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Best medical surgical staff nurse certifications
The best certifications for a medical surgical staff nurse are Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), and Basic Life Support (BLS).
Medical surgical staff nurse certifications demonstrate your competency as a medical surgical staff nurse to employers. However, not all medical surgical staff nurse certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best medical surgical staff nurse certifications. Obtaining a medical surgical staff nurse certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
20 best certifications for medical surgical staff nurses
| Rank | Medical surgical staff nurse certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) | American Red ... |
| 2 | Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) | ENA |
| 3 | Basic Life Support (BLS) | AHA |
| 4 | Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses (CCRN) | AACN |
| 5 | Family Nurse Practitioner | ANA |
| 6 | Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) | ONCC |
| 7 | Medical-Surgical Nursing (RN-BC) | ANA |
| 8 | Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) | MSNCB |
| 9 | Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC) | AALNC |
| 10 | Certified Case Manager (ACM) | ACMA |
| 11 | Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) | NLN |
| 12 | Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | NREMT |
| 13 | Certified Gastroenterology Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) | ABCGN |
| 14 | Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) | HPNA |
| 15 | Medical Assistant | ASPT |
| 16 | Certified EKG Technician (CET) | NHA |
| 17 | Certified Nurse Technician (CNT) | NHA |
| 18 | Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) | NCBDE |
| 19 | Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) | AONE |
| 20 | Wound Care Certified (WCC) | NAWC |
20 best medical surgical staff nurse certifications
1. 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.
- 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?
2. Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
Every second counts when stabilizing life-threatening trauma cases. This course, taught by qualified emergency nurses, prepares you with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and hands-on training needed to provide high-quality, trauma nursing care. After completing this course, you will be able to properly assess and implement evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes for your patients.
- 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? No
- Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)
3. Basic Life Support (BLS)
The Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers Classroom Course is designed to provide a wide variety of healthcare professionals the ability to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner.
- 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 2 year(s)
4. Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses (CCRN)
CCRN specialty certification was introduced in 1976 for nurses providing care to acutely and/or critically ill adult, pediatric and neonatal patients. Nurses interested in this certification may work in specialty areas such as intensive care units, cardiac care units, combined ICU/CCUs, medical/surgical ICUs, trauma units or critical care transport/flight.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
5. Family Nurse Practitioner
The ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of nurse practitioners. This certification aligns with the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC).
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
6. Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)
7. Medical-Surgical Nursing (RN-BC)
The ANCC Medical-Surgical Nursing board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the medical-surgical specialty after initial RN licensure. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Registered Nurse-Board Certified (RN-BC).
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
8. Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
Certification shows that you have taken that extra step to validate your knowledge and skills. The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) encourage you to take the time to show your colleagues and patients your commitment to excellence in medical-surgical nursing practice.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
9. Legal Nurse Consultant Certified (LNCC)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
10. Certified Case Manager (ACM)
Management. The purpose of the ACMA Certification process is to promote professional practice standards for hospital/health system case managers. The case manager credential will indicate successful completion of the certification examination in hospital and health system case management.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)
11. Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
Certification in any field is a mark of professionalism. For academic nurse educators, it establishes nursing education as a specialty area of practice and creates a means for faculty to demonstrate their expertise in this role. It communicates to students, peers, and the academic and health care communities that the highest standards of excellence are being met. By becoming credentialed as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), you serve as a leader and a role model.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
12. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- 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)
13. Certified Gastroenterology Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
14. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)
The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification provides a national standard of requisite knowledge thereby assisting the consumer, the employer, and members of the health profession in the elevation of the hospice and palliative nurse.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)
15. 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.
- 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)
16. Certified EKG Technician (CET)
A Certified EKG Technician (CET) produces recording or electromotive variations in a patient's heart muscle, using electrocardiograph machine, to provide data for the diagnosis of heart ailments.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
17. Certified Nurse Technician (CNT)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? No
18. Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)
The Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators ("Examination") is designed and intended solely for health care professionals who have defined roles as diabetes educators, not for those who may perform some diabetes related functions as part of or in the course of other usual and customary duties.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
19. Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP)
The American Organization of Nurse Executives Credentialing Center (AONE-CC) is a division of the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). Its mission is to create, facilitate and administer the premier certification programs for nurse executives and nurse managers. The AONE-CC Nurse Executive Steering Committee is charged with governance of the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) certification program con- ducted by the AONE-CC. Committee members are appointed to represent AONE's professional certification program stakeholders.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
20. Wound Care Certified (WCC)
The NAWC offers the Wound Care Certification Examination to measure the academic and technical competence of eligible candidates in the area of Skin and Wound Care Management. Upon obtaining a passing score on the Certification examination, candidates may use the initials WCC, Wound Care Certified, to designate their status.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
What is the best certification for a medical surgical staff nurse?
The best medical surgical staff nurse certification is Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) is awarded by the American Red Cross. 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 medical surgical staff nurse certification:
- To become a certified Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), you need to pass the exam.
- Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for medical surgical staff nurses?
The most in-demand medical surgical staff nurse certification is Basic Life Support based on all active job postings. Having this medical surgical staff nurse certification will give you access to more medical surgical staff nurse jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a medical surgical staff nurse career and salary?
The Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Nurses certification will help you to secure a staff nurse position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A staff nurse's average salary is $59,684 whereas medical surgical staff nurses make an average salary of $67,649.
The most common combination of medical surgical staff nurse certifications include: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), and Basic Life Support (BLS).
Online courses for medical surgical staff nurses to earn certifications
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