The formal qualifications that a nurse must possess are referred to as nurse certification. A nurse can obtain a variety of basic certifications in order to be qualified and legally permitted to practice nursing in a given state. A nurse can obtain additional experience and education to obtain certification in a specific area of nursing after completing basic qualifications and becoming licensed and certified.
Nurses must obtain a basic minimum degree in order to work as a nurse. There are several options for doing so. The requirements for various types of basic education required for certification vary.
A registered nurse, or RN, is a nurse who has completed additional training. This is usually accomplished enrolling in a community college associate’s degree program. The nurse must then obtain work experience, which is usually obtained through an internship.
A nurse can also continue their formal education earning a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN). This is completed at a four-year university. In general, a nurse must complete basic educational requirements as well as sufficient nursing-specific classes in order to obtain her degree. In many cases, work experience is also required.
Within the United States, a nurse must take the National Council Licensure Examination after earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree (NCLEX). This exam assesses her basic nursing skills, which she will need to work as a nurse. Nurses must pass this national exam to become licensed and certified in each of the 50 states that make up the United States.
After obtaining licensure, a nurse can pursue nurse certification in a specific field of nursing. If a nurse wants to work primarily with infants in the neonatal unit, she can get nurse certification in neonatal nursing. A nurse can also specialize as a diabetes nurse, a nurse midwife, a maternity nurse, an oncology nurse, or in another field. Many hospitals and educational institutions offer coursework that allows a nurse to become certified in one of these fields.
To obtain this type of additional certification, a nurse typically needs both work experience in the specific field of medicine and the passing of a basic knowledge exam. Some hospitals will require this certification for nurses working in specific units or departments. In some cases, certification can help a nurse stand out as a better candidate for a specific position.