The recommended standard will be simpler to follow and remember if you adhere to a few simple rules, even though the order may appear confusing or random. First, the highest degree from each field of study is noted because it is fixed or permanent and cannot be “taken away.” Second, you must possess the license and state designations listed in order to practice. The remaining awards and honors are optional. But many nurses proudly display their board certifications to demonstrate their knowledge and to encourage other nurses to pursue specialty certifications as well.
Doctoral degrees (PhD, DNP, EdD, DNS), master’s degrees (MSN, MS, MA), bachelor’s degrees (BS, BSN, BA), and associate degrees (AS, AD, ADN) are frequently found after a nurse’s name. Nurse licensure credentials are RN, LPN, and LVN. The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) are some examples of state requirements or designations. Registered Nurse-Board Certified (RN-BC) is one of many national certifications that may be granted by national accrediting organizations like the ANCC.
How do you display your nursing credentials?
Why is it important to display nursing credentials?
Several factors make it crucial for nurses to list their credentials on various documents, including:
What are nursing credentials?
Nursing credentials include degrees, certifications, and specializations that advance nurses’ knowledge of their field. To make it easier for people to understand their area of expertise, there is frequently a prescribed order in which nurses must list their credentials on specific medical documents and patient records. Additionally, nurses may use their credentials to highlight their impressive qualifications on resumes and job applications. Despite the fact that a lot of nursing credentials are certifications and licenses, they may also include unique honors and awards that nurses have won over the course of their careers.
How to display nursing credentials
To display your nursing credentials on a resume, follow these steps:
1. Understand the order
Many hospitals and healthcare facilities adhere to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)’s standard order when listing credentials. It may be crucial to list your credentials in the following order when writing your own credentials:
2. Choose the most relevant credentials
Even though you can list as many degrees and certifications as you like on your nursing credentials, it’s best to only highlight the most pertinent ones. Relevant credentials are any diplomas, degrees, or distinctions that are applicable to the purpose for which you are using them. Add the credentials that best match the position’s responsibilities and necessary experience, for instance, if you’re applying for a nursing position at a hospital or healthcare facility.
3. List them in the correct format
Some hospitals and healthcare facilities may demand that you list your nursing credentials in a particular format. It’s important to start with your name and list your credentials in the manner described above when submitting your resume. It’s crucial to use a comma to separate your name from all associated credentials and to omit periods from all acronyms. When referencing a doctorate, for instance, you should use “PhD” rather than “Ph D. “.
Here are two examples of credentials that a nurse might list:
Tips for displaying nursing credentials
Here are some extra tips for displaying your nursing credentials:
Know when to list them
You’ll need to provide your credentials and back up your knowledge in a number of situations. When making notes for medical records, signing prescriptions, and modifying patient charts, you’ll most frequently list and display your credentials at work. For legal reasons, it is especially crucial to list your license and state designation on these types of occupational documents.
When giving testimony in a court proceeding or writing for a medical or nursing journal, it’s also important to list your credentials. It’s helpful to be aware of their credential listing process because some journals may ask you to list your credentials in a different way.
Understand how to list other disciplines
To broaden your knowledge and expertise, it’s beneficial to hold degrees or certifications in several different fields. When describing your credentials across disciplines, such as your degrees, it can be helpful to start with your most notable degree in the sector or industry you’ve chosen. For instance, if you hold both a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), you only need to list the MSN. However, you can list both degrees if you have a BSN and a Master of Science in organizational leadership (MSOL) because they show proficiency in various areas and disciplines.
Listing multiple certifications
If you wish to add more than one national certification or license, for example, an RN-BC and an FNP-BC, you can list them in the order of your preference. In order to highlight their more pertinent credentials first, the ANCC also advises nurses to list any non-nursing certifications last. To help people understand your expertise more quickly, you might choose to use just one or two of your certifications that are most pertinent to the situation.
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FAQ
How do I put nursing credentials after my name?
List the degree with the highest level of education first, such as Michael Anderson, PhD, MSN. Most of the time, one degree is sufficient, but if you have a second degree in a field that is relevant, you might want to list it. An executive nurse, for instance, might select Nancy Gordon, MBA, MSN, RN.
How do you display degree credentials?
If you have a degree, start by stating the highest degree you have, such as a master’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or associate degree, immediately after your name. If you have multiple degrees, you might decide to only list the highest one since it frequently supersedes others.
How do I list nursing certifications on my resume?
Use the following information when applying for licenses: license type, licensing state or body, license name and number, compact nurse license, and expiration date. For certifications, begin with the name, then list the conferring organization, the date it expires, and, if applicable, the certification number.
