What's In Your Resume? CERTIFICATION!

In the tune of What's in Your Wallet? like in the Capital One Commercial, We can also ask "What's On Your Resume? And we can boldly say, Certification! This is a great asset to add to your nurse's skillset and Resume. Those who has obtained it understands the importance and the excitement of getting certified as an obtainable career goal. It could be the edge you need to get the job or promotion. According to a 2022 article by American Traveler, (full article link below) Certified nurses also have a higher chance of getting hired and can be compensated with increase salary. There's definitely an incentive!

Certification is not only a nursing career goal, but also other professions have embraced it. The MBO Partners, a group of business managers (link below) states that certification add values to your profession. Benefits are:

• Gain a Competitive Edge
• It Boosts Efficiency
• Increase Earning Potential
• Grow Knowledge and Skill
• It Establishes Professional Credibility

In this article promoting certifications for all nursing specialties and the importance of having career goals. I'm also sharing my journey and process to Medical-surgical certification including study tools and what worked for me in passing the exam. Disclaimer: I took test more than once before I passed with flying colors. It was worth it!

This article is part of my Nurse Career Goals series. Already published article is Mastering Time Management, and soon to publish is Attend A Conference as part of a 3-part career series. At the end of this article, I will share the importance of having career goals.

Whether you're in ER, ICU, Medical-Surgical, pediatrics, hospice, wound, rehabilitation nurse, there's a certification in your specialty. Even case managers and vascular access nurses can get certified.

Nothing says Confidence, Pride, & Commitment in your profession and specialty as a Certification.

Certification can be that Game Changer that sets you apart and Distinguishes you from other applicants and others in the workplace..

Research shows that certified nurses are more likely to advocate for their patients and step up to initiate changes.

American Traveler in a 2022 article entitled "Expand Your Med-Surg, RN Skills With These Certifications" says that "Yes, there is. RNs with specialized certification in this practice area have an advantage in being hired at hospitals and clinics. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) found that?90 percent?of nurse managers preferred to hire certified RNs over non-certified ones.

According to the?AACN, most employers also prefer to hire RNs who hold a Bachelor’s degree. Receiving certification in Med-Surg nursing may also boost your chances of being hired or receiving a higher salary. This can be especially useful if you have a two-year college nursing degree or if you have less than three years of clinical experience. That same hiring preference for staff nurses with BSNs and advanced credentials also applies to travel nurses."

MY JOURNEY TO CERTIFICATION

The first time I heard about certification was in 2014 when I was on assignment as a travel nurse in Omaha, Nebraska. A wonderful nurse name Tracy shared with me a study guide for the Medical surgical certification exam. Unfortunately, not understanding the application process, I put taking the exam on hold. There's a part in the application asking to verify 2000 clinical hours prior to taking the exam. I understood this to mean that I will have to go through a verification process, and being a travel nurses working in several locations I thought this will take too much time. Later I found out that this was not the case, the applicant simply has to attest that they've worked those number of hours, the board can at any time audit or verify that information. So now as of March 2022 I'm happy to say that I'm a Certified Medical-Surgical nurse with a CMSRN credentials!

I prepared for the test for about 6 months with 3 study guides plus an online practice with www.examedge.com. I also subscribed to 3 month practice test with MSNCB-see list below. I did a virtual 2 day review course. The most helpful guide was:

This book is available on the AMSN website. Amazon for $39.00

Note: there are several study guides. Most of them have answers with rationale. Take time to study the rationale to gain understanding of the material.

This article aims to advise travel nurses not to give up on their career goals, but to pursue certification in their specialty. The difference between travel nurses, like myself, and the staff nurse is that they will be more likely to be in a hospital or organization that can invest in the professional growth of its employees and where they can find support and incentives to become certified. Several hospitals also help nurses pursue other career goals, including earning a graduate degree, by giving them the opportunity to move up the professional ladder. Some hospitals offer review courses for free to their employees and pay for the exam through the Failsafe Program. Many Magnet hospitals support and encourage their nurses to be certified. I have also found that many hospitals now require certification for their nurses who wish to be promoted to a higher level with the incentive to a higher salary or increase compensation.

