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Nursing Certifications
Get ahead in your nursing career with our travel nurse certification guide. Find out which nursing certifications can boost your income and expand your job options.
Advance Your Skills and Build Your Resume
Many travelers ask us, "What certifications do I need for this position?" The required certifications will differ, based on the facility or the assignment. Still, many specialties have certain basic requirements in common.
Do you need to have all these certifications to travel?
No, your recruiter will tell you what's needed for each specific position! (Other than BLS, in which case: yes!)
Will having relevant certifications make you a more sought-after candidate and improve your negotiating power?
Absolutely!
The Best Nursing Certifications for in Your Specialty
We’ve compiled information about which RN certifications will have the most impact on your marketability as a travel nurse in your specialty. Every facility has different requirements and they change frequently, so be sure to ask your Recruiter about the certifications that are most important for the positions in which you're interested.
Case Management
Required Credentials: BLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: ACLS, CCM or ACM
Cath Lab
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: NIHSS
Additional Credentials: RCIS, CCRN
Certified Surgical Technologist
Required Credentials: BLS, (NBSTSA - Preferred) NCCT
Additional Credentials: CST-FA
Critical Care
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: CCRN, TNCC, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: PALS, CPI
Cardiovascular ICU
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: CCRN, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: IABP, CRRT
Dialysis
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: NIHSS
Additional Credentials: RN-BC, CGRN, CHN, CNN
Emergency Department
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS, PALS
Highly Recommended Credentials: TNCC, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: CEN, CPI, ATLS, CCRN, ENPC, MAB, ATCN, TCRN, CFRN, CPEN, S.A.N.E.
Gastroenterology / Endoscopy (GI / Endo RN)
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: PALS, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: CGRN, CPAN, CAPA
Interventional Radiology
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: PALS, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: CPAN, CAPA, RNCB
Medical Surgical (Med-Surg RN)
Required Credentials: BLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: ACLS, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: PALS, NIHSS, RN-BC, CMSRN, CCCTM, WOCN
Neonatal ICU
Required Credentials: BLS, NRP
Highly Recommended Credentials: PALS, ACLS
Additional Credentials: S.T.A.B.L.E., NCC
Oncology
**Required Credentials:**BLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: ACLS, OCN, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: APHON, CPHON, AOCN, AOCNP, BMTCN, CPON, AOCNS
Operating Room (RN)
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: PALS, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: CNOR, CRNFA, CPAN, CAPN
Pediatrics
Required Credentials: BLS, PALS
Highly Recommended Credentials: ACLS, CPN
Additional Credentials: NRP, ENPC, APHON, PEARS
Pediatric Emergency Department
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS, PALS
Highly Recommended Credentials: TNCC, NRP
Additional Credentials: CCRN, PEARS, ENPC
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU RN)
Required Credentials: BLS, PALS
Highly Recommended Credentials: ACLS
Additional Credentials: CCRN, PEARS, ENPC, TNCC, NRP
Pediatric Operating Room
Required Credentials: BLS, PALS
Highly Recommended Credentials: ACLS
Additional Credentials: CNOR
Pediatric Telemetry
Required Credentials: BLS, PALS
Highly Recommended Credentials: ACLS, CPN
Additional Credentials: NRP, ENPC, APHON, PEARS
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU RN)
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: PALS, NIHSS
Additional Credentials: CNOR, CPAN, CAPA
Telemetry
Required Credentials: BLS, ACLS
Highly Recommended Credentials: NIHSS
Additional Credentials: PALS, RN-BC, PCCN, CRNI, PICC
Why are advanced RN certifications important to your career?
When it comes to certifications, registered nurses are fortunate to have a variety of options that enrich their
healthcare careers, increase their salaries, and demonstrate a commitment to excellence and lifelong learning.
Certifications promote a higher quality of patient care and safety while satisfying professional standards set by
healthcare providers. Earning advanced certifications improves your credibility and attests to your competency, which
gives you an edge when competing for nursing positions.
* What do all these nursing certification acronyms stand for?
- ABCGN - American Board of Certification for Gastroenterology Nurses
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- AOCN - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse
- AOCNP - Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner
- APHON - Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing
- ATLS - Advanced Trauma Life Support
- BLS - Basic Life Support
- CAPA - Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse
- CCM - Certified Case Manager
- CCRN - Critical Care Registered Nurse
- CCCTM - Certified in Care, Coordination, and Transition Management
- CDN - Certified Dialysis Nurse
- CEN - Certified Emergency Nurse
- CHN - Certified Nephrology Professional
- CMSRN - Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse
- CNN - Certified Nephrology Nurse
- CNOR - Certified Nurse Operating Room
- CPAN - Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse
- CPI - Crisis Prevention Institute
- CPHON - Certified Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse
- CPN - Certified Pediatric Nurse
- CRNFA - Certified Registered Nurse First Assist
- CRRT - Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
- CST-FA - Certified Surgical Technician First Assist
- ENPC - Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course
- IABP - IntraAortic Balloon Pump
- NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
- NCC - National Certification Corporation in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing
- NIHSS - National Institute of Health Stroke Scale
- NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation Program
- OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
- PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- PEARS - Pediatric Advanced Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization
- RCIS - Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist
- RN-BC - Registered Nurse - Board Certified
- RN-CB - Registered Nurse - Certified Radiology
- S.T.A.B.L.E. - Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood pressure, Lab work, and Emotional Support
- TNCC - Trauma Nurse Core Course
Med Surg RN Certifications
ICU Certifications to Consider
Do Advanced Certifications Open Up Career Opportunities ?
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