Once you graduate from a nursing program, you may start thinking about ways to make your job applications for nursing roles more competitive. Earning certifications for specialty nursing skills and competencies is one popular option for showing potential employers your aptitude for success as a nurse. By understanding which certifications you can earn as a recent graduate, you can make informed decisions about which courses and programs to pursue. In this article, we explain the benefits of earning certifications after you graduate from nursing school and share some of the top certifications to consider.
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Why are nursing certifications for new grads important?
Nursing certifications are important for recent graduates of nursing school because they provide a standardized, consistent way to prove your skills to future employers. As a new nursing school grad, you may have minimal work experience, so other credentials on your nursing resume are especially important. By completing nursing certifications as a new graduate, you can fulfill prerequisites for many entry-level nursing roles and showcase your initiative and ambition as a new nurse.
Although some nursing certifications have experience requirements, there are many programs for new nurses that allow you to earn certification before your first nursing job. You may even be able to begin some certification courses while still in nursing school, but it’s important to check the specific requirements of each program before starting.
Top certifications for recent nursing graduates
If you’re a recent nursing school grad or are about to graduate from a nursing program, consider exploring these certifications:
Certified Wound Treatment Associate (WTA-C)
Getting a certification in wound care can be helpful for nursing graduates who want to provide high-quality treatment to patients presenting abrasions and other wounds. Because cuts, scrapes and sores are common issues for patients in several healthcare environments, having a wound care certification may help recent nursing graduates qualify for jobs and provide quality care to patients.
The WTA-C certification from the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board is ideal for recent graduates because it only requires 16 hours of clinical experience, which you may gain during your nursing education. Both LPNs and RN graduates can qualify to take the WTA-C exam.
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Earning a BLS certification involves emergency CPR and resuscitation training. All registered nurses need to have BLS certification, so it is one of the most important certificates to earn after graduating from any nursing program. Some nursing programs may provide you with the opportunity to earn BLS certification during school, but having a recent certification after graduation can help you refresh your skills and maintain your qualifications. There are no prerequisites to begin BLS certification, making it ideal for beginning nurses.
You can take BLS certification classes through organizations like the American Heart Association. The certification course covers topics like:
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Recognizing emergencies
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Delivering chest compressions
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Ventilation techniques
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Multi-rescuer techniques
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Chain of survival for sudden cardiac arrest
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Removal of airway obstructions
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
The ACLS certification is one of the most common requirements for all nursing positions, especially those in hospital environments. It addresses what to do in cardiac emergencies, how to prevent cardiac arrest and best practices for caring for patients after cardiac events. As a new nurse, knowing what to do if a patient has a sudden heart or circulatory problem can help the care team protect their health and minimize damage.
Some employers may require that you earn your ACLS within a few months of starting your job if you don’t already have the certification. New graduates can prepare their applications for nursing positions and familiarize themselves with best practices for cardiac emergencies by starting on their certification immediately after graduating.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
You can prepare to work with children and infants by earning the PALS nursing certification. Whether you want to work specifically with pediatric nursing or plan to get a general nursing job, becoming PALS certified after graduating from nursing school ensures your ability to provide life-saving emergency care to patients of all ages. PALS certification courses confirm your ability to recognize cardiac emergencies in children, provide age-appropriate resuscitation interventions and stabilize their vital signs safely. You study topics like infant and child CPR, transporting infants during cardiac emergencies and how to use pediatric life support.
Recent graduates from nursing programs should strive to complete their PALS certification to qualify for positions where they may work with children. Being a certified PALS nurse can also prepare you for advanced certifications like the Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) course.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
By taking NRP classes, you learn the best practices for taking care of babies after delivery. If you’re a recent nursing school graduate who wants to work in labor and delivery, getting the NRP certification is one of the first steps you should take. NRP courses teach you how to help babies take their first breaths, resuscitate newborns after c-sections and complete CPR on newborns. The program provides instruction on the equipment used to revive newborns and the behavioral skills needed during a neonatal emergency, including how to react to your environment and work as a team.
NRP completion is a basic requirement for any nurse assisting with a birth or participating in neonatal care. Even if you don’t plan to specialize in neonatal nursing, getting an NRP certification can provide you with the well-rounded skills you need to work on a team at a hospital.
Certified Life Safety Specialist for Health Care Facilities (CLSS-HC)
One of the most popular certifications for hospital fire safety is the Certified Life Safety Specialist for Health Care Facilities (CLSS-HC) course, but you may also find specialized classes for hospital fire safety and evacuation in your county or state.
New nursing graduates who want to work at a hospital can take classes to earn certification in hospital fire safety. Knowing how to stabilize and evacuate patients in the event of a fire or other emergency is a useful skill for new nurses who want to work as a team in a hospital environment. Your hospital fire safety certification can help you familiarize yourself with evacuation procedures and emergency routes before working in your first nursing position. As a new nurse, having a fire safety certification may also be useful when applying for nursing leadership roles in the future.
Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
You can prepare to provide immediate healthcare support in trauma-centered environments like emergency rooms and operating rooms by earning the TNCC certification. TNCC classes build on your existing expertise from nursing school to support your ability to identify and treat major and minor physical traumas through nursing. Because any RN with an active license can qualify to take TNCC courses, they’re ideal for recent nursing graduates who want to strengthen their credentials.
I hope you find this article helpful.
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