Resources for Promoting Certification
Printable Materials
Employee Incentives
Boost morale, enhance job satisfaction, and encourage other nurses to become certified and improve the quality of care at your facility by recognizing certified nurses. Here are a few ideas for recognizing certified nurses.
Click on the dropdowns below to find some ideas on how you can encourage your employees to become certified!
- Mention the advantages of certification during annual reviews.
- Present certified nurses with a credential pin.
- Send a letter of congratulations from the CEO or other administrator.
- Add certified nurses’ credentials to name badges and business cards.
- Join the FreeTake Program to offer free tests for your employees
- Offer reimbursement for test fees and expenses.
- Provide paid time off to take the test or prepare for certification.
- Pay for a review course.
- Provide a library of study materials.
- Give certified nurses a monetary bonus for attaining or renewing their oncology credential.
- Provide pay differentials for certified nurses.
- Offer shift/schedule preferences to certified nurses.
- Display certified nurses' certificates on the unit.
- Publish the names and photos of certified nurses in your facility newsletter.
- Send press releases to local newspapers.
- Host a special event for certified nurses during Nurse's Week.
- Display the names of certified nurses on a plaque in the unit. (ONCC offers a free recognition plaque to patient care settings where a majority of nurses are ONCC-certified).
- Nominate a certified nurse for an ONCC certified nurse of the year award
Celebrate Certification
Most certified nurses say they were encouraged to apply for certification by a colleague. Here are some ways you can promote certification among your colleagues.
Click on the dropdowns below for some ideas!
Endorsed by the American Nurses Association and many other nursing certification organizations, this is a special day of recognition and celebration for certified nurses around the world. March 19 was picked as the day to honor certified nurses since it's the birthday of Margretta "Gretta" Madden Styles, the renowned expert of nurse credentialing.
- Notify the local media that it's Certified Nurses Day and include the names of all certified nurses on your staff.
- Invite certified nurses to an event held in their honor.
- Reward certified nurses with gift certificates or special bonuses.
- Post signs throughout your facility announcing Certified Nurses Day and featuring photos of your certified nurses.
- Send letters of appreciation to your certified nurses.
- Offer a free meal to all nurses who attend a certification drive.
- Post flyers on unit bulletin boards
- Distribute brochures to nurses who are not certified
- Email a study tip of the week to motivate nurses who are preparing for certification
- Download fun resources to hand out to nurses interested in certification
- Submit announcements for company newsletters featuring certification information
- Place an announcement in newsletters or company communications that reads "Ask Me About Certification" and includes your name, phone number, and email address
- Present a program about the benefits of certification at your institution.
- Organize a review course.
Order a Recognition Plaque for your unit!
Your unit/organization/clinic must have over 50% of your nurses certified in order to receive a recognition plaque.
Purchase a Certification Pin
Show off your certification in style with a sterling silver pin, available for purchase at the ONCC store, hosted by Jim Coleman.
Sample Press Releases
Help certified nurses celebrate becoming certified by using one of these templates to spread the news.
[DATE]
[CONTACT]
[NAME], [CREDENTIALS], [TITLE], at the [PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT] recently passed the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®) Examination administered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). There are more than 31,000 Oncology Certified Nurses (OCN®). These registered nurses consist of staff nurses, clinicians, educators, and managers.
[PARAGRAPH ABOUT NURSE'S BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, HONORS, AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION]
The OCN® Examination tests the knowledge necessary for the nurse to practice competently at the basic level, within the specialty of adult oncology nursing.
Oncology nursing certification is available to nurses who have:
- a current, active, unencumbered RN licensure
- a minimum of 24 months of experience as an RN within the four years prior to application
- a minimum of 2,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the four years prior to application,
- and completed a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education in the specialty of oncology nursing or an academic elective in oncology nursing.
Certification for oncology nursing was introduced at the 1986 ONS Congress in Los Angeles, where 1,384 registered nurses passed the first examination. Since that time, more than 71,000 nurses have taken the examination. The OCN® Examination is offered at nearly 300 computer-based testing sites in North America and at selected international sites in June.
Information about the OCN® Test is available at www.oncc.org.
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation develops, administers and evaluates programs for certification in oncology nursing. The mission of ONCC is to promote health and safety by validating competence and ensuring life-long learning in oncology nursing and related specialties.
[DATE]
[CONTACT]
[NAME], [CREDENTIALS], [TITLE], at the [PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT] recently passed the Certified Breast Care Nurse(CBCN®) Examination administered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). There are more than 950 CBCN®-certified nurses. These registered nurses consist of staff nurses, clinicians, educators, and managers in breast care nursing. CBCN® is the only nationally accredited breast care certification that is available exclusively to registered nurses, and validates the specialized knowledge necessary for breast care nursing practice.
