Methods of nursing certification in North America-A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Certification Standards

Background:

• Definitions of nursing certification are not well-established in research literature.
• Existing research on nursing certification is notably limited.
• There is a significant gap in understanding the scope and nature of nursing certification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive scoping review of nursing certification in the research literature.
• To identify the extent, nature, and range of nursing certification practices.
• To highlight limitations in current research on nursing certification.

Main Methods:

• A six-stage scoping review framework was employed.
• Systematic search and selection of relevant articles.
• Analysis of included studies based on origin, type, methodology, focus, and certification approach.

Main Results:

• Thirty-six articles were included in the review.
• Most studies originated in the United States (89%) and were quantitative (90%).
• Initial certification (50%) and written examinations (39%) were common, but data were often missing or incomplete.

Conclusions:

• The lack of clarity in nursing certification origins, focus, and mastery criteria impedes research on patient outcomes.
• Standardized common data elements and reporting are needed for future research.
• Improved transparency in certification processes and reporting is crucial for advancing the field.