In the field of healthcare, having the right credentials and experience can open up a wealth of opportunities. As a progressive care nurse, you can make yourself a more attractive candidate to employers by earning the Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) specialty certification.
But why is this credential important, and what benefits can it offer you? Let’s look a bit closer at what is involved in becoming a progressive care certified nurse and why it’s a great career path to consider.
Progressive Care Certified Nurse credentials
Nurses working in progressive care units (PCUs) provide care to acutely ill patients who aren’t sick enough to be in the ICU but who are also not well enough to be in another unit. It serves as a “step-down” unit in between the ICU and other specialized units within the facility. Certified PCU nurses have additional responsibilities and can take on leadership positions in the PCU and beyond it.
To earn your PCCN certification, you’ll need to gain on-the-job experience in a PCU or similar environment. You’ll also need to pass an exam administered by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The exam is a two-and-a-half-hour test made up of 125 multiple-choice questions.
To qualify to take it, you must be a licensed RN or APRN who has completed 1,750 clinical hours within the last two years caring for acutely ill patients. Over half of those hours (at least 850) must have been completed in the year that you sit for the exam.
There is an alternative option for qualification. This requires 2,000 hours of relevant clinical experience over the last five years, with at least 144 of them completed in the year of the exam.
Once you pass the PCCN exam, you can become a progressive care certified nurse. The certification lasts for three years, and you must earn continuing education credits to recertify.
Why pursue certification as a PCU nurse?
After all of the training and testing you went through to become a registered nurse, it can be tough to think about studying for and taking yet another exam.
However, earning this certification could boost your career and allow access to even more opportunities in your field. Whether you’re looking for local or travel PCU jobs, certification offers numerous benefits.
1. Enhanced skills
There’s no question that pursuing certification helps you attain a higher level of knowledge. It allows you to spend time mastering the skills integral to providing high-quality, comprehensive care to patients who are acutely ill.
To pass the certification exam, you must study topics like cardiac and respiratory disorders, multisystem failures, and postoperative care. You gain insight into how to identify subtle changes in patients that can point to serious issues, allowing you to offer the fast help they need.
You’ll also learn how to interpret complex monitoring data and complete in-depth coursework on administering and managing medications. All of this knowledge makes you a much better candidate for employment while helping you feel confident about the positive impact you have on the rest of the care team and your patients.
2. Improved patient outcomes
The enhanced skills you gain when you become a progressive care certified nurse can’t help but benefit patients. You are better able to make rapid, informed decisions on patient care, which helps prevent complications.
A progressive care certified nurse can recognize the early warning signs of patient distress and will have the necessary knowledge to perform needed interventions before it’s too late. This can minimize the risk of serious complications, helping patients get better sooner.
Your enhanced skill set will not only impact patient outcomes but also reduce some of the strain on the healthcare system. Patients who don’t experience complications like respiratory issues after surgeries can be moved down to other units, putting them on the path to earlier discharge.
3. Earning the trust of your patients
When patients learn that you are a certified PCU nurse, they tend to feel higher levels of trust. That results in improved adherence to treatments and better overall outcomes. Certification instills confidence in the families of patients, too, which further helps throughout the entire recovery process.
It’s not only patient trust that can be enhanced but also the trust of your colleagues. Other members of a patient’s care team are more likely to listen to your input if you have a certification. Potential employers, too, will prioritize hiring certified professionals because they trust the additional knowledge and experience the credential requires.
4. Career advancement opportunities
Being a progressive care certified nurse gives you the chance to work in a number of settings and take on a variety of roles. Many PCCNs choose to pursue leadership positions in PCUs and are eligible to become nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists, and clinical supervisors.
Certification allows you to keep moving up the career ladder and opens up higher-paying positions. This means you can earn a comfortable living while pursuing an even more fulfilling career.
5. Higher self-confidence
To offer the reliable care that patients need, you must trust your own instincts. If you obtain certification, you will have proof of your specialized knowledge and training. You’ll have the confidence to take immediate action when you sense something is wrong with a patient instead of second-guessing yourself. Ultimately, this means better patient results.
6. Connections to a broader medical community
Obtaining PCCN certification puts RNs in contact with a large medical community. You can network with other certified nurses and share tips and job opportunities. This additional support can help with your mental health, too, since it allows you to speak with others who work in high-stress jobs.
7. Stay ahead of advancements in the field
Because you will need to recertify every three years, you will be required to take continuing education courses and obtain credits. Through these courses, you’ll be continually learning about changes in your industry.
You’ll learn to use the latest technologies and study the most advanced treatment options. Ultimately, this results in better patient results, higher personal confidence levels, and the chance to make meaningful contributions to the care team.
The requirements for recertification also mean that you will be surrounded by a culture of learning. Continuing education prevents you from getting too set in your ways and encourages you to constantly search for new information and better ways of helping patients.
8. Higher salaries
Being a progressive care certified nurse improves your earning potential. Many employers offer premium pay scales for those who have obtained certification because they recognize the added expertise and knowledge these nurses bring to the facility.
A certification means that you have a bargaining chip when discussing contracts, too. It can also come in handy during performance reviews since certification allows employers to see how much you bring to the job.
9. Stronger graduate program applications
If you’d like to return to school and earn a higher degree, the graduate program admissions staff will look at a variety of factors to decide whether you are a good candidate. Since the best schools have hundreds of applicants, you need to find a way to stand out.
Your certification will be a huge boost to your application, putting you in the running to continue your studies. It can also open access to scholarships and other types of financial support.
10. Improved personal growth
If you’ve been working as a PCU nurse for a while, you may experience burnout and even a feeling of stagnation. As much as you may love working with patients, it’s common to reach a career plateau that could impact your happiness.
By pursuing certification, you give yourself the chance to make a change. For example, your certification could be a step toward switching from hands-on patient care to a leadership role. The more options you have, the better your chances are of continuing to grow as a nurse and as a person.
Trust Prolink to take care of your career
Working in the field of healthcare can be highly rewarding. PCU nursing, in particular, offers the chance to make a difference in the lives of patients who need ongoing support as they recover from acute illnesses. If you’re a PCU nurse and would like to further boost your career, consider earning a certification to show employers what you’re capable of.
At Prolink, we help you find the position you need to take the next step in your career. We connect candidates with travel nursing jobs as permanent staff positions that fit their goals and lifestyle, so our clinicians are always set up to succeed personally, professionally, and financially.
Don’t wait to give your career the attention it deserves. Find your next nursing opportunity with us by clicking the button below.