Examples of Recent Job Postings

Note that Job A is a preference for certification, and Job B it's a requirement. In the case that there are two candidates competing for a job, the candidate who has the certification can be favored or be the deal breaker among other things.

JOB A

Mercy Health 3.6RN - Discharge Unit - Mercy Anderson Hospital Cincinnati, OH $80K - $125K?(Glassdoor est.)

Licensing/Certification

Current RN license in state they are working or covered by compact (required)

BLS Basic Life Support (preferred upon hire, must obtain from approved source prior to direct patient care)

ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support (preferred)

Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification RN-BC (Registered Nurse - Board Certified) (preferred)

CCRN Critical Care Registered Nurse (preferred)

PCCN Progressive Care Certified Nurse (preferred)

CMSRN Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (preferred)

National Institute of Health (NIH) Stroke Certification (preferred)

JOB B

HCA Florida Citrus Hospital 3.0RN Float Med Surg Evening Inverness, FL$54K - $75K?(Glassdoor est.)

What qualifications you will need:

• Must be licensed as a Florida Registered Nurse in accordance with state regulations or appropriate compact licensure. If compact license held, active FL RN license required within 90 days of hire.
• Nursing Diploma or ASN required; BSN preferred.
• Previous experience in an acute care setting strongly preferred.
• Current American Heart Association BLS (Basic Life Support) certification required.
• Current American Heart Association ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification required (6 months grace period given from hire date).
• Current NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) required (6 months grace period given from hire date).
• Critical Care Registered Nurse Acute/Adult (CCRN), or Certified Orthopedic Nurse (ONC), or Progressive Care Nursing Administrator (PCCN), or Board Certified Cardiac / Vascular Nurse, or Board Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse, or Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN)
• Critical thinking, service excellence and good interpersonal communication skills, ability to read/comprehend written instructions, ability to follow verbal instructions, PC skills

Education

Bachelor of Science Nursing (preferred)

Complete List of Common Nursing Certifications

Here is the complete list is published by nurse.org. Follow the link:

The Complete List of Nursing Certifications

ABOUT THE CMSRN

Highlights of the CMSRN:

• 150 question-computer based exam
• It can be taken at a Prometric Center near you.
• You will be tested in 8 systems: Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Musculoskeletal/Neurological/Integumentary, Gastrointestinal, Urological/Renal, Diabetes/Other Endocrine/Immunological
• Need 72% to pass or 95 questions correct
• Cost of exam $267 for AMSN members, and $394 for non-members.
• It's 3.5 hours long including test tutorial and break time.
• You can flag, highlight questions.
• You will know if you Pass or Fail same day, after the exam.
• Good for 5 years

Test Strategy:

• Preferably get to testing center 1 hour early. there may be a long line.
• Dress comfortably, bring a sweater, bring a snack.
• You cannot enter testing center with any electronics. you will be given a locker for personal belongings.
• You will be screened pre-testing like you do at airport (glasses, socks, hoods will be checked.)
• You have the option to use headphones to block any noise
• There may be two or three questions asking to define a medical term, or pathophysiology. For example, what's the physiology of a chest tube?
• Take the first hour to go over the entire test, answer questions that you are confident in, and flag any questions you're unsure of.
• Use the 2nd and 3rd hour to thoroughly read the questions especially case studies which needs more critical thinking and answer the best you can. Do not leave any questions blank!
• Most of the answers you know and have seen in clinical settings. Any rude answer or not likely situation will not be the answer. for example, "Ma'am you should know better!".(is not the answer!). example b) If a patient forgot to take a medication, it's never recommended to double dose.
• Pay attention to questions with NOT and EXCEPT. Those words you might want to highlight.
• Understand that restraints is a last option.
• Know good reason for an indwelling foley catheter. (Incontinence is not the answer)
• Know your different stages of pressure ulcers.
• Know what tasks you can delegate to licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants. (Assessment is not part of their scope of practice)

