What Is the Perceived Value of Certification Among Registered Nurses? A Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose To explore how registered nurses (certified, noncertified, and managers) value certification as determined by the Perceived Value of Certification Tool, review the psychometric properties of the instrument, and ascertain the benefits and barriers to nursing specialty certification. Design Systematic review (without meta‐analysis) of 18 studies representing 26,534 registered nurses. Methods Rigorous processes were used to minimize bias; to identify, appraise, and synthesize studies to explore how registered nurses value certification; and to ascertain the benefits and barriers to nursing specialty certification. Psychometric properties of the Perceived Value of Certification Tool were also reviewed and evaluated. Methods and results are presented in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Findings All studies included in the review were cross‐sectional studies with observational, descriptive designs published between 2003 and 2019. The average study participant was a 49‐year‐old Caucasian woman with a bachelor of science in nursing degree and 20 years of experience working as a staff nurse in a hospital. In accordance with the results reported in all studies included in the systematic review, the highest level of agreement and strong agreement occurred with the intrinsic value statements of enhances feeling of personal accomplishment (n = 16,697; 97.8%), provides personal satisfaction (n = 16,607; 92.7%), and validates specialized knowledge (n = 16,697; 97%). The lowest levels of agreement and strong agreement occurred with the extrinsic value statements of promotes recognition from employers (n = 16,607; 78.6%), increases consumer confidence (n = 16,607; 73.3%), and increases salary (n = 16,607; 41.9%). Conclusions The vigorous statistical work completed on the developmental study for the instrument conducted in 2003 has yet to be duplicated in the multiple studies published subsequently. The chiefly descriptive studies detailed in this systematic review are of limited usefulness in guiding future research. The Perceived Value of Certification Tool has proven useful in stimulating interest; however, a revision of the instrument is now required to promote research and patient outcome studies regarding the self‐perceived value of certification in nursing specialties. Clinical Relevance This report systematically reviews 18 studies that have used the Perceived Value of Certification Tool, a tool that has been widely used since 2003, to measure the perceptions of registered nurses regarding specialty certification. This review provides evidence that the instrument has potential for expanded use in patient outcomes studies and should be revised to better serve the needs of researchers.

Results From the Perceived Value of Certification Tool-12 Survey: Analysis of the Perceived Value of Certification Among Stroke and Neuroscience Nurses

“…Similarly, in a study of administrative perioperative nurses, findings also demonstrated that those in administrator/manager roles perceived significantly greater value in certification than did certificants in staff nurse roles 15. In a systematic review, the level of agreement with intrinsic and extrinsic value statements between nurse managers and certified nurses was evaluated 19. Responses of the nurse managers indicated a higher level of agreement than nonmanagerial certified nurses for increased marketability, promoting peer recognition, promoting recognition from other healthcare professionals, and promoting recognition from employers.…”

“…In a previous study on the characteristics of certified nurses, participants were more likely to become certified if they had a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or higher degree, were older, and more experienced. 18 In addition, medical-surgical areas were less likely to have certified nurses, whereas a high percentage of certified nurses worked in the operating room or oncology. In contrast, this study demonstrated that more than 50% of stroke and neuroscience nurses worked in critical care/medical-surgical areas.…”

Specialized Training for Nursing in the Surgical Area, a Question of Quality

“…Finally, it should be noted that in the surgical field, not only the development of technological competencies should be prioritized, but also competencies related to care and specialized knowledge [21,22]. The regulated acquisition of these competences, the experience and the continuous training within the clinical field [23,24] are the tools the professional can count on to promote a culture of safety within the surgical field.…”