How to Display Your Nursing Credentials
Graduating with a nursing degree is an exciting milestone, but now you need to know how to list your qualifications. Whether you're updating your resume or filling out medical paperwork, getting your nursing credentials in order is crucial. Nursing is a field that values precision and regulation. Just as you must clean a wound before stitching it, there's a proper way to sequence your credentials. This guide will explain the correct format.
How should you sequence your nursing qualifications? Highest degree earned Licensure State designations or requirements National certifications Other accolades When should you use your nursing credentials? What if you possess multiple of the same credential type? Continue reading to learn more!
How should you sequence your nursing credentials?
The American Nurses Credentialing Center advises the following standard order:
Highest degree earned
Your degree is listed first due to its permanence. Once awarded, it's yours forever.
Licensure
Next, list your licenses as they can change or expire. Examples include RN (Registered Nurse), NP (Nurse Practitioner), and LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse).
State designations or requirements
Following licensure, include state and national qualifications. Examples are APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse), NP, and CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist).
National certifications
These are awards given by certifying organizations, such as RN-BC (Registered Nurse-Board Certified) and FNP-BC (Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified). Additional honors follow, like FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) and FCCM (Fellow of Critical Care Medicine).
Other accolades
If you have multiple of the same credential type, list them by relevance or acquisition order.
When should you use your nursing credentials?
You don't need to display your credentials always. They're necessary on legal or medical documents you sign, such as medical charts or prescriptions. Credentials are also important when authoring nursing journals to establish expertise.
What if you possess multiple of the same credential type?
Some nurses hold multiple credentials. To organize these without confusion, list the highest educational degree first. If another degree is pertinent, consider listing it. For example, if you're in executive leadership and have a Master's in Organizational Leadership (MSOL), list it before a BSN. Your list might look like: Organization Y, MSOL, BSN, RN.
Next steps
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