The Skills You Miss by Choosing Nursing Certifications Over Degrees

There should be little question or doubt in people’s minds about the value, career stability, and reward that comes from a career in nursing. A career as a nurse is one of the more fulfilling jobs that someone can find and can be one of the more exciting, depending on the position.

Another benefit of a nursing degree is the fact that, for just a typical CCNE accredited four-year degree, the job placement rate and starting wages for graduates from bachelors and masters programs means an easier time transitioning from student life to adulthood. While that is a solid path with plenty of notable elements, others may still choose to go the quicker route and opt into healthcare through the earning of nursing certificates.

Whatever the reasons may be for doing so— like financial ease or program length— choosing to get a certificate in nursing will be beneficial, but, as some people may not be aware, does come with a few downsides. One of those points is that certificate programs simply won't have the time to cover certain skill sets that are a necessity to more advanced nursing roles.

Here are some skills that may be missed out on when choosing to go through a nursing certificate over a traditional two, or four-year BSN degree.

Skills Missing in Certificate Programs

Emergency Care

While certificate programs offer a good foundation in certain medical practices, the extent of the training greatly limits the knowledge needed to operate at a higher skill level. Emergency situations are a great example of this. Where RN’s can be qualified to administer a variety of life saving techniques like providing life support, handling advanced cardiac equipment, tending to serious wounds or administering medications, most certificate programs like an LPN, cannot. They are limited to the training that they receive and most of that pertains to very basic things like checking on patients’ vitals like blood pressure, inserting catheters, or helping with clean up.

Giving Medication

Short of being a nurse practitioner, most nurses and certainly every basic nursing certificate holder will not be able to prescribe medications. A tricky and important skill when paired with most medical diagnosis and recovery attempts, the level of further training required to be properly prepared to do so takes years in itself. Much too short to cover in certificate programs.

Blood Transfusions

LPN and other nursing certificate programs will not certify workers to start, manage, or supervise blood transfusions. Being that this would be very necessary in certain intense medical situations, it is again limiting to the level of participation.

Performing Health Assessments and Creating Nursing Plans

The core effort of being an RN has to do with regularly checking in and monitoring the vitals and progress of patients who have undergone various procedures. While RNs are trained and qualified to do such things, lower certification programs will not qualify someone to do so.

Additionally, where RN’s have the knowledge base and experience to elaborate on the reasons and methods of care in nursing plans, certificate holders will be lacking in both the knowledge and authority to educate patients.