In this article, we discussed how licensing and certifications differ for other healthcare professions.
Licensing and certification requirements for nurses
The license requirements for nurses parallel those for doctors but there are differences.
Licensing for nurses
Generally, nurses must graduate from an accredited nursing program before they can apply for a nursing license. A nurse who graduates from an accredited nursing program obtains their license to practice in a specific state by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The examination is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The nursing license permits the nurse the right to start their nursing career – or permit nurses to practice in a new state if the nurse already has a license in another state.
State nursing boards also enforce nursing regulations. The enforcement can include a revocation for certain violations. Our healthcare lawyers advise nurses about what medical laws and regulations apply to their nursing practice such as what level of supervision is required for their services and when nurses can have an interest in a medical practice.
Certifications for nurses
There are two types of nursing certificates – board specialization and continuing education.
Many nurses seek to enhance their credentials by obtaining nursing certificates for various specialties. Some of the nursing organizations that provide these certifications include:
- The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Generally, the certification requirements for the different nursing specialties include having a specific number of supervised practice experience – before a nurse can take a credentialing exam.
The reasons that a nurse may seek to obtain a certification include:
- Job satisfaction. A nursing certification can help to open up new job and career opportunities.
- Better compensation. A nursing certification may mean a higher salary and better job security.
- More respect from peers and employers. A nursing certification can mean that other nurses and doctors respect your abilities and your decisions more than if you didn’t have the certification.
- Patient satisfaction. Patients may place more confidence and trust in nurses who are certified.
Some of the different types of nursing certifications
A few types of nursing certifications include:
- Critical Care RN. The AACN certifies critical care registered nurses including Critical Care RN (CCRN) Adult and CCRN Pediatric and CCRN-Knowledge Professional (CCRN-K) certifications. To qualify, a nurse must have “an unencumbered RN or advanced practice RN (APRN) license and have verifiable clinical hours.”
- Nurse Practitioner. The AANP certification board certifies nurses as Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP and Family NP. NPs who specialize in emergency care can obtain an “Emergency NP.”
- Nurse Anesthetist. Nurses obtain this certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. “Nurses who have a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) certification must recertify every four years.”
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The AANC provides several NP certifications, including the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing certification.
- “This certification confirms that an NP is board-certified and has the clinical knowledge and skills to treat patients with mental health disorders. As with most credentials, nurses must recertify periodically.”
Nursing certificates and continuing education requirements
Licensed nurses, whether a nurse has a certification or not, must complete a specific number of continuing education hours each year depending on their state’s licensing board requirements. Often the nurse’s employer will sponsor their employees. Our healthcare compliance lawyers will review how, why, and when medical practices should help their nurses meet their continuing education requirements.
On completion of the continuing education requirements, the nurse will receive a verifying certificate or proof of completion card. Continuing education aims to keep nurses updated with current nursing laws, medical procedures, and ethical issues.
Additional nursing licensure and certification conditions for Advanced Practice Nursing
Advanced practice nurses (APN), such as NPs and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) professionals, are RNs who have additional skills and experience. NPs can generally prescribe medication and administer tests. “DNPs often go into hospital leadership or teaching.”
In order to become an APN, the following requirements must be met:
- The nurse must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program and pass the NCLEX.
- The nurse must obtain their RN licensure by passing the NCLEX from a state board.
- NPs must complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program which takes around three to four years to complete – after the nurse obtains their bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Generally, APNs earn more than RNs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a nurse anesthetist is among the highest-paid nursing specializations.
Licensing and certification requirements for EMTs
All 50 states require that EMTs and paramedics,” individuals must pass the NREMT [National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians) paramedic exam or a state certification exam to obtain their license.
Obtaining an NREMT or state certification process is a “prerequisite” for obtaining an EMT license. In this sense, an EMT certification is different than physician and nursing licenses where, generally, the healthcare professionals obtain their license first – and then specialty certifications.
Nurses must meet their state licensing requirements in order to practice nursing. These requirements include obtaining the proper nursing degrees and passing their state nursing requirements. There are different types of nursing licensing requirements certification requirements for critical care RNs, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthesiologists, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, and other nursing professions. Nurses should also understand what legal, medical, and ethical violations may affect their license. EMTs and many other medical professions also have specific licensure and certification requirements.
Nurses, EMTs, and other healthcare professionals should contact Cohen Healthcare Law Group, PC to review their legal and healthcare compliance requirements. Our experienced healthcare lawyers advise medical professionals about their licensure and certification requirements.
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