[PARAGRAPH ABOUT NURSE'S BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, HONORS, AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION]
The CBCN® Examination tests the knowledge necessary for the nurse to practice competently within the specialty of breast care nursing, from prevention/detection, to diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end of life care. Breast care certification is available to nurses who have:
- a current, active, unencumbered RN licensure
- a minimum of 24 months of experience as an RN within the four years prior to application
- a minimum of 2,000 hours of breast care nursing practice within the four years prior to application, and
- completed a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education in the specialty of oncology nursing or an academic elective in the specialty of breast care
The CBCN® Examination is offered at nearly 300 computer-based testing sites in North America and at selected international sites in June. Information about the CBCN® Test is available at www.oncc.org.
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation develops, administers and evaluates programs for certification in oncology nursing. The mission of ONCC is to promote health and safety by validating competence and ensuring life-long learning in oncology nursing and related specialties.
[DATE]
[CONTACT]
[NAME], [CREDENTIALS], [TITLE], at the [PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT] recently passed the Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON®) Examination administered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). There are more than 3,000 CPHON®-certified nurses. These registered nurses consist of staff nurses, clinicians, educators, and managers.
[PARAGRAPH ABOUT NURSE'S BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, HONORS, AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION]
The CPHON® Examination tests the knowledge necessary for the nurse to practice competently at the basic level within the specialty of pediatric hematology oncology nursing. Pediatric hematology oncology nursing certification is available to nurses who have:
- a current, active, unencumbered RN licensure
- a minimum of 24 months of experience as an RN within the four years prior to application
- a minimum of 2,000 hours of pediatric hematology oncology nursing practice within the four years prior to application, and
- completed a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education in the specialty of hematology oncology nursing or an academic elective in oncology nursing.
The CPHON® Examination is offered at nearly 300 computer-based testing sites in North America and at selected international sites in June. Information about the CPHON® Test is available at www.oncc.org.
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation develops, administers and evaluates programs for certification in oncology nursing. The mission of ONCC is to promote health and safety by validating competence and ensuring life-long learning in oncology nursing and related specialties.
[DATE]
[CONTACT]
[NAME], [CREDENTIALS], [TITLE], at the [PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT] recently passed the Blood and Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse (BMTCN®) Examination administered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). There are more than 3,000 BMTCN®-certified nurses. These registered nurses consist of staff nurses, clinicians, educators, and managers in blood and marrow transplantation nursing.
[PARAGRAPH ABOUT NURSE'S BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, HONORS, AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION]
The BMTCN® Examination tests the knowledge necessary for the nurse to practice competently within the specialty of blood and marrow transplantation nursing, from basic concepts and indications for transplantation, to pre-transplant care, preparative regimens and stem cell infusion, post-transplant issues, and survivorship. Blood and marrow transplant certification is available to nurses who have:
- a current, active, unencumbered RN licensure
- a minimum of 24 months of experience as an RN within the four years prior to application
- a minimum of 2,000 hours of BMT nursing practice within the four years prior to application, and
- completed a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education in the specialty of BMT.
The BMTCN® Examination is offered at nearly 300 computer-based testing sites in North America and at selected international sites in June. Information about the BMTCN® Test is available at www.oncc.org.
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation develops, administers and evaluates programs for certification in oncology nursing. The mission of ONCC is to promote health and safety by validating competence and ensuring life-long learning in oncology nursing and related specialties.
[DATE]
[CONTACT]
[NAME], [CREDENTIALS], [TITLE], at the [PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT] recently passed the Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP®) Examination administered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC). There are more than 2,300 AOCNP®-certified nurses.
[PARAGRAPH ABOUT NURSE'S BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, HONORS, AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION]
The AOCNP® Examination tests knowledge that is vital for an oncology nurse to function competently as an adult oncology nurse practitioner. AOCNP® certification is available to nurses who meet specific requirements for nursing licensure; a graduate degree from an accredited Nurse Practitioner (NP) program; recent clinical practice as an NP in adult oncology; and who have recently completed at least 30 hours of oncology continuing nursing education or a graduate level oncology course. Two eligibility pathways provide for multiple combinations of education and oncology practice to meet the eligibility criteria.
ONCC introduced advanced oncology nursing certification at the 1995 ONS Congress in Anaheim, California. Two hundred nineteen advanced practice registered nurses passed the first AOCN® Test. ONCC offered the AOCNP® Test for the first time in January 2005.
The AOCNP® Examination is offered at nearly 300 computer-based testing sites in North America and at selected international sites in June. Information about the AOCNP® Test is available at www.oncc.org.
The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation develops, administers and evaluates programs for certification in oncology nursing. The mission of ONCC is to promote health and safety by validating competence and ensuring life-long learning in oncology nursing and related specialties.
Become an Advocate
Join the Oncology Nursing Certification Advocate program. As an advocate, you will receive the most up-to-date information about certification. Advocates will also be given ribbons to wear at select oncology conferences.
Fill out the Advocates Program Application here.
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