March 19, 2018, marked the tenth year of the establishment of Certified Nurses Day. Inspired by Margretta Madden Styles, EdD, RN, FAAN, a pioneer in nursing certification, Certified Nurses Day "honors nurses worldwide who contribute to better patient outcomes through national board certification in their specialty."1
The American Board of Nursing Specialties defines certification as "the formal recognition of specialized knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrated by achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health outcomes."2(p1)
In addition, "obtaining specialty certification provides nurses with a feeling of empowerment and professional fulfillment. Certified nurses gain confidence in providing care based on recognized standards. Knowledge obtained during preparation for certification exams provides nurses with additional tools needed to help promote and maintain evidence-based changes in the rapidly changing practice environment."3(p364)
For all of us at INS, Certified Nurses Day is the day we particularly celebrate infusion nurses who have worked hard to earn and maintain the only nationally accredited certification in infusion nursing, the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI(R)), a certification that is voluntary and not required for clinical practice. Achieving the CRNI(R) equips exceptional nurses to meet the evolving challenges of infusion nursing, and can lead to professional opportunities in the specialty and the nursing profession in general.
In 2009, INS and the Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC), the only nationally recognized certification organization for infusion nursing, published a joint position paper, "The Value of Certification in Infusion Nursing."4
Its "Statement of Position" outlined 5 key points that are as relevant today as they were when they were first published:
1. Registered nurses providing infusion therapy to patients in all practice settings should seek to obtain certification as a Certified Registered Nurse Infusion [CRNI(R)].
2. Certified nurses should promote their certification by publicly displaying their credentials and introducing themselves as a certified infusion nurse.
3. The CRNI(R) credential should be incorporated into professional career advancement models as a means to recognize specialized knowledge and clinical judgment.
4. Infusion nursing practice is continually evolving; therefore, continuing education is essential to remaining current with infusion therapy practices.
5. Health care organizations should recognize and support the CRNI(R) credential as a benchmark for achieving excellence in infusion nursing.4(p249)
The position statement also noted:
* The personal benefits to nurses who hold certification include personal achievement and satisfaction, validation of specialized knowledge, and evidence of professionalism.4(p248)
* Certified nurses have higher perceptions of empowerment, which lead to improved work effectiveness.4(p248)
* Because of the rigorous requirements to achieve this expert credential, certification becomes an important indicator to patients and employers that a nurse is qualified and has validated knowledge in a specialty area.4(p248)
INCC has administered the CRNI(R) exam for more than 30 years, and its accreditation by both the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies affirms that the program is credible, reliable, and substantive.
The CRNI(R) credential is valid for 3 years, and a broad array of recertification options have been developed to meet the varied needs of today's infusion nurse, including recertification by exam and continuing education (CE). CE can be obtained by attending an INS national meeting in person or virtually. All of INS' virtual CE programs can be found in the INS LEARNING CENTER.
INCC has also developed a new resource to help candidates study for the CRNI(R) exam: CRNI(R) Academy. A game-changing online study tool designed to help you acquire the knowledge you need to pass the exam, CRNI(R) Academy will help you study smarter and better. Visit http://ins.benchprep.com to learn more about this innovative study tool.
When you become a CRNI(R), you become a member of a group of exceptional infusion nurses. You'll want to celebrate and share your hard-earned credential with your peers and your employer. INCC has created a portable digital badge appropriate for today's CRNI(R). The badge contains evidence of the owner's CRNI(R) status, and it can be shared on social media sites, internal corporate profiles, email signatures, digital resumes, and websites.
Certified infusion nurses have achieved a singular goal in their field. The CRNI(R) credential is the mark of an exceptional nurse with a demonstrated mastery of infusion nursing, so Be Exceptional. Choose CRNI(R).
Mary Alexander
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