surrounding BLS and ACLS certifications in the nursing world. To clear things up, let’s start with a definition of BLS.

BLS stands for Basic Life Support, and it’s a required certification for all RNs. That means you’ll need your BLS certification if you want to work as a registered nurse, no matter what area you want to specialize in.

ACLS stands for Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, and it’s not a base requirement for RNs. Instead, it’s required for any nurse working in an ICU or with adults. Pediatric nurses need to get their Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.

By now, you should have a better understanding of the different certifications you’ll need as a nurse. You’ll need at least two years of college, as well as some essential certifications. If you want to work as a registered nurse, you’ll need your BLS certification. If you plan on working in the ICU or with adults, you’ll also need your ACLS.