Certification in the Time of COVID-19 BY LOUIS PILLA Certification, like nursing itself, has faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. But earning certification remains a vital sign of expertise and achievement.
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n this article, we’ll discuss the specific impacts the pandemic has had on nursing certification, with a look at ways certification bodies have helped nurses cope with the pandemic and potential lasting changes in certification. But first, let’s take a brief look at the overall state of nursing certification.
Demand Remains High The desire for nursing certification continues unabated. “In general, nursing certification has been in high demand for many years now,” says Lisa Falcón, MSN, RN, TCRN, NE-BC, chair of the board of directors of the American Association of CriticalCare Nurses (AACN) Certification Corporation. In January 2020, almost 3,000 nurses became certified through the AACN Certification Corporation, a record month.
“The interest in specialty certification has continued to increase,” says Kathy Chappell, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, Senior Vice President of Accreditation, Certification, Measurement, and the Institute for Credentialing Research and Quality Management at the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She notes, however, that it is “often dependent on whether an employer supports and compensates the nurse for pursuing certification.” ANCC supports 18 active board certification exams. The most popular ANCC certifications include family nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, med/surg nursing, and nurse executive/nurse executive advanced. “We have seen steady growth, probably not as much growth as we would have seen had we not had a pandemic,” says Janie Schumaker, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, CENP, CPHQ, FABC,
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