The Top Healthcare Certifications to Further Your Career

There are few careers as rewarding as those in the healthcare sector. The emotional fulfillment that comes from helping others heal is immensely rewarding. While emotionally fulfilling jobs are indeed nice, they don't always necessarily pay the big bucks. If you're hoping to further your career, challenge yourself and earn more money, these healthcare certifications can help you achieve your goals.

Neonatal Resuscitation Nursing Certificate

Premature babies often need extra help to survive. That's where a Neonatal Resuscitation Nursing Certificate, or NRP, can come in handy. Take classes to learn about the maternal risk factors that often lead to an infant needed resuscitating. Students also learn about performing CPR on premature babies and how to safely clear airways so small. This kind of certificate can be earned in one day, with a short class and exams preceding certification.

It's not just nurses who should consider getting NRP certified. Anyone hoping to work in labor and delivery should consider this certificate option. EMTs, lactation consultants, CNAs and respiratory therapists can all benefit from this important knowledge.

Critical Care Nursing Certificate

Anyone who is considering working as a travel nurse should be sure to get their Critical Care Nursing Certificate, or CCRN. This course prepares nurses to work in intensive care units, trauma centers, cardiac care units and in critical care transport. To earn your certificate, you'll need to undergo clinical practice hours in the care of critically ill adult patients. There is a two-year and a five-year option depending on how long you've been certified as a registered nurse. You'll need your U.S. RN or APRN certificate in order to qualify, so be sure you are licensed before you work towards your CCRN.

Earning your CCRN can prepare nurses for the life-and-death circumstances with which many critical care healthcare providers are faced daily. In addition to the skills you'll earn, the CCRN certificate also helps boost employability. Travel nurses in particular will have the pick of the litter after they become CCRN certified.

Management of Assaultive Behavior Certification

The ability to de-escalate intense situations and behaviors is critical no matter what kind population you might be serving. Recognizing dangerous circumstances and reacting appropriately is crucial. Anyone hoping to feel more confident in such situations can benefit from earning their Management of Assaultive Behavior certificate, or MAB. By taking a violence prevention course, you'll learn methods of crisis negotiation and how to act more quickly and defensively in altercations.

Whether you're hoping to work on a team of nurses or as an individual, getting your MAB is a great way to ensure you have the skills necessary to take action in moments of tension. By understanding how to relieve stress and use appropriate methods of restraint, you'll walk into any stressful situation with confidence.

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP)

Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP) is a advanced practice registered nurse who work autonomously or in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to deliver family-focused care. Family nurse practitioners serve many of the same functions as a family doctor: they can prescribe medications, perform physical exams, and make general diagnoses. A FNP is sometimes confused with a registered nurse (RN); RNs have similar education but are forbidden from some FNP duties, including writing prescriptions.

Though the certification is good almost anywhere, the degree of authority enjoyed by a FNP varies based on state. 34 states require oversight by an MD, and various ongoing legal battles continue to shift that power in either direction.

The issues at hand are complicated, but regardless of your state's laws, there has never been a better time to become a family nurse practitioner. The US faces a shortage of 13,000 doctors, and many states are turning to FNPs to fill the resulting gap in basic family medicine. As the shortage is expected to grow, job prospects for FNPs will only get better. There are two primary provides for the exam ANCC and AANP AANP. For those weighing whether to take the test over similar options, you should know that the AANP-FNP exam is considered to be easier to pass than the ANCC-FNP counterpart.

Trauma Nursing Core Course Certification

The Emergency Nurses Association offers a two-day course in which participants can earn their Trauma Nursing Core Course certificate, or TNCC. Designed to teach nurses about trauma and patient care surrounding trauma, TNCC certification helps to identify and intervene in the most critical moments. The successful completion of the course and exam certifies nurses for four years. Recommended for ICU and emergency room personnel, TNCC is a good option for any nurse looking to get a competitive edge and round out a resume.

These are just a few of the most common certification options in the healthcare industry. Regardless of which path you choose, you're sure to arm yourself with the experience and information necessary to perform your duties with confidence. If you're eager to challenge yourself and further your career, any of these certifications is a great addition to your list of skills and experience.

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