CCRN

So I recently got certified in my "area of expertise," that being CCRN (Adult Critical Care Nurse- yes, I know the acronym doesn't match. Take it up with the AACN). My new certification is important to me because it makes me look like I know what I'm doing, plus I get to wear a snazzy gold "CCRN" pin on my name badge, but most importantly it earns me a $2000 bonus from my employer. I've been a critical care nurse for all of 2 years, and an RN for all of three. I guess that although I can add another set of letters behind my name, what I really feel like is a fraud. A fraud that tests well.

A friend of a friend on Facebook (not someone I'm friends with, but, oh nevermind) recently posted a status update stating not only that she had passed the CCRN test but that then went on to reveal her score in each content area, most of which were in the 90s or 100%. Let me tell you, I certainly shared with my Facebook friends the glad tidings of my passing; however, I chose to keep those 70% just barely passing scores to myself. I could go on and on about why I scored low (I was on maternity leave! Um... the test is hard!), but really, I got nothin', except that maybe I just need more experience.

Think back to when you were in school. Getting good grades seemed sooooo important, didn't it? Okay, maybe it didn't to you but it did to me. I was even on the dean's list (only my last semester, but hey that counts). I'd like to think it helped me get a job, but probably not. In my everyday work life? Who gives a crap. I make the same amount of money as those who barely skated by, and although I earned a BSN, make just a smidge more than those who have an associate's degree. We are all in one big happy nursing pool. I bring this up not to seem bitter because really, I'm not, but to point out that grades and intials aren't everything. Many of those "just barely passing" nurses are still fine nurses. And some of those dean's list nurses would make me leave AMA if I were the patient.

So I'm feeling a little conflicted about my CCRN. Like I stole my gold pin from someone more qualified. However, I'm going to go ahead and keep my $2000 bonus. And no, it did not get prorated down based on my passing score. 70% rules!