Exploring Nurses' Perceptions of Specialty Certification

The strategic nursing plan for a large Midwestern health care system includes achievement of the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet^® recognition for all their hospitals. This study explored the barriers to and perceived value of certification among nurses employed by the same health care system across eight facilities in a metropolitan region. One of these facilities holds Magnet^® recognition.

Subjects were recruited by direct email to collect demographic data and complete a barrier to certification survey and the Perceived Value of Certification Tool-12.

There were statistically significant differences in the perception that lack of institutional support is a barrier to certification both in aggregate and when comparing the Magnet^® hospital with the others.

As an initial exploration into barriers and perceived value, this study provides data for this health care system to plan strategies to promote certification. This study also serves as an exemplar for other organizations considering evaluation of certification barriers and value among their nursing staff. [.