Requirements for Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification

  Requirements for Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification When it comes to obtaining medical-surgical nursing certification, there are two recognized certifying bodies: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB). Both organizations offer certification for medical-surgical nurses, each with its own set of eligibility requirements and examination processes. In this essay, we will focus on the requirements outlined by these two certifying bodies. American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) The ANCC offers the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification, commonly known as the Med-Surge Board Certification. To be eligible for this certification, registered nurses (RNs) must meet several requirements: Active RN License: Candidates must hold an active, current, and unrestricted license as a registered nurse in the United States or its territories. Clinical Practice Hours: Candidates must have a minimum of two years of full-time practice as an RN, or its equivalent in part-time hours, within the last five years. The practice should be in a medical-surgical acute care setting. Continuing Education: Candidates must have completed at least 30 hours of continuing education in medical-surgical nursing within the last three years. This education can be obtained through seminars, conferences, workshops, or academic courses. Professional Development: Candidates must have completed at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in medical-surgical nursing within the last three years. This requirement can be met through employment or a combination of employment and volunteer work. Written Consent: Candidates must provide written consent for official verification of licensure, clinical practice hours, and continuing education. Once these eligibility requirements are met, candidates can apply to take the ANCC Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification examination. The exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored, while 25 are pretest questions used for future exams. Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB) The MSNCB offers the Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN) certification. The eligibility requirements for this certification are as follows: Active RN License: Candidates must possess a current and unrestricted license as an RN in the United States or its territories. Clinical Practice Hours: Candidates must have a minimum of two years of full-time nursing experience as an RN in a medical-surgical setting, with at least 2,000 hours of direct patient care within the past three years. Continuing Education: Candidates must have completed at least 30 hours of continuing education in medical-surgical nursing within the past five years. These educational activities should be relevant to medical-surgical nursing practice. Professional References: Candidates must provide two professional references from colleagues or supervisors familiar with their medical-surgical nursing practice. Once these requirements are met, candidates can apply to take the CMSRN examination. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, with 125 being scored and 25 used for statistical analysis purposes. Conclusion Obtaining medical-surgical nursing certification from either the ANCC or MSNCB requires registered nurses to meet specific eligibility requirements. These requirements typically include an active RN license, a minimum amount of clinical practice hours in a medical-surgical setting, completion of continuing education hours, and sometimes professional references. By obtaining certification, nurses demonstrate their commitment to professional growth and competence in the field of medical-surgical nursing.

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