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Best first aid nurse certifications

The best certifications for a first aid nurse are Medical Assistant, Advanced First Aid & CPR, and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

First aid nurse certifications demonstrate your competency as a first aid nurse to employers. However, not all first aid nurse certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best first aid nurse certifications. Obtaining a first aid nurse certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

6 best certifications for first aid nurses

6 best first aid nurse certifications

1. Medical Assistant

The medical assistant job description varies depending on the employer's needs. A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional and an asset to a physician.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying organization
American Society of Phlebotomy...

2. Advanced First Aid & CPR

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
Certifying website
Advanced First Aid &...
Certifying organization
National Safety Council
Course that help you to prepare for certification
First Aid & CPR - An in Depth Guide to CPR, AED and Choking
udemy
4.8
(452)

3. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Train to be a certified nurse assistant working with other health care professionals to provide quality care for elderly or sick individuals in nursing homes and hospitals and at home.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Certified Nurse Assistant

4. First Aid Certification

Designed for individuals with a duty to respond to emergencies, this program combines discussions, video and hands-on training. Real-life rescue scenarios reinforce decision-making skills. Free quarterly refreshers. Course covers how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants until more advanced medical personnel take over.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
Certifying website
First Aid Certification
Course that help you to prepare for certification
First Aid
udemy
4.3
(1,797)

5. Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS)

Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) uses a scenario-based approach to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills that drive better patient outcomes. Consistent with AHA Guidelines for CPR/ECC. Covers breathing and cardiac emergencies - including CPR, AED, and obstructed airway - for adult, child, and infant patients. Free, two-year digital "Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers" certificate upon course completion..

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 
Certifying website
Basic Life Support for...

6. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor

Knowing how to respond to a first aid or CPR emergency is one of the most important skills a person can possess. The Standard First Aid, CPR and AED course meets the OSHA requirements and is your tool for training employees or the general public on the latest skills, techniques and expertise in life-saving procedures. The practice and feedback of using related skills in a realistic situation is integrated into the actual teaching experience.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? No
  • Renewal required? No
Certifying organization
National Safety Council
Course that help you to prepare for certification
First Aid & CPR - An in Depth Guide to CPR, AED and Choking
udemy
4.8
(452)

What is the best certification for a first aid nurse?

The best first aid nurse certification is Medical Assistant. The Medical Assistant is awarded by the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this first aid nurse certification:

  • To become a certified Medical Assistant, you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 1 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for first aid nurses?

The most in-demand first aid nurse certification is First Aid Certification based on all active job postings. Having this first aid nurse certification will give you access to more first aid nurse jobs with higher salaries.

Best certifications

The most common combination of first aid nurse certifications include: Medical Assistant, Advanced First Aid & CPR, and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

Online courses for first aid nurses to earn certifications

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1. AIDS: Fear and Hope

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The basic biology of the virus, HIV, and the disease it causes, AIDS. The economic, social and political factors that determine who gets sick and who remains healthy, who lives and who dies. The progress of scientific research and medical treatments. The reasons for hope; the reasons for fear. (To get a glimpse of some of the materials that students have been posting on the course forums, go to @AIDSFAH or #AIDSFAH.)...

2. Psychological First Aid

coursera

Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition. Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the...

3. Home Health Aide, Nurse Aide, Caregiver Certification Course

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Become A Certified Home Health Aide, Personal Care Aide, Nurse Aide/ Caregiver At The End Of This Course. Enroll Now!!...

4. Emergency Life Support First Aid Training

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4.7
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Learn important life saving first aid. Treatment of major illness and injuries...

5. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

coursera

In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

6. Wilderness First Aid - Introduction

coursera

In this course, students will learn the basics of wilderness medicine, including how it is a unique clinical environment, and concepts of scene safety. They will learn how to perform a basic assessment of a patient, including a physical exam, gather history data using the SAMPLE approach, and how to evaluate a patient for a potential spinal cord injury...

7. First Aid Masterclass: A Complete Guide to First Aid

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The Complete Guide to First Aid and Emergency Medicine: Learn CPR, Heimlich, How to Stop Bleedings, Baby Care & More!...

8. Pet First Aid (Advanced)

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Learn essential knowledge and skills to be able to confidently carry out emergency first aid on a pet animal...

9. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

coursera

Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...

10. Trauma Emergencies and Care

coursera

Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...

11. St John Ambulance: Official Baby & Paediatric First Aid

udemy
4.8
(294)

Essential Lifesaving First Aid & CPR Skills for Parents, Guardians & Carers in an Emergency Situation...

12. First Aid

udemy
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(1,797)

A guide to first aid for the common man. Covers sudden illness, wounds, burns, bone injuries and more...

13. Introduction to Integrative Nursing

coursera

This course is designed for nurses who are drawn to practice in a different way – nurses who value whole-person care and know that the essence of nursing practice is truly caring and healing. You will learn about the principles and practices of Integrative Nursing and how you can be a healing presence to all you serve. Then, you will do an integrative assessment and apply the principles of Integrative Nursing to improve symptom management and overall patient outcomes. Finally, you will explore...

14. First Aid, and Children's Health: Your Complete Guide

udemy
4.5
(622)

Taught by a Doctor: Mandatory first aid course covering all of the common injuries and illnesses especially of children...

15. First Aid & CPR - An in Depth Guide to CPR, AED and Choking

udemy
4.8
(452)

Learn the most important first aid fundamentals to keep your loved ones safe. A practical first aid course for anyone...

16. First Aid: Learn How to Save a Life

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Covers all first aid skills you need to know to save your loved ones and others in emergencies. Perfect for beginners...

17. Paediatric First Aid Training (0-18years)

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This course is of particular interest to all childcare workers and families...

18. Herbalism:: Essential First Aid Remedies Certificate

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(1,271)

Be prepared by equipping your first aid kit with important herbs, herbal medicine & natural medicine that you need...

19. Mental Health First Aid Skills -

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4.4
(1,774)

This course is designed to provide the tools and knowledge for learners to help and support those experiencing MH issues...

20. Medical Terminology

udemy
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(3,688)

Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...

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