CMSRN vs RN-BC

STUDY GUIDES

COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE CMSRN EXAM

Other Resources

MSNCB and AMSN have produced several study resources for the CMSRN exam. These materials vary in style and cost, with some resources free of charge. Resources include:

• CMSRN Prep Test: Consists 150 multiple-choice questions based on the CMSRN exam. Receive unlimited access with a 3-month, $65 subscription.
• Sample Test Questions: Offers several sample questions to show candidates the types of questions to expect on the exam. Free resource.
• Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Review Course: Includes AMSN’s eLearning Certification Review Course (an interactive review) or AMSN’s Live/Virtual Certification Review Course (an immersive two-day course led by a Subject Matter Expert). Cost: $149 AMSN Members or $199 Non-members.
• CMSRN Exam Blueprint: Breaks down the sections of the CMSRN certification exam to help applicants focus their study as they prepare for the exam. Free resource.
• Reference List: List of references used to develop the CMSRN exam. Free resource.
• Exam Blueprint in effect March 1, 2023

Related Certifications

American Nurses Credentialing Center: Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC)

IMPORTANCE OF HAVING NURSING CAREER GOALS

Heads up for new graduate nurses; there are certain hospitals, organizations that are very keen on developing their nurses professionally because in the long-term it makes the organization look good. So, they celebrate and even will assist in paying for advance degrees, certifications, etc... If you're working for that type of hospital, take full advantage of their generosity and support.

Other hospitals go as far and sit with individual employees and discuss and sign a professional career goal to show their commitment to their profession and the organization. A career goal plan will look something like: new nurse will in the next three years become a preceptor, charge nurse, improve their skill in time management and teamwork. You may work in an organization which culture is where management encourages and even signs up their employees to attend workshops, conferences and certifications. New graduate nurse if plan to advance education will also share with employer, and can seek tuition reimbursement and/or scholarships. Some hospitals are directly affiliated with certain universities.

Western Governors University WGU in 2022 listed 15 career goals that a nurse should have. The list includes getting a mentor, improve communication skills, get an advance degree, and of course get certified in a specialty.

Why Are Goals Important for Your Nursing Career?

Setting long-term goals will help you advance in your career as a nurse. Accomplishing these goals will increase your personal and professional satisfaction and will also combat burnout. Setting goals for your nursing career can help you:

• Plan ahead
• Constantly develop skills
• Improve earning potential
• Feel fulfilled.

Recently in May 2023, Travis Moore, DNP published an article on LinkedIn with link below on setting achievable professional goals.

#2 on the list is "Get Certifications".: Professional nursing organizations often offer a wide variety of?nursing certifications. Certifications are a way to validate your knowledge and skill in a specific area of practice, such as pediatrics or critical care nursing. These certifications also enhance career opportunities, increase job security and secure higher pay.?

Nursing certifications also provide opportunities for professional development, continued education and networking with other professionals in the health care industry, which can contribute to your personal and professional growth.?

REVIEW COURSES:

AMSN offers an E-Learning course for $199 to non-members and $149 to members

New York State Nurse Association offers review course for Medical-Surgical certification as well as for other specialties:

Virtual Zoom course with NYSNA for non-members it's $350. for members it's free. ( not sure if you need to have a NY license to qualify for membership)

The next Med Surg Review course is July 11, 12 on Zoom Online. (this course you can earn continuing education credits)

September 12, 13

November 28, 29

I'm listing just two review courses, but there are other review courses available. Check local hospital also to see if it may be offered there and if it's open to non-employees for a fee. The review courses are usually for two days where they will cover all the health systems, and also explain the testing process and blueprint.

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Thank You for reading. Hope you found this information helpful. Please share feedback and journey to certification. Any questions or more tips, please comment or text in private mail. Anyone interested in a Study/Review Session, please let me know below.

By Gina DesRosiers, RN, BSN, CMSRN, Travel Nurse with PRN Healthcare. Currently in the Maryland area contracted on Med-Surg/Telemetry unit. Recruiter, Hailey Albright. PRN Healthcare have contracts in all 50 states nationwide in all nursing specialties. Call 1-888-439-8585.