1. Recognition of Nursing Excellence

2. Nurses today need to validate their expertise and experience. It is a personal responsibility of all nurses, as professionals, to continue to obtain knowledge and skills. Nursing specialty certification can do that and a whole lot more….

3.  Certification is defined by the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) 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.”

4.  Certification serves as an important indicator to patients and employers that a nurse:  is qualified  is competent  has met rigorous requirements 1  Shows a high level of dedication to continuing education and ensures exposure to latest developments  Validates nursing experience

5. As the only nationally accredited certification for infusion nurses, earning the prestigious CRNI ® warrants the recognition and respect of patients, peers, and employers and demonstrates a dedication to the pursuit of lifelong learning and delivery of quality health care.

6.  Employers  Nearly 90% of nurse managers prefer hiring certified nurses over noncertified nurses. 2  Peers  More than 80% of people agree that certification promotes recognition from peers and other health professionals. 3  Public  73% percent of patients are more likely to select a hospital that employs a high percentage of nurses with an additional specialty certification. 4  Consumers of health care can more easily identify competent people. 1

7. Do you know the difference?

8.  Generally covers comprehensive, broad- based scope of practice  Strict eligibility criteria and a solid knowledge of practice  Complies with national standards, approved by third-party entity  Portable, nationally recognized, earned credential  Usually open to anyone, both newcomers and professionals  Generally narrowly focused, covers subset of knowledge  No third-party involvement; administered and created by and within specific organization  Awarded certificate, only recognized within specific organization

9.  Primary focus is on assessment of one’s knowledge, skills, and competencies  Ongoing process that requires continuing education or re- examination to maintain certification  Primary focus is on education and training with intent to achieve specific learning outcomes  Once candidates successfully complete program, a certificate is awarded Read INCC’s Certification vs Certificate article at incc1.org.

10. As of January 2001, nurses in the United States and Canada held more than 410,000 certifications in 134 specialties, granted by 67 different certifying organizations, and at least 95 different credentials designate these certifications. 5

11. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards

12.  Personal and professional accomplishment  Nurses who are certified have higher perceptions of empowerment and therefore improve work effectiveness. 6  97.2% of certified nurses reported an enhanced feeling of personal accomplishment with obtaining their specialty certification. 7  Demonstrates commitment to the nursing profession  Verifies level of clinical competence

13.  Increases professional autonomy  Increases compensation  Nurses who reported being certified in a specialty made $9,200 more annually than nurses who weren’t certified. 8  Opens doors to professional growth opportunities  77% of respondents reported that certification enabled them to experience personal growth. 2

14.  Increases employer recognition and appreciation  74% of nurse managers gave one or more incentives to promote and recognize specialty nursing certification. 2  Promotes recognition from peers and other health care professionals  Strengthens patient confidence

15.  Confirms patient awareness of certification  78% of Americans are aware that nurses can become certified—higher than the certification awareness of teachers, physicians, and accountants. 9

17.  72% of certified nurses reported one or more benefits of certification, including a decreased number of errors or adverse events 10  Strengthens belief in nurse’s competency  Increases trust in organization’s credibility

19.  Responds to public preference and demand  Increases patient confidence  Maintains a stable and highly skilled workforce  Sets standard when recruiting new nurses  Reduces liability  Decreases in-house training time

20.  Shows support for continued education  Demonstrates commitment to professional development  Influence to apply for distinction from notable health care organizations such as American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition ® Program

21. Highest and most prestigious international distinction a health care organization or hospital can receive for nursing excellence and outstanding patient care.

22.  In U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 annual showcase of "America's Best Hospitals," 15 of the top 21 (71%) medical centers are Magnet-recognized organizations.  Nurse leaders in Magnet hospitals earn more (4.8%) than their colleagues in non- Magnet facilities. 10

24. Reward your Certified Nurses by:  Offering a bonus or increased salary to certified nurses.  Providing reimbursement for certification expenses.  Supply funding for study materials and continuing education requirements.

25. Recognize your Certified Nurses by:  Mailing letter of congratulations and appreciation.  Publicly displaying certificates.  Creating a “Wall of Distinction.”  Organizing celebratory luncheons for all certified nurses.  Including earned credentials on nurses’ badges, business cards, and other published material.  Celebrating Certified Nurses Day ™ on March 19.

26.  Annual day to recognize certified nurses Created by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) & American Nurses Association (ANA) http://www.certifiednursesday.org/

27. Specialty certification is a vital component in the health care environment due to the benefits it provides to nurses, patients, and employers.

28.  Infusion Nurses Certification Corporation (INCC) offers the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI ® ) credential—the only nationally recognized and accredited certification for infusion nursing.  INCC is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC) and by National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).  INCC is committed to providing a program of high- quality, supporting continuing infusion nursing education and research and promoting optimal patient outcomes. incc1.org(800) 434 - 4622

29.  315 Norwood Park South Norwood, MA 02062 (800) 434-4622 Fax (781) 440-9409  Find exam and recertification information, exam study materials, application forms, and nurse and employer resources at www.incc1.org.www.incc1.org  To request a free copy of the CRNI ® Bulletin, the comprehensive guide to the certification process, e- mail incc@incc1.org

30. 1. Redd ML, Alexander JW. Does certification mean better performance? Nursing Management. 1997;28(2):45-49. 2. Stromberg MF, Niebuhr B, Prevost S, et al. Specialty certification more than a title. Nursing Management. 2005;36(5):36-46. 3. Niebuhr B, Biel M. The value of specialty nursing certification. Nursing Outlook. 2007;55(4):176-181. 4. Harris Interactive, Inc., American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Survey. http://www.aacn.org/WD/Certifications/Docs/harrispollrpt.pdf. 2002. Accessed on April 22, 2014. http://www.aacn.org/WD/Certifications/Docs/harrispollrpt.pdf 5. Cary AH. Certified registered nurses: results of the study of the certified workforce. American Journal of Nursing. 2001;101(1):44-52. 6. Piazza IM, Donahue M, Dykes PC, Griffin MQ, Fitzpatrick JJ. Differences in perceptions of empowerment among nationally certified and noncertified nurses. Journal of Nursing Administration. 2006;36(5):277-283. 7. Gaberson KB, Schroeter K, Killen AR, Valentine WA. The perceived value of certification by certified perioperative nurses. Nursing Outlook. 2003;51(6): 272-276. 8. Mee CL. Salary survey. Nursing. 2006;36(10):46-51. 9. Harris Interactive, Inc., American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Survey. http://www.aacn.org/WD/Certifications/Docs/harrispollrpt.pdf. 2002. Accessed on April 5, 2011. http://www.aacn.org/WD/Certifications/Docs/harrispollrpt.pdf 10. Hader Salary Survey 2005. Nursing Management. 2005;36(7):18-